Vineyards

The character of Long Meadow Ranch wines begins with three distinct estates: Mountain Estate in the Mayacamas Mountains, Rutherford Estate in Napa Valley and Anderson Valley Estate in Mendocino County. Mountain slopes, valley-floor soils and vineyards influenced by the nearby Pacific Ocean each offer different growing conditions. Grape varieties are chosen to suit these settings, from Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot to Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. The shared goal is to create elegant, balanced wines that express both their varietal character and their place of origin.

Mountain Estate: The Mountain Home of Long Meadow Ranch

Mountain Estate, also known as Mayacamas Estate, lies in the Mayacamas Mountains south of St. Helena, high above the Rutherford Bench. This is where the Hall family began restoring the original ranch in 1989, bringing vineyards and other agricultural activities back to the property.

Today, approximately 16 acres (6.5 hectares) are planted to Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Sangiovese and Cabernet Franc. The mountain setting offers a different environment from the vineyards on the Napa Valley floor and contributes to the diversity of Long Meadow Ranch.

The vines share the landscape with historic olive groves, horse pastures and the garden that Chris and Timothy Hall planted as children. The estate also houses wine caves and an olive oil production facility. Mountain Estate remains a place where the family’s history is closely connected to its work today.

Rutherford Estate: Vineyards on a Former Riverbed

Rutherford Estate lies on the Napa Valley floor, on a gently raised bench of mineral-rich soils. The land was once a riverbed, a feature that forms an important part of its terroir.

Approximately 30 acres (12 hectares) are planted to Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. The estate also includes San Mateo Vineyard, the source of the Sauvignon Blanc bearing the Rutherford Estate designation. Rutherford therefore contributes both red wines and this white variety to the Long Meadow Ranch range.

The vineyards are part of a broader agricultural landscape. Nearby, fruit and vegetables are grown for Farmstead restaurant and the farmers’ market, alongside beehives and a flock of laying hens. Rutherford Estate illustrates the close connection between winegrowing and everyday farm life at Long Meadow Ranch.

Anderson Valley Estate: Shaped by the Pacific

Anderson Valley Estate is located in Mendocino County, in the western part of the valley known as the “deep end”, approximately two and a half hours north of San Francisco. The vineyards span a range of elevations, with the Navarro River defining the estate’s southern to southwestern boundary.

The nearby Pacific Ocean plays a decisive role. Cool sea breezes bring fog into the valley, blanketing the vineyards and allowing the grapes to ripen gradually. This maritime influence sets Anderson Valley apart from Long Meadow Ranch’s Napa Valley sites.

Approximately 69 acres (28 hectares) are planted to Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Gris. These conditions give the grapes time to develop their varietal character and form the foundation of the estate’s Anderson Valley wines.

The People Behind the Wines

The work in the vineyards continues in the cellar, where the winemaking team aims to preserve the character of each grape variety and site. Lisanne Leask, a graduate in Viticulture and Enology from the University of California, Davis, oversees winemaking across the Napa Valley and Anderson Valley estates. Her experience includes wineries in California, New Zealand and Tuscany’s Tenuta Tignanello. Her approach is also informed by a lifelong interest in cooking and gardening.

The wines of Anderson Valley are made by Stéphane Vivier, a native of Burgundy. He studied viticulture and enology in Dijon and gained experience in Pommard, Meursault and Chassagne-Montrachet, among other regions. His work with the estate’s Pinot Noir and Chardonnay draws on this experience in their Burgundian homeland.

Justin Carr is responsible for the Napa Valley wines. Before joining Long Meadow Ranch, he worked at wineries including Hourglass, Rudd, Patz & Hall and Cakebread. His career has taken him through Napa Valley, Sonoma and New Zealand. Together, the team develops the Long Meadow Ranch style, centred on elegance, balance and a clear sense of place.