Steiner Vineyard

Sonoma Mountain

Steiner Vineyard has a history of growing grapes for over 40 years.  But it wasn't until Nate and Lauren Belden acquired the property on the northwest face of Sonoma Mountain in 2005 that we became involved.  Nate hired our good friend and vineyard manager Chris Bowland to redevelop the property.  Chris, seeing the hand-built rock terraces from decades earlier immediately thought of the terraces along the Danube in Austria that grow one of our favorite varieties, Grüner Veltliner.  Chris asked me if I was interested.  We couldn't say "Yes!" fast enough.  After a tasting of some Austria's finest Grüners with Nate, a deal was struck.  Sonoma's first, and so far only, commercial planting of Grüner Veltliner

Located at 1000' elevation, this is a site that sees plenty of fog and wind.  While days are cool, nights are not as cold as on the valley floor below.  For Grüner Veltliner, it adds up to a wine with plenty of depth and concentration yet also vibrant acidity.