Ashton Vineyard was born in 1970 when Stephen Ashton, an artist from the East Coast, and his wife Justine, both visionaries, set out to cultivate a small, sustainably grown vineyard in Glen Ellen, California. After pursuing studies in viticulture and enology and researching grape varietals suited to the microclimate, they chose the Pinot Noir grape.  Selecting seven specific Pinot Noir clones, Stephen and Justine hand-grafted 3,000 vines on the porch of their family home. After preparing the soil and aligning with the full moon cycle, the grafted vines were hand-planted by family, friends, and community members. As their passion for viticulture and sustainable growing practices grew, they expanded the vineyard in the 1980s, adding a small acreage of Syrah—modeled after the Hermitage region of the Northern Rhône in France.

 

Committed to sustainable farming and the core value of attuning to the land, the Ashton family follows organic and biodynamic principles. They refrain from using pesticides, chemical fertilizers, or herbicides. Additionally, the vineyard relies solely on natural rainfall and moisture—no irrigation is used—typical of the Sonoma Mountain appellation’s cool nights and morning fog. This “dry farming” encourages roots to travel deep into the earth to access natural water tables, promoting healthy vines and producing beautifully concentrated fruit.

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After handpicked harvests, Ashton Vineyard grapes are taken to Deerfield Winery, where longtime friend and award-winning winemaker Robert Rex, alongside associate winemaker Cecilia Valdivia, craft the wines. Grapes are triple hand-sorted, destemmed, and whole berry fermented. Each wine and vintage undergoes a special cooperage program designed to express the purest essence of the unique terroir of the Ashton Family Vineyard.

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In October 2017, the Ashton Family estate was devastated by the Nuns Wildfire. The majority of the Pinot Noir vineyard was lost, along with the family farmhouse, barn, and art studio—the original home of the annual Wine Country Film Festival. In the months following the wildfire, Stephen Ashton passed away, leaving a lasting legacy of artistry and connection to the land. Justine Ashton continues to lead the vineyard with passion and dedication, joined by the second generation—Aurora, Tara, and Sarah—in efforts to recover from the fire and carry forward the family’s legacy of sustainable farming and artisanal winemaking. Today, Ashton Vineyard is women-owned and proudly family-operated.

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