"Across Sonoma Mountain wisps of sea fog are stealing. The afternoon sun smolders in the drowsy sky. I have everything to make me glad I am alive. I am filled with dreams and mysteries. I am all sun and air and sparkle. I am vitalized, organic."
- Jack London
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ASHTON VINEYARD DINING EXPERIENCE
New ! ASHTON VINEYARD STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM™
Late Breaking News!
Ashton Vineyard Pinot Noir Garners Gold Medal at Harvest Fair!
We are proud to share the news about the reception our Pinot Noir is receiving from our new Ashton Vineyard Stewards from Vermont to Texas, from Berlin to Burbank and beyond. We add the recognition of some of the finest palates anywhere... the distinguished Judges at the Sonoma County Harvest Fair. Ashton Vineyard Pinot Noir in the only Gold Medal Winner with a Sonoma Valley appelation. Our 40 year old vineyard of seven clones on the east facing slope at the foot of Sonoma Mountain accounts for part of the distinctive character of our Pinot Noir, plus of course, the unsurpassed talents of Robert Rex, our winemaker. Order yours now as we are down to a few dozen cases!
Ashton Vineyard '03 Syrah Takes Gold Medal!
We are proud to announce that our Estate grown 2003 Syrah has been awarded a Gold Medal at the prestigious Sonoma County Harvest Fair. Judged by renowned wine-writers, chefs and critics from throughout the country, Sonoma County’s Harvest Fair is truly a competition of the best of the best.
The Ashton Vineyard 2003 Syrah was the longest aged wine in the competition which is a testament to our practice of barrel and bottle aging our wines before being released to the public. While this is a costly practice, we believe that our wines deserve special treatment, and it shows in the glass as an elegant balanced wine.
In addition, our Ashton Vineyard was honored with the disinguished
Growers Recognition Award to Growers of Gold Medal Wines
Ashton Vineyard
Established in 1970, Ashton Vineyard has been the source of fine wine grapes at the heart of some of California's most notable wines.
We are proud to introduce our own label with wines made exclusively of grapes from our estate at the foot of Sonoma Mountain in Glen Ellen in the Valley of the Moon. We grow and make two varieties:
Pinot Noir and Syrah.
The Vineyard
We started our vineyard with Pinot Noir some 40 years ago. We spent two years researching our site which faces east, providing the vineyard early morning sun. The sun leaves the vineyard earlier in the day than if we were on the other side of the Valley, which gets the late afternoon sun. Pinot Noir, one of the earliest ripening red wine grapes, benefits from our Eastern exposure which provides slow ripening with extra "hang time." The vineyard contains 7 clones of Pinot Noir which add to its depth and complexity. The vineyard is Dry Farmed without irrigation and is completely sustainalbly farmed, free of herbicides, pesticides or chemical fertilizers.
The style of Syrah we love is like that of the Hermitage region of the northern Rhone area of France. Our choice of Syrah for the east-facing slopes on the southern section of the property was based on the cooler climates of the Hermitage region. Our Syrah also benefits from extended hang time and cooler late afternoons.
Our vines are sustainably grown, free of chemical fertilizers, herbicides or pesticides
The Wines
Ashton Vineyard Pinot Noir is a rich, full flavored yet elegant wine that pairs beautifully with lamb, grilled sea bass, seared ahi tuna, grilled pork tenderloin as well as Himalayan and French Vietnamese food.
Ashton Vineyard Syrah is a handcrafted artisan wine. The grapes are picked by hand, tripple hand sorted and barrel aged for up to 36 months. The wine is deep, succulent and concentrated with richly layered fruit flavors, abundant mid-palate sensations and a lingering taste. This wine pairs wonderfully with a variety of foods, especially charcoal grilled vegetables and meats.
Proprietor ~ Stephen Ashton
Winemaker ~ Robert Rex