Stonestreet
Summary
Stonestreet Estate Vineyards, established in 1989 and now part of Jackson Family Wines, farms 900 acres of vineyards across the western ridge of the Mayacamas Mountains in Alexander Valley, producing Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, and Sauvignon Blanc from dramatic mountain terrain with elevations ranging from 400 to 2,400 feet. Winemaker Lisa Valtenbergs employs minimalist techniques including hand harvesting, small-lot fermentations, and French oak aging to express the estate's 200 distinct vineyard blocks, maintaining a steadfast commitment to site expression rather than following trends.
Heritage & Leadership
Stonestreet Estate Vineyards was established in 1989 by Jess Jackson, founder of Jackson Family Wines, when he acquired the historic Alexander Mountain Estate in Sonoma County's Alexander Valley. The property, spanning the western ridge of the Mayacamas Mountains, was named after Jackson's father, Jess Stonestreet Jackson Sr. Following Jess Jackson's passing in 2011, his wife Barbara Banke continued to lead Stonestreet as part of the Jackson Family Wines portfolio, maintaining the vision of producing wines that express the unique mountain terroir.
Under the Jackson Family Wines umbrella, Stonestreet has developed a reputation for mountain-grown wines. The winemaking team has evolved over the years, with winemaker Lisa Valtenbergs currently directing production. The estate represents one of the most extensive mountain vineyard properties in California, with a focus that has remained consistent on expressing the distinctive character of their high-elevation sites.
Vineyards & Wines
Stonestreet's vineyards cover approximately 5,500 acres of the Alexander Mountain Estate, with roughly 900 acres planted to vines. The vineyards range dramatically in elevation from 400 to 2,400 feet above sea level, creating a diverse array of microclimates across the property. This elevation range, coupled with the estate's 20+ soil types and varying exposures, creates more than 200 distinct vineyard blocks.
The estate focuses primarily on Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, and Sauvignon Blanc, with smaller plantings of other Bordeaux varieties including Merlot and Cabernet Franc. The mountain terrain provides natural drainage and lower yields, resulting in concentrated fruit. The Chardonnay vineyards, situated at higher elevations where marine influence is strongest, benefit from cooler temperatures that extend the growing season. The Cabernet Sauvignon vineyards occupy various elevations and aspects, allowing for complexity in the final wines.
Stonestreet produces several tiers of wines, including single-vineyard designates that highlight specific blocks within the estate. Their portfolio includes the Estate Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay, which blend fruit from multiple vineyard blocks, as well as single-vineyard offerings such as Bear Point, Upper Barn, and Rockfall for Chardonnay, and Christopher's, Rockfall, and Monument Ridge for Cabernet Sauvignon.
Philosophy & Practice
Stonestreet's winemaking philosophy centers on allowing their mountain terroir to express itself with minimal intervention. The winemaking team employs techniques tailored to each vineyard block, harvesting by hand and often at night to preserve fruit freshness. For Chardonnay, whole-cluster pressing is followed by barrel fermentation in French oak, with varying percentages of new oak depending on the vineyard source and vintage. The wines undergo regular bâtonnage (lees stirring) during aging, which typically lasts 10-11 months.
For red wines, particularly Cabernet Sauvignon, fermentation occurs in small lots corresponding to vineyard blocks. After fermentation, the wines age in French oak barrels for approximately 18-21 months, with the percentage of new oak varying by wine and vintage. The winemaking team conducts extensive blending trials before bottling to determine final compositions that best represent the estate's terroir.
As part of Jackson Family Wines, Stonestreet participates in the company's sustainability initiatives. The estate practices water conservation through precision irrigation, maintains wildlife corridors throughout the property, and employs cover crops to promote soil health. The vineyards are farmed with attention to the specific needs of each block, with sustainable farming practices implemented across the estate.