The Dutton family has been farming Sonoma County since the late 1800s: fifth generation Joe Dutton and fourth generation Tracy Dutton (née Kozlowski) founded Dutton Estate Winery in 1995 to bottle what their family had been growing for some of California's most prestigious wineries for decades. Today Joe and Tracy farm over 1,400 acres of premium wine grapes and California Certified Organic apples across Russian River Valley, Green Valley, and Sonoma Coast, fruit highly sought after by Sonoma's most respected producers. Dutton Estate is now led by the sixth generation: sisters Kyndall, Kylie, and Karmen Dutton. Kyndall serves as winemaker, with sister Kylie as VP of Winemaking Operations and sister Karmen also contributing to operations. The portfolio focuses on small-lot, vineyard-designated Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Syrah, and Sauvignon Blanc that showcases Green Valley's Goldridge sandy loam character.
Karmen Isabella Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley: a signature estate Pinot named for a family member, silky and bright from cool Green Valley fruit.
Estate Chardonnay, Russian River Valley: from the Sebastopol Vineyard surrounding the winery; balanced and site-driven.
Cherry Ridge Syrah, Russian River Valley: from a sunny, maritime-influenced estate block; a balanced, cool-climate Syrah.
Sauvignon Blanc, Russian River Valley: bright and aromatic, a small-lot estate white.
Vermentino, Russian River Valley: a crisp, refreshing Mediterranean white rounding out the lineup.
Vineyard Garden Wine Tasting and Picnic Lunch, $85: an estate tasting in the vineyard garden with a picnic lunch prepared by Willow Wood Market & Cafe, booked at least 48 hours ahead.
The vineyard designates come from Dutton Ranch's named blocks, among them Cherry Ridge, Manzana (once an apple orchard), Mrs George, My Father's, Thomas Road and Kozlowski Family, spread from near the Pacific coast to about 20 miles inland.
The tasting room on Green Valley Road sits atop a rolling Chardonnay vineyard, with a vineyard garden and 20 acres of estate vines encircling the Spanish-style winery. Nearby, the family's Dutton Winery House, a four-bedroom vacation rental, sits among the Pinot Noir vines of the Green Valley Girls Vineyard. The cellar produces small-lot, vineyard-designated wines through two parallel programs: Dutton Estate Winery (~3,500 cases of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Syrah, Sauvignon Blanc) and Sebastopol Vineyards (~1,000 cases of Chardonnay and Syrah from Russian River Valley). Tasting experiences include a Garden Flight, Red Wine and Chocolate Pairing, Cheese and Charcuterie Pairing, and private Grape to Glass winery tours.
