Emeritus Vineyards was founded with a singular mission: to produce world-class Pinot Noir from Green Valley of Russian River Valley. The estate farms the Hallberg Ranch, Goldridge sandy loam at elevations of 200 to 400 feet, where cool temperatures, persistent fog, and well-drained soils produce Pinot Noir of structure and concentration. Founded in 1999 by Brice Cutrer Jones (also founder of Sonoma-Cutrer) with the explicit goal of focusing on a single varietal from a single appellation, the estate has refined its approach across decades while maintaining tight focus on what Green Valley does best.
Hallberg Ranch Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley: the flagship, a multi-clone blend from the dry-farmed estate ranch, classic Russian River cherry, raspberry and cola spice.
Pinot Hill Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley: from the MacDonald Ranch estate in the Sebastopol Hills, a more structured hillside expression.
Don's Block Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley: a single-block, clone-115 bottling from the coldest, lowest part of Hallberg Ranch, named for founding winemaker Don Blackburn.
William Wesley Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast: a small-production, highly rated Pinot from cooler coastal fruit.
Picnic Lunch, $40 per person: an artisan cheese and charcuterie basket to pair with your favorite Pinot Noir on the Hallberg Ranch Estate, for E-Club members, ordered 48 hours ahead.
After founding and building Sonoma-Cutrer, Brice Cutrer Jones sold it in 1999 and bought Hallberg Ranch to create Emeritus, exclusively dedicated to Pinot Noir. With Hallberg Ranch and Pinot Hill, Emeritus is the largest dry-farmed estate in Sonoma; the family's second generation now leads it.
Founded in 1999 by Brice Cutrer Jones (formerly of Sonoma-Cutrer) with the express mission of making New World Pinot Noir of grand cru caliber, Emeritus farms two dry-farmed estate vineyards: Hallberg Ranch on Gravenstein Highway (converted to dry farming in 2007) and Pinot Hill in the Sebastopol Hills (added 2008). Dry farming is almost unheard of in California, but Hallberg Ranch's clay loam beneath Goldridge soil allows vines to tap stored water at depth. Winemaker Keith Hammond, a Sebastopol native who joined Emeritus in 2007 and was promoted from Assistant Winemaker in February 2023, produces single-vineyard Pinot Noirs of genuine elegance, working alongside second-generation President Mari Jones and Vineyard Manager Kirk Lokka. David Lattin, his predecessor, remains involved as Winemaker Emeritus consulting. USA Today named Emeritus the #1 Winery Tour in the USA in 2017. Estate Tasting of five single-vineyard wines, $40 per person; Tour and Tasting through the Hallberg Ranch vines, $60; Art of Pinot, an in-depth tasting of the most exclusive bottlings, $95. EV charging on-site.
