Ross and Jennifer Halleck planted a one-acre hilltop vineyard in 1993, the first Pinot in the hills above Sebastopol, meant as a college fund for their three sons. The first vintage was judged Best Pinot Noir in the United States in 2002, and recognition has compounded since. By appointment only.
Ross and Jennifer Halleck planted their first vines in 2000 on a wind-battered hilltop in Sebastopol that most considered too extreme for wine grapes. They proved the doubters wrong. The estate's Pinot Noir from rocky, wind-stressed vines at the western edge of the Petaluma Gap is among the most distinctive in Sonoma County — intense, aromatic, and structurally precise. Production is kept small deliberately, with grapes from only their estate and a handful of trusted Sonoma Coast sites. Halleck is one of those rare wineries where the owner, the farmer, and the winemaker are the same person.
The Farm Estate Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast — From the original one-acre estate vineyard planted in 1993 — the first in the Sebastopol hills — a layered, elegant single-vineyard Pinot.
Three Sons Cuvée Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley — The most approachable of the lineup, named for the Hallecks' three sons; fruit-driven and silky.
Sonoma Mountain Pinot Noir — A 95+ point, Double Gold–winning single-vineyard bottling of robust intensity.
Calandrelli Vineyard Dry Gewürztraminer, Russian River Valley — A floral, spice-driven dry white judged Best White Wine in California.
Rosé of Pinot Noir — A crisp, dry rosé from the estate's Pinot fruit.
Ross and Jennifer Halleck planted their estate Pinot vineyard in 1993 as a college fund for their sons. Tastings are held communally around a single table at the hilltop Sebastopol estate. Pinot Noir is the focus, with award-winning whites alongside.
Ross and Jennifer Halleck planted their one-acre hilltop vineyard in 1993 — the first Pinot Noir vineyard in the hills above Sebastopol — and intended it as a college fund for their three sons. The first vintage from the estate was judged Best Pinot Noir in the United States in 2002, and the recognition has compounded from there: back-to-back Best Pinot awards, a Best California White for the Sauvignon Blanc, a Best White Wine in California for the Dry Gewurztraminer. The estate sits above the Russian River watershed, with the Pacific slopes to the west — a site that catches the same coastal fog that shapes the Petaluma Gap farther south, though the estate itself is in the Sebastopol hills. Tastings are hosted at the family's home by appointment only, Thursday through Sunday 11 to 4, for groups of up to 16. A private Wine Lodge on the property, complete with sauna and cold plunge, is available for overnight stays tucked into the woods beside the vines.
Ross Halleck is the owner and winemaker of Halleck Vineyard, the boutique Sebastopol estate he founded with Jennifer Halleck after planting one of western Sebastopol's first Pinot Noir vineyards on their hilltop in 1993. What began as a hoped-for college fund for their three sons became a celebrated label when their fruit produced the 2001 Tandem Halleck Vineyard Pinot Noir — judged the top Pinot Noir in America in 2002. Producing around 2,000 cases a year of estate and sourced Pinot Noir plus Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, and dry Gewürztraminer, Ross runs the winery and hosts tastings at the family home, working with consulting winemaker Rick Davis on the final blends.
Jennifer Halleck co-founded Halleck Vineyard and was instrumental in bringing it to life. In 1990 she and Ross moved to the Sebastopol Hills, and while their first son was an infant Jennifer researched rootstocks, tracked down grower John Caldwell, and discovered the Dijon Pinot Noir clones — 115, 667, and 777 — that the couple planted in 1993, the first vineyard in western Sebastopol. What began as a hoped-for college fund became an award-winning winery. Today Jennifer leads fruit sourcing and wine production, working closely with the winemaking team to craft Halleck’s acclaimed Russian River Valley Pinot Noir.
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The Farm Estate Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast — From the original one-acre estate vineyard planted in 1993 — the first in the Sebastopol hills — a layered, elegant single-vineyard Pinot.
Three Sons Cuvée Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley — The most approachable of the lineup, named for the Hallecks' three sons; fruit-driven and silky.
Sonoma Mountain Pinot Noir — A 95+ point, Double Gold–winning single-vineyard bottling of robust intensity.
Calandrelli Vineyard Dry Gewürztraminer, Russian River Valley — A floral, spice-driven dry white judged Best White Wine in California.
Rosé of Pinot Noir — A crisp, dry rosé from the estate's Pinot fruit.
Ross and Jennifer Halleck planted their estate Pinot vineyard in 1993 as a college fund for their sons. Tastings are held communally around a single table at the hilltop Sebastopol estate. Pinot Noir is the focus, with award-winning whites alongside.
Ross and Jennifer Halleck planted their first vines in 2000 on a wind-battered hilltop in Sebastopol that most considered too extreme for wine grapes. They proved the doubters wrong. The estate's Pinot Noir from rocky, wind-stressed vines at the western edge of the Petaluma Gap is among the most distinctive in Sonoma County — intense, aromatic, and structurally precise. Production is kept small deliberately, with grapes from only their estate and a handful of trusted Sonoma Coast sites. Halleck is one of those rare wineries where the owner, the farmer, and the winemaker are the same person.
Ross and Jennifer Halleck planted their one-acre hilltop vineyard in 1993 — the first Pinot Noir vineyard in the hills above Sebastopol — and intended it as a college fund for their three sons. The first vintage from the estate was judged Best Pinot Noir in the United States in 2002, and the recognition has compounded from there: back-to-back Best Pinot awards, a Best California White for the Sauvignon Blanc, a Best White Wine in California for the Dry Gewurztraminer. The estate sits above the Russian River watershed, with the Pacific slopes to the west — a site that catches the same coastal fog that shapes the Petaluma Gap farther south, though the estate itself is in the Sebastopol hills. Tastings are hosted at the family's home by appointment only, Thursday through Sunday 11 to 4, for groups of up to 16. A private Wine Lodge on the property, complete with sauna and cold plunge, is available for overnight stays tucked into the woods beside the vines.
Ross Halleck is the owner and winemaker of Halleck Vineyard, the boutique Sebastopol estate he founded with Jennifer Halleck after planting one of western Sebastopol's first Pinot Noir vineyards on their hilltop in 1993. What began as a hoped-for college fund for their three sons became a celebrated label when their fruit produced the 2001 Tandem Halleck Vineyard Pinot Noir — judged the top Pinot Noir in America in 2002. Producing around 2,000 cases a year of estate and sourced Pinot Noir plus Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, and dry Gewürztraminer, Ross runs the winery and hosts tastings at the family home, working with consulting winemaker Rick Davis on the final blends.
Jennifer Halleck co-founded Halleck Vineyard and was instrumental in bringing it to life. In 1990 she and Ross moved to the Sebastopol Hills, and while their first son was an infant Jennifer researched rootstocks, tracked down grower John Caldwell, and discovered the Dijon Pinot Noir clones — 115, 667, and 777 — that the couple planted in 1993, the first vineyard in western Sebastopol. What began as a hoped-for college fund became an award-winning winery. Today Jennifer leads fruit sourcing and wine production, working closely with the winemaking team to craft Halleck’s acclaimed Russian River Valley Pinot Noir.
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