Landmark Vineyards was founded in 1974 in Windsor by a group led by Damaris Deere Ford, the great-great-granddaughter of John Deere, with a focus on Chardonnay and Pinot Noir from cool-climate Sonoma sites. The winery relocated to Kenwood in Sonoma Valley in 1989, where the estate still operates a tasting room. In 2016 Landmark expanded by purchasing the historic Hop Kiln property on Westside Road, a 240-acre ranch whose 1905 stone hop kiln (built by Italian stonemason Angelo Sodini) is a registered California Historical Landmark and one of the most striking architectural sites in the appellation.
Overlook Chardonnay, Sonoma County: the flagship; a multi-vineyard, native-yeast Chardonnay that has made Wine Spectator's Top 100 numerous times.
Hop Kiln Estate Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley: estate-grown in the Middle Reach; red fruit, vanilla bean, hibiscus, and rhubarb.
Hop Kiln Estate Reserve Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley: the top estate Pinot; cola, cedar, and leather over mouth-filling tannins.
Grand Detour Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast: Landmark's original 1995 red, a multi-vineyard Sonoma Coast blend.
Damaris Reserve Chardonnay, Sonoma Coast: a reserve-tier Chardonnay named for founder Damaris Deere Ford.
The Hop Kiln Estate's three soaring stone kilns now house the Russian River tasting room, with seated experiences overlooking estate Pinot Noir and Chardonnay vineyards in the Middle Reach sub-region. Head winemaker Greg Stach leads the team, drawing on the 93 acres of estate plantings at Hop Kiln plus the original Kenwood estate vineyard for single-vineyard bottlings and reserve tiers. The setting (1905 fieldstone kilns, ponds, and a restored Victorian residence) is among the most photogenic visits on Westside Road, with charcuterie supporting the seated tasting flights.
