Ledson is one of Sonoma Valley's more distinctive operations: a family-owned estate housed in a 16,000-square-foot French Normandy castle on Highway 12, designed entirely by founder Steve Ledson and built by the Ledson family, with his son Mike hand-cutting and installing the inlays and mosaics. Originally conceived as a family home, the structure was so visually striking during construction that the Ledsons pivoted to opening it as a winery, releasing their first wine, the 1994 Estate Merlot, in 1997. The family farms 17 acres of estate vineyards on the property and additional sites across Sonoma, Russian River, Dry Creek, and Napa, producing more than 70 wines a year.
Estate Vineyard Merlot, Sonoma Valley: the signature wine, made since the winery's first release; richly textured with red plum, black cherry and cocoa.
Estate Ancient Vine Zinfandel, Sonoma Valley: drawn from vines well over a century old, a bold, concentrated expression of old-vine Sonoma Zin.
Cabernet Sauvignon: one of several estate Cabernets in the portfolio, full-bodied with cassis and vanilla.
Chardonnay: a Sonoma County white in the winery's polished style; a Reserve Carneros Chardonnay earned 93 points from Wine Spectator.
Sauvignon Blanc: crisp and bright, one of the estate's white varietals.
Reserved Table, $30 per person: a self-paced tasting of wines of your choice in the West Oak Grove or the Castle Parlor, one bottle per two guests, with a cheese and charcuterie board or Gourmet Marketplace provisions to add, by reservation.
Known worldwide as 'The Castle,' Ledson opened its doors to the public in 1999, after two years of reconstruction, and in 2003 the family opened the Ledson Hotel on Sonoma's historic Plaza, where the wines are also sold.
The Castle has three named tasting bars (Noble, Winslow, and Whitby), each named for a Ledson family member and offering a different ambiance with vineyard or grounds views. Tastings are typically by reservation; walk-ins are accepted subject to availability. The Gourmet Marketplace stocks sandwiches, salads, mustards, olive oils, and Ledson-made wine-infused chocolate sauces. The lineup spans Cabernet, Merlot, Zinfandel, Syrah, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, and Viognier, with the Knights Valley Cabernet and Merlot consistently rating among the most serious bottlings in the program. Outside, the building rewards a slow walk around: custom-colored brick, slate tile, turrets, balconies, and fountains.
