The Young family has farmed the 448-acre Alexander Valley ranch since 1858, six generations on the same land. Patriarch Robert Young first planted Cabernet in Alexander Valley in 1963, launching the region's identity. The estate winery followed in 1997; only the top 5% of fruit goes into the Scion label.
Robert Young has farmed the same Alexander Valley estate since the 1850s — one of the oldest continuously farmed vineyard properties in Sonoma County. The estate is best known as a source vineyard for other producers (Chateau St. Jean's To-Kalon-level bottlings of Chardonnay have long cited Robert Young fruit), but the estate's own program produces Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay of genuine character from vines that carry decades of adaptation to this particular corner of the valley.
Scion Estate Cabernet Sauvignon — The flagship Bordeaux blend; soft, gentle, and quintessentially Alexander Valley (93 points).
Alexander Valley Estate Cabernet Sauvignon — A bold, estate-grown Cabernet from the family that first planted the variety here in 1963.
Bob's Burn Pile Cabernet Sauvignon — A single-block estate Cabernet of finesse (95 points).
Estate Merlot — A rich, hillside-grown red.
Block 27 Estate Chardonnay — The flagship Chardonnay from the famed Robert Young clone.
The Young family has lived on and farmed this 448-acre ranch since 1858 — more than 165 years, six generations — and patriarch Robert Young was the first grower to plant Cabernet Sauvignon in Alexander Valley in 1963, a single decision that effectively launched the region's modern identity. The estate winery followed in 1997, and today only the best five percent of the family's fruit goes into the small-lot Scion label. The Scion House tasting room sits on the family's favorite hilltop overlook, with 360-degree views across the vineyards and the Mayacamas beyond. Tastings are seated, private, indoor or outdoor depending on weather, and the house reserve tour culminates in single-block Chardonnays, 100% Cabernets, and the Scion Bordeaux blend. The winery closes Tuesdays and requires a reservation at least 24 hours ahead.
Matt Michael is the winemaker at Robert Young Estate Winery, the Young family's 448-acre Alexander Valley ranch farmed for more than 165 years across six generations — where patriarch Robert Young planted the valley's first Cabernet Sauvignon in 1963. A UC Davis Fermentation Science graduate, Michael came up as assistant winemaker at Quivira Vineyards and co-founded his own Baldassari Wines in 2003 before taking the lead role at Robert Young. He crafts the estate's signature lush Chardonnays, bold Cabernets, and Bordeaux blends from the family's best vineyard blocks, with the fourth, fifth, and sixth generations all still working in the business.
Robert Young was the patriarch whose name the estate bears — a fourth-generation Alexander Valley farmer who turned his family’s prune ranch into a celebrated vineyard. In 1963 he became the first to plant Cabernet Sauvignon in the valley, and he later propagated the famous Chardonnay “Clone 17,” sought after by premium wineries across California. Affectionately called the “Mayor of Alexander Valley,” he sold his fruit to top producers for decades before his son Fred founded the estate winery in 1997. Robert died in 2009 at ninety; his children and grandchildren — the “Scions” — farm the land today.
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Scion Estate Cabernet Sauvignon — The flagship Bordeaux blend; soft, gentle, and quintessentially Alexander Valley (93 points).
Alexander Valley Estate Cabernet Sauvignon — A bold, estate-grown Cabernet from the family that first planted the variety here in 1963.
Bob's Burn Pile Cabernet Sauvignon — A single-block estate Cabernet of finesse (95 points).
Estate Merlot — A rich, hillside-grown red.
Block 27 Estate Chardonnay — The flagship Chardonnay from the famed Robert Young clone.
Robert Young has farmed the same Alexander Valley estate since the 1850s — one of the oldest continuously farmed vineyard properties in Sonoma County. The estate is best known as a source vineyard for other producers (Chateau St. Jean's To-Kalon-level bottlings of Chardonnay have long cited Robert Young fruit), but the estate's own program produces Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay of genuine character from vines that carry decades of adaptation to this particular corner of the valley.
The Young family has lived on and farmed this 448-acre ranch since 1858 — more than 165 years, six generations — and patriarch Robert Young was the first grower to plant Cabernet Sauvignon in Alexander Valley in 1963, a single decision that effectively launched the region's modern identity. The estate winery followed in 1997, and today only the best five percent of the family's fruit goes into the small-lot Scion label. The Scion House tasting room sits on the family's favorite hilltop overlook, with 360-degree views across the vineyards and the Mayacamas beyond. Tastings are seated, private, indoor or outdoor depending on weather, and the house reserve tour culminates in single-block Chardonnays, 100% Cabernets, and the Scion Bordeaux blend. The winery closes Tuesdays and requires a reservation at least 24 hours ahead.
Matt Michael is the winemaker at Robert Young Estate Winery, the Young family's 448-acre Alexander Valley ranch farmed for more than 165 years across six generations — where patriarch Robert Young planted the valley's first Cabernet Sauvignon in 1963. A UC Davis Fermentation Science graduate, Michael came up as assistant winemaker at Quivira Vineyards and co-founded his own Baldassari Wines in 2003 before taking the lead role at Robert Young. He crafts the estate's signature lush Chardonnays, bold Cabernets, and Bordeaux blends from the family's best vineyard blocks, with the fourth, fifth, and sixth generations all still working in the business.
Robert Young was the patriarch whose name the estate bears — a fourth-generation Alexander Valley farmer who turned his family’s prune ranch into a celebrated vineyard. In 1963 he became the first to plant Cabernet Sauvignon in the valley, and he later propagated the famous Chardonnay “Clone 17,” sought after by premium wineries across California. Affectionately called the “Mayor of Alexander Valley,” he sold his fruit to top producers for decades before his son Fred founded the estate winery in 1997. Robert died in 2009 at ninety; his children and grandchildren — the “Scions” — farm the land today.
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