The organic Medlock Ames Winery estate and vineyard, with plantings in two of the most exciting appellations in California — the Russian River Valley and Alexander Valley— is up for sale.
A Californian producer known for making some of the finest Cabernets and Chardonnays in Sonoma County is looking for a new owner. The property is currently on sale for a cool US$44 million, and comprises 342 acres in total, encompassing the winery, two tasting rooms, three guesthouses with pools and fitness centres, and its prized vineyards.
Annual wine production at
Medlock Ames, founded in 1998, is around 8,000 cases per year, but according to the sales listing the winery has the capacity to produce up to 20,000 cases. Additionally, the wine estate carries Regenerative Organic certification since November 2022, making it one of only a handful of wineries in the world (and the first in Sonoma) to reach this achievement, "which goes beyond organic, incorporating the concepts of soil health and worker fairness," according to co-founder Ames Morison. Consequently, the soils in its Bell Mountain Vineyard are zero-tillage.
Post-fire plantings
Around 20% of the producer's vines were pulled out and replanted after the Kincade Fire decimated parts of its Chalk Hill estate in October 2019, meaning some vines are as young as six years old. The devastating fire raged for 13 days and according to official information released by Sonoma County consumed 77,758 acres of land. An investigation into the cause of the fire revealed it started when a 230,000 volt transmission line failed near the point of the fire's origin, just as power was about to be shut off in the area due to Red Flag weather conditions. Leading up to the Kincade Fire, Sonoma County had experienced periods of elevated temperatures, low humidity, and increased winds (reaching 78mph in some parts) creating a greater fire threat throughout the months of September and October, a post-fire report said.
Medlock's Ames Morrison has said that his decision to look into regenerative viticulture came following a lot of "soul-searching" after the inferno tore through some of his land, "turning much of its green pastures to black".
Fine wine potential
The Medlock Ames estate in Healdsburg straddles two of the most exciting Californian wine regions: the Russian River Valley and Alexander Valley appellations, and today its Bell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon commands US$70 per bottle, while its Fifty Tons Cabernet Sauvignon goes for the higher price of US$110. As well as Cabernet, Medlock Ames also produces single-varietal Merlot, Malbec and Cabernet Franc, along with premium Chardonnay (US$55) and Sauvignon Blanc. The wider estate boasts 650 olive trees, an orchard, and "a market garden for seasonal vegetables and flowers".
The winery and estate is available for sale as a whole or can be purchased in individual parts. For example, the winery only, or guesthouses only. However, would-be buyers might be wise to consider that
California’s 2024 grape crush was the lowest for 20 years, according to a report by the US Department of Agriculture. The state’s total combined red and white grape crush for 2024 was 2.844 million tonnes, down from 3.685 million tonnes in 2023.
