White Rock Vineyards is literally handcrafted. Globetrotter and bon vivant, Dr. John Pettingill, a dentist, bought the land in 1870 and—with only a hand saw—hand-quarried the winery out of the native white rock. Now in... Read More

White Rock Vineyards is literally handcrafted. Globetrotter and bon vivant, Dr. John Pettingill, a dentist, bought the land in 1870 and—with only a hand saw—hand-quarried the winery out of the native white rock. Now in the hands of northern France natives, Henri and Claire Vandendriessche, the estate continues to work by hand using traditional methods, making classic California wines.

The estate is truly unique. Beginning with location, situated at the base of Stag’s Leap district quietly tucked away behind surrounding hillsides, it is mostly hidden from the public eye. This is in stark contrast to the string of Stag’s Leap wineries off the Silverado trail.

The distinct terroir of stony bedrock and white volcanic ash, home to Chardonnay vines on the valley floor and Cabernet and Bordeaux varieties on the hillsides, provides a low-nutrient home that forces the vines to dig deep. The result is a winemaker’s dream: wonderful, small berries loaded with phenolic and structural intensity. Finally, the Vandendriessche family practices sustainable and natural farming techniques. Herbicides, fungicides, and pesticides have never been used, and since the estate is remotely tucked away, it has been protected from residual chemicals.

The family views themselves as stewards of the land, and now on their second generation, will continue their responsibility to the land for generations to come.