13-05-2025
- Business
- San Francisco Chronicle
Acclaimed Wine Country vineyard with popular tasting room is up for sale
A celebrated Sonoma County winery and vineyard is seeking a new owner.
Medlock Ames Winery and its vineyard, Bell Mountain Ranch, are up for sale for $44 million. The estate comprises 342 acres in Healdsburg, straddling the Russian River Valley and Alexander Valley appellations. The listing, which was first reported by the Healdsburg Tribune, also includes Medlock Ames' popular tasting room in Alexander Valley.
It's one of several California wine businesses downsizing or shutting down right now, a result of plunging wine consumption and sales. The Duckhorn Portfolio disclosed last week it will close some tasting rooms and discontinue some wine brands, including Paraduxx. The Rafael Vineyard in Napa's Oak Knoll District, the source of grapes for famous winemakers like Thomas Rivers Brown and Massimo Di Costanzo, is listed for $7.95 million, down from $10 million a year ago.
The decision to sell Medlock Ames was made about 18 months ago, said president Julie Rothberg, before the industry's downturn became fully apparent. She said the winery is at its "pinnacle," thanks to winemaker Abby Watt. The team has been making notable improvements that should make it an attractive investment, particularly the rehabilitation of the Bell Mountain Ranch vineyard after parts of it burned in the 2018 Kincade Fire. The vines that they replanted are now producing fruit. 'The land has come back to life,' Rothberg said. 'If you came and saw it now, you wouldn't even know that a fire had been there.'
College best friends Chris Medlock James and Ames Morrison founded Medlock Ames in 1998 after moving from New York and purchasing Bell Mountain. They gained a following for their Cabernet Sauvignon and other Bordeaux-style blends, and also became known for their sustainability efforts. They installed solar power throughout the property in 2004, and in 2022 became the first Sonoma County winery to earn a Regenerative Organic certification.
In 2009, the vintners bought a 1920s gas station and dive bar about 10 minutes away from Bell Mountain and transformed it into a modern-feeling tasting room surrounded by organic gardens. It helped usher in a new era of Wine Country tourism catering to hip, young drinkers. The speakeasy they opened in the back, Alexander Valley Bar, was a hit with local winemakers. (The bar later closed, and Medlock Ames sold its liquor license.) The winery has an active club of about 2,000 members, Rothberg said.
It's unclear what Medlock Ames' current ownership structure is. Rothberg said that the winery doesn't publicly discuss its ownership, but confirmed that it includes an 'original co-founder.'
The property has some privileges that are becoming rarer in Sonoma County, like the ability to hold private events at the tasting room. Thanks to a permit expansion during the pandemic, they can now serve wine to customers throughout the entire tasting room property, including the gardens.
Bell Mountain Ranch has 47 planted acres of grapes, about half of which are Cabernet Sauvignon, and Rothberg estimated another 33 could be planted. The vineyard could be sold in four parcels. The winery currently makes about 8,000 cases per year, but has capacity for 20,000. The listing also includes three homes that include gardens, pools, fitness centers and a bocce court, and notes that 140 acres could be subdivided 'for additional development or expansion of hospitality services.'
'Let's be honest, this is a really challenging time in the industry,' Rothberg said. 'But I'm personally really excited about the future and finding a new owner who has the passion to continue in these progressive traditions and see the next 30 years through.'
In the meantime, Medlock Ames will continue to produce wine and host visitors for tastings.
