SONOMA GROWN FOR OVER 50 YEARS

Rodney Strong Vineyards story begins over 55 years ago when a celebrated American dancer named Rod Strong settled in Sonoma County to pursue a second lifelong creative passion: winemaking. Rodney Strong Vineyards was the 13th winery bonded in the newly discovered Sonoma County wine industry. A trio of winemaking paths crossed when Rick Sayre joined the team as Winemaker in 1979, and again when the Klein Family, 4th generation California farmers, purchased the winery in 1989 and initiated a renewed commitment of modern artisan winemaking. Through the years, Rodney Strong Vineyards has earned the reputation for critically acclaimed Single Vineyard and Reserve wines, stand out Estate releases and best-in-class Sonoma County varietal wines.

The California dream of reinventing yourself was never better exemplified than by Rodney Strong. A ballet dancer by trade, Strong retired in 1959, moved to Sonoma County and launched a winery he dubbed Sonoma Vineyards.

They renamed it Rodney Strong Vineyards in 1980.

Until his death in 2006, Strong was still a sort of winemaker emeritus, even though he’d long since sold the winery.

In 1989, the Rodney Strong Vineyards also reinvented itself, when Tom Klein, a Stanford M.B.A. with generational ties to California agriculture, bought the operation from drinks giant Guinness, making it once again family-run.

Klein’s great-grandfather, a San Francisco tailor, lost his wife and business following the 1906 earthquake and fire. His sons relocated to the Central Valley, and turning to farm and land acquisition, restored their fortunes.

Following a stint as a management consultant in the 1980s, Klein also started over, buying Rodney Strong.

“The brand was doing okay, mainly through their mail-order business, Windsor Vineyards,” says Klein.

Klein focused on appellation-driven grape sourcing: Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from Sonoma’s cooler areas, Cabernet Sauvignon and Zinfandel from Alexander Valley. Grapes are sourced only from Sonoma County.

When Klein purchased the winery, Rick Sayre, Rodney Strong’s winemaker since 1979, stayed on. Still, at the helm, Sayre credits Klein’s financial commitment.

“Since they have been family-owned again, they have continued to rejuvenate vineyards and invested millions into grape processing, crushing, tanks and barrels,” says Sayre.

Under Klein’s ownership, production has been consolidated at the winery’s headquarters, south of Healdsburg.

The focus is on high-end Cabernet Sauvignons and Bordeaux-style reds from the winery’s Alexander Valley estate vineyards: Cabernets from Alexander’s Crown, Rockaway and Brother’s Ridge; a Meritage called Symmetry; and a Reserve Cabernet.

Included in the high-end range are a Reserve Pinot Noir and a Reserve Chardonnay, both from the Russian River Valley. Production of these elite wines averages 15,000 cases annually.

The Rodney Strong Vineyard's total production is about 830,000 cases, making it the 20th-largest U.S. wine company.

Sayre attributes Rodney Strong’s high quality not only to the pedigree of the grapes but also to the winery’s Artisan Cellar, a high-end production facility designed to vinify small quantities of grapes.

“These lots come from ‘sweet spots’ in the vineyards,” says Sayre. “That’s why I call Rodney Strong, ‘Northern California’s largest boutique winery.’”

There are many fine wineries in California, but few manage to project such quality across so many price tiers, scoring consistently well in Wine Enthusiast tastings.

For this remarkable track record, Wine Enthusiast is proud to recognize Rodney Strong Vineyards as our 2013 American Winery of the Year.

Rodney Strong Vineyards’ Wines

2017 Charlotte's Home Sauvignon Blanc

WINEMAKING NOTES

Fresh, bright and crisp, this Sauvignon Blanc is a wine of balance, richness and aromatic complexity. The Alexander Valley fruit provides the backbone to this Sauvignon Blanc, while the ocean cooled Russian River Valley fruit offers zesty citrus notes of grapefruit, lime blossoms and lemongrass. The warmer Dry Creek Valley fruit gives the wine a wonderful honeydew melon and tropical flavour.

FOOD PAIRINGS

This classic Sauvignon Blanc pairs wonderfully with oysters, salads, vegetable quiche and a variety of seafood dishes.

HISTORY

Rod Strong established our heritage Sauvignon Blanc vineyard in 1971, naming it Charlotte's Home in honour of his wife. Today, that vineyard remains the core of our Charlotte's Home Sauvignon Blanc, along with our estate vineyards in the Alexander Valley as well as the Russian River Valley and Dry Creek Valley.

THE VINEYARDS

The 2017 vintage will not be soon forgotten. The all-time precipitation record was set by mid-April as rain swept like waves over the North Coast, filling all of the lakes, ponds and reservoirs. As the rainclouds subsided and the sun came out, the vineyards in the Russian River Valley endured six different heat waves at or above 100F, including a memorable one on Labor Day at 110F. We harvested the fruit from August 29 through September 30 to make this wonderful wine.

2014 Knotty Vines Zinfandel

WINEMAKING NOTES

Fresh, bright berry fruit from our heritage Russian River vineyard combined with the ripe, peppery jam, from our Alexander Valley and Dry Creek vineyards make for a wonderful diversity of flavour, showcasing the best that Zinfandel can offer. This wine offers notes of blackberry, plum and boysenberry with a touch of red fruit jam and baking spices.

FOOD PAIRINGS

Enjoy this Zin now with grilled ribs, roasted vegetables, or a chicken barbecue pizza.

HISTORY

When Rod Strong first acquired benchland acreage on Westside Road just behind the winery, he wisely chose to leave untouched, the 15 acres of old, gnarled Zinfandel vines that had been thriving there since 1904. Today we still harvest Zinfandel from those same old vines, along with a handful of vineyards we farm to the north in the Alexander and Dry Creek Valleys.

THE VINEYARDS

A mild, dry winter encouraged early bud break in Sonoma County in 2014. The growing season was very warm overall but tempered by some overcast days in late July and late August plus a heavy drizzle in early September. We harvested this Zinfandel from September 3 through September 24 under ideal conditions.

2017 Rosé of Pinot Noir

WINEMAKING NOTES

This beautifully coloured fresh and vibrant Rosé of Pinot Noir has aromas and flavours of strawberry, white peach and jasmine. Brilliant and bright with fresh acidity and a wonderful lasting juicy finish.

FOOD PAIRINGS

Enjoy this Rosé with goat cheese, fresh seafood dishes and summer salads.

HISTORY

Rod Strong was among the first modern wine pioneers with a vision to plant Pinot Noir in the Russian River Valley. In 1968, he planted our heritage River East Vineyard in the alluvial clay-loam soils adjacent to the winery in Healdsburg. Today the Russian River Valley is well established as one of the premier Pinot Noir growing regions in the world.

THE VINEYARDS

The 2017 vintage will not be soon forgotten. The all-time precipitation record was set by mid-April as rain swept like waves over the North Coast, filling all of the lakes, ponds and reservoirs. As the rainclouds subsided and the sun came out, the vineyards in the Russian River Valley endured six different heat waves at or above 100F, including a memorable one on Labour Day at 110F.