As promised in my previous post, I wanted to tell you all about our time behind the scenes at Stuhlmuller Vineyards in the Alexander Valley of California.
Dormant grape vines for miles, in January. But when spring arrives the vines will start bursting with leaves and grapes.
Our friend Trish’s son, Zac Childers, is the Winemaker at Stuhlmuller Vineyards. Zac, graciously treated us to a fabulous tour of the winery along with a couple of barrel tastings. And we really did have an informative and delightful look behind the scenes at Stuhlmuller Vineyards.
After lunch in Healdsburg
So, after our delicious lunch of great Mexican food in downtown Healdsburg, we headed to the Stuhlmuller Vineyards and Winery a short drive away in the Alexander Valley. Our behind the scenes at Stuhlmuller Vineyards was so wonderful and informative. The wines had a starring role, for sure. But it was the passion and enthusiasm of Winemaker Zac Childers that made us hang on every word he said.
Winemaker Zac Childers at Stuhlmuller Vineyards and Winery
He talked about winemaking the way I talk about food. You could tell that it was a true love affair!
Stuhlmuller Vineyards
When we visited at the end of January the vines were dormant.
These ugly gnarled vines will be lush with leaves and grapes in a few months.
Stuhlmuller Vineyards is located at the southern edge of the Alexander Valley, where it converges with two other highly regarded Sonoma County appellations, Chalk Hill and the Russian River Valley. On the eastern edge of Stuhlmuller Vineyards, the 150-acre vineyard borders the Russian River. Positioned in a unique location that is part river bench-lands and part hillside, the vineyard benefits from its alluvial gravel soils and the rockier soils that comprise the hillside sections of the vineyard.
This area was hit very hard by summer fires but the vines survived.
As I learned from their website, two special blocks have been set aside for the growing of exceptional Zinfandel, as well as a small amount of Petite Syrah and Carignane. These vines are head pruned to enhance the natural intensity of the hillside fruit. The budwood for this Zinfandel vineyard came from the prized 120-year-old Teldeschi clone, a legendary selection from Dry Creek Valley.
Stuhlmuller grapes are grown sustainably.
Stuhlmuller Vineyards is a sustainably farmed winery nestled in a unique river bench and hillside location on the southwestern edge of the Alexander Valley, where three of Northern Sonoma County’s top appellations come together. There, virtually a stone’s throw from Chalk Hill and the Russian River Valley, the vineyard’s ancient soils and perfect microclimate provide the ideal environment for growing exceptional Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Zinfandel.
Zac Childers Winemaker
Zac was a native Virginian, but migrated to California in 2009 to pursue a career in winemaking. He became part of the Stuhlmuller team as a harvest intern during the 2011 vintage. For quite a few years Zac followed the wine growing season across hemispheres. This is often referred to as “harvest hopping.” He garnered extremely useful knowledge in Australia and New Zealand working with highly regarded wineries such as Torbreck and Amisfield. Working at wineries internationally not only broadened his palate, but also exposed him to new varietals and a range of winemaking methods and philosophies.
After completing eight harvests in four years, Zac decided it was time to pursue a formal education in winemaking. In 2014 he completed a Postgraduate degree in Viticulture and Enology at Lincoln University in Christchurch, NZ. When Zac returned to California, he re-joined the Stuhlmuller team as Assistant Winemaker. In November 2019, Zac was promoted to Winemaker.
Our Tour Behind the Scenes at Stuhlmuller Vineyards
Barrel Room
The Barrel Room at Stuhlmuller Vineyards
The Winemaker, Zac Childers, walked us through the winemaking process from picking to bottling. We started our tour with a visit to the barrel room. In other wineries that Steve and I have visited the barrel rooms are vast areas with soaring ceilings. But because Stuhlmuller is a small winery, growing their grapes sustainably, they don’t have the luxury of space. So their barrels are held in a red barn like building that is adjacent to the tasting room.
Barrels are strategically stacked for maximum capacity at this small winery.
The Barrels are really packed in as close as possible leaving very narrow passageways between rows.
In the barrel room the wine barrels are strategically stacked in rows that are quite close together to allow for maximum capacity. Zac told us that they use a lot of Oak barrels and the Oak is grown in different countries. Just as the soil affect the taste of the grapes grown it affects the flavor the wood will impart.
Outdoor equipment
Before the wine goes into the barrels it’s processed outside.
These crush the grapes. Winemaking has come a long way since Lucy and Ethel stomped them with their feet. Or has it?
The beauty of wine country!
Everywhere we looked we saw Stuhlmuller vines.
Scenery that is so stunning it takes your breath away.
And still no end in sight.
From the barrel room we went outside where enormous vats lined the area on both sides. But before we learned any more of the process Zac wanted us to see the exquisite beauty of the vineyards. We climbed steps and walked one level of a scaffolding like platform. There was one a good bit higher up, but my fear of heights kept me on that first platform. My view was breathtaking!!! Daredevil that my hubby is, he climbed as high as possible for a birds eye view. I believe our photos give you a good sense of nature’s artistry.
Zac is sanitizing the equipment needed for our barrel tasting.
The tasting room had a wonderful rustic beauty.
A trio of Stuhlmuller wines would make an awesome Holiday Gift!
Fun Wine Facts
Branded merchandise for sale at Stuhlmuller Vineyards and Winery.
Tapping a barrel for a taste of luscious wine.
Barrel tasting
Zac showed off the stunningly rustic tasting room while he sanitized the syphon needed to give us a couple of barrel tastings. And back in the barrel room we tasted two wines that were already amazing. I can only imagine what they will taste like when they are ready for drinking. I guess we will just have to go back and purchase some!
Well said.
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