One of the first people to plant grapes in the Sonoma Mountain / Bennett Valley region after a 60-year absence, David Steiner was viewed as a pioneer when he established the vineyard in the early 1970s. David originally planted Cabernet Sauvignon and had success with the initial vintages. Over time, as the site proved too cool to consistently produce high-quality Cabernet, Rod Berglund of Joseph Swan convinced David to plant Pinot Noir instead. As a result, Steiner Vineyard became a go-to source of grapes for highly-acclaimed California Pinot Noirs beginning in the early 1990s.

After a series of different turns in ownership, Belden Barns acquired the site in 2005, and began the painstaking process of re-developing the vineyard to bring it back to its historic standards. Roughly ten of the original thirty acres under vine were still standing. Most of those vines were virused and impacted by phyloxera. In the end, they were able to save only one block – a 1.5 acre stand of Pinot Noir clone 667 planted in 1998. The remainder of the 18.5 acres developed to date were installed in high-density, state-of-the-art plantings. They grow Pinot Noir, Syrah, Grenache, Grüner Veltliner, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Viognier.

The Sonoma Mountain perch above the Bennett Valley provides a very accommodating home for the cool-climate grapes, such as Chardonnay. Situated west of the Santa Rosa Plain, Bennett Valley is directly in the path of the pacific marine air migrating inland via the Petaluma Gap. This Marine influence results in cool winds on summer days, and a fog that can start in the early evening and linger late into the next day’s morning – absolutely ideal circumstances for growing grapes that reach their fullest flavor potential. From a temperature accumulation and temperature diurnal change, this site is very similar to that of the Sonoma Coast.

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Wind and fog define our area, and it’s a direct connection to the Sonoma coastline. The air moves from the sea inland, bringing with it the cooling breezes that make our estate an ideal location for growing Pinot Noir. The land itself anchors us to the place and the soil is perfect for growing this precious grape.

Ron Noble has spent most of his life on or by the sea. As a marine/coastal engineer, he’s designed and overseen hundreds of coastal projects for the U.S. Navy, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and numerous municipal coastal works. His love of sailing has led him out into the vastness of the oceans where he has seen the sky filled with stars.

The Ron Noble Wines label draws inspiration from these elements. The sailboat is another of Ron’s loves, besides wine. The stars in the sky celebrate our connection to the seas. The constellations are engineering schematics, which draw from Ron’s life as an engineer.

Finally, all of these connections lead to our tagline: By wind, sea, and soil our wines are born.

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The daily weather pattern starts with crisp coolness and a blanket of fog early-to-mid-morning. By late morning the sun has chased away the fog and the temperatures rise. By mid-afternoon, however, the cool breezes return, flowing west to east, picking up speed as the afternoon progresses and bringing in the almost nightly fog. There are daily temperature swings of forty to fifty degrees. This cooling “wind tunnel” effect means the vineyard yields are smaller and grapes ripen later, developing wonderful flavors and fruit characteristics, while maintaining ideal levels of acidity. It’s the perfect recipe for intense but well-balanced Pinot Noir.

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Megan was attracted to Ron Noble Wines for several reasons. First, she feels that Petaluma Gap is an underappreciated area and has great potential for quality production. Her dream is to push the winemakers in the area to establish the AVA as a premier growing region equal to Russian River or Santa Lucia Highlands. Second, the technical element of working with five different clones that are better suited to Petaluma Gap (more than Russian River) is an intriguing prospect. Third, the potential of the estate site itself is tremendous, and she relishes the idea of being able to mold it to her will, while honoring it’s attributes.

Megan is an artist, and through her winemaking at Ron Noble she is able to showcase her creativity and vision.

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When Ron finally made the decision to plant the vineyard, he sought out expert advice on what to plant. Given the location of the estate in the Petaluma Gap AVA, and the soil analysis conducted earlier, he knew that Pinot Noir should grow well here. After consulting with numerous winemakers, Ron decided on growing five Pinot Noir Clones: 115, 667, 777, 828 and Pommard 4. He chose these high quality clones for their full bodied, silky textures combined with rich aromatics which embodies the perfect glass of Pinot Noir. 

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This hillside property was acquired in 1999 by Ron Noble with aspirations of one day owning his own vineyard. Ron’s passion for wines started in his early 20’s and only intensified as the years went on. His career as a world renown coastal engineer coupled with witnessing his late, close friend Orville Magoon develop the world class Guenoc Estate Vineyards and Winery invoked the drive to start a vineyard of his own. His incredible journeys took him around the world and he fashioned them into opportunities to visit premier wineries.

The vineyard that grows the majority of the grapes for Ron’s wines spans across 24 acres of fertile land located within the Petaluma Gap American Viticultural Area (AVA). This land is naturally perfect for growing grapes, especially Pinot Noir, largely due to the fog created by the Pacific Ocean which on most nights and early mornings blankets the vineyard in a nurturing embrace. This dense fog extends the growing season by keeping the surrounding air cool which allows the grapes to reach their full potential and is the secret to growing some of the best Pinot Noir grapes in the world. These conditions are why Ron decided that Pinot Noir would be the perfect varietal to grow on his land.

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As the founder of two consulting firms specializing in coastal and harbor engineering, he has spent most of his time near the sea overseeing projects on everything from beach stabilization to seawalls to levees. His work has taken him to over 35 countries in 50 years.

Now officially “retired,” when he isn’t still consulting, he wanders the estate vineyard, spends time with his family, and nurtures his vision for Ron Noble Wines.

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Growing up in the heart of Sonoma County wine country, she spent most of her free hours outside, developing a love of nature. Her path to winemaking was a combination of her love of the outdoors, her aptitude with science in school, and her love of food and cooking (instilled in her by her parents). Megan views winemaking like cooking, which she sees as very tactile and holistic.

As the founding winemaker at Ron Noble wines, she sees the immense potential of the estate and is guiding winemaking to reflect the site and maximize the possibilities for the wines.

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Yun is a gourmet cook, having spent many years in the food and restaurant business. She is outgoing and meticulous in her approach to hospitality and arrangements. She enjoys meeting and engaging with people of all regions and has traveled extensively with her husband, Ron Noble, where she has experienced the culture and cuisine of many countries

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