When Fred and Eleanor McCrea fell in love with and bought a 160-acre goat ranch on the northeast slope of Spring Mountain in 1943, little did they envision a sign at the bend of the road that read: ‘Stony Hill Vineyard…visitors by appointment only.’ Yet just sixty years later, the sign hangs there as a testament to their passionate dedication to producing the quality wines that Stony Hill still proudly offers.

 

The property sits on the western slope of the Napa Valley between Richie Creek to the north and Lyman Creek to the south. Moderating climatic influences such as northeast-facing slopes and an elevation between 400 and 800 feet above the valley floor make this mild microclimate an ideal location for growing premium Chardonnay grapes.

Due in part to the Second World War, which had only recently ended, vineyard planting had to wait until 1947, when Fred and Eleanor were able to buy a used tractor and hire people to work full time in the vineyard. They were keen to plant only Chardonnay, as they held a deep and abiding love for the white wines of Burgundy and saw in Stony Hill the potential for growing fine quality white Burgundy grapes.

Fortunately for them and for us, they ignored the advice offered by University of California viticulturists to plant Pinot Blanc and White Riesling. The makeup of the vineyards today reflects their determination, with twenty-five acres of Chardonnay, ten acres of White Riesling, three acres of Gewurztraminer, and one acre of Semillon.

In 1952, the McCrays completed what was only the second new winery built in the Napa Valley after Prohibition, and later that same year, they produced their first commercial vintage of Chardonnay.

Stony Hill Chardonnay 2005

Stony Hill is known for minerality and intense fruit flavors of apple, pear and citrus.

The 2005 presents the lean, intense qualities of a good white Burgundy with a strong mouthfeel and an extraordinary finish. It is reminiscent of the 2001 vintage but with more intensity, a bit of toasty complexity and a hint of lime peel in the finish. These flavors are typical of the fruit from their #1 and #2 fields, our favorite producers. This is a distinguished wine, with all the qualities of a classic Chardonnay.

SVH Chardonnay

Please note that their ever-popular SHV Chardonnay is still several hundred cases short of our annual average, so order early. This vintage is palest straw in color and is definitely on the adolescent side at the moment. Its bouquet has a notable mineral quality, and reminds us of fresh-picked green apples. The light, supple body needs six more months in the cellar for the flavors to begin to integrate and develop the crisp, bold, fruity Chardonnay people love.