What Stony Hill Vineyard does

Stony Hill Vineyard is a privately held, estate-grown winery operating from a 168-acre property on the eastern slopes of the Mayacamas Mountains in Napa Valley's Spring Mountain District, with approximately 40 acres of postage-stamp vineyards planted at elevations between 800 and 1,550 feet on volcanic soils with a limestone sub-layer. Founded in 1951 by Fred and Eleanor McCrea as the first post-Prohibition winery in Napa Valley and released its inaugural vintage in 1952, Stony Hill has been described as "Napa Valley's first cult wine producer" and is now owned by the Lawrence Family through Lawrence Wine Estates following a 2020 acquisition. The winery's portfolio centers on highly allocated estate-grown Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Syrah, all certified organic (CCOF, 2019) and farmed biodynamically with regenerative practices including rotational sheep grazing; a new Côte Series Cabernet platform (Côte Rouge, Côtes des Pierres, Côte Boisée) expresses distinct terroir zones across elevation and soil type.

Stony Hill operates an exclusively direct-to-consumer distribution model with no third-party retail presence. Its primary commercial channels are a three-tier wine club membership (Artisan at 12 bottles/year, Select at 18 bottles/year, Elite at 24 bottles/year) with preferential pricing of 20-30% and recurring seasonal allocations, plus estate tasting experiences at The Residence priced from $75 to $200 per person and a calendar of annual events (Harvest Luncheon, Luminary Harvest Weekend, Table 24 dinners) with tickets ranging from $160 to $900. Membership benefits extend through cross-property partnerships, including the Luminary Napa Valley social club, Bardessono's Vintages in the Villa luxury hospitality program, Solage resort preferred pricing, and a preferred-vehicle alliance with Lexus.

The organization operates from a single estate headquarters in St. Helena, California, with 11-50 employees, and leadership includes Winemaker Reid Griggs (appointed 2023, formerly of Bedrock Wine Company, MS from UC Davis), Estate Director roles, and a Director of Membership & Fulfillment with prior Michelin-star hospitality experience. Revenue is not publicly disclosed, and the company carries no venture capital, private equity, or institutional investment in its cap table beyond the strategic acquisition by Lawrence Wine Estates.

Name

Stony Hill Vineyard

Legal name

Stony Hill Vineyard

Website

https://stonyhillvineyard.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1951

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Stony Hill Vineyard is a historic Napa Valley estate winery on Spring Mountain, producing highly allocated, organically certified Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Syrah. It serves affluent wine collectors and wine-club members through an exclusive direct-to-consumer allocation model and luxury estate hospitality.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Estate Wines

NAICS

Wineries (31213), Grape Vineyards (111332), Wine and Distilled Alcoholic Beverage Merchant Wholesalers (424820), Beer, Wine, and Liquor Retailers (44532)

SIC

Wholesale-Beer, Wine & Distilled Alcoholic Beverages (5180)

akta.pro primary industry

Wineries & Vineyards (Tasting Rooms) (THAFALAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Vineyard Establishment & Development (Site Prep, Trellising, Planting) (AFAGAJAA), Wine & Sparkling Wine Wineries & Brands (CRADAIAB)

Keywords

• Estate winery
• Wine club membership
• Vineyard tastings
• Biodynamic farming
• Cabernet Chardonnay

Headquarters

HQ city

St. Helena

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Wine Sales (Direct-to-Consumer): Highly allocated estate-grown wines sold directly to consumers through membership allocations, with wines shipped 2-3 times per year. Includes current releases, library wines, and large format bottles.
2. Tasting Experiences: Estate tastings at The Residence including Residence Experience ($150), Taste of Stony Hill ($75), and Terroir Experience ($200) with Lexus vineyard tours. One tasting fee refunded per 2-6 bottles purchased.
3. Event Tickets: Special event experiences including Harvest Luncheon, Luminary Harvest Weekend events, Table 24 dinners, and private events. Ticket prices range from $160-$900 with member discounts.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Stony Hill Vineyard is a historic Spring Mountain (St. Helena, Napa Valley) estate winery that produces highly allocated, estate-grown Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Syrah from biodynamically farmed, CCOF-certified organic high-elevation vineyards (800–1,550 ft). Wines are sold exclusively direct-to-consumer through a hand-selected mailing list, a three-tier wine club (Artisan 12-bottle, Select 18-bottle, Elite 24-bottle annual commitments), winery-direct e-commerce, on-site tastings, and private/seasonal events at The Residence.

Product overview

Stony Hill Vineyard is a historic, family-owned Napa Valley winery producing highly allocated, estate-grown wines since 1951. The portfolio centers on Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Syrah from high-elevation Spring Mountain vineyards, available through Current Releases, Library Collection (aged vintages), and Large Format bottles. The winery operates a three-tier wine club membership (Artisan, Select, Elite) offering 12-24 bottle annual commitments with escalating benefits including complimentary tastings, event access, and resort partnerships. Guest experiences include the Residence Experience, Terroir Experience, and Taste of Stony Hill tastings. The estate produces several branded sub-products including L'Escalier (heritage Chardonnay blend) and the Côte Series Cabernet Sauvignons (Côte Rouge, Côtes des Pierres, Côte Boisée) expressing distinct terroir zones. Membership benefits extend through Luminary Napa Valley and Solage resort partnerships. The winery hosts private events and annual celebrations including Harvest Luncheon, Luminary Harvest Weekend, and Table 24 dinners.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Current Release Wines
• Library Collection Aged vintages of Stony Hill wines (notably Chardonnay) stored undisturbed in the estate cellars since release, offering collectors and sommeliers rare access to historic Napa Valley wines demonstrating bottle-age evolution.
• Large Format Bottles Magnums and larger format bottles of Stony Hill wines, slowing aging for optimal sensory experience, stocked in substantial quantities under the McCrea family's foresight to support long-term cellaring tradition.
• L'Escalier (Heritage Chardonnay Blend) Heritage Chardonnay blend named for the terraced slopes ('l'escalier' = staircase in French), crafted from Gewürztraminer, Riesling, and Chardonnay budwood grafted from the original McCrea plantings on Spring Mountain.
• Côte Series Cabernet Sauvignon (Côte Rouge, Côtes des Pierres, Côte Boisée) Estate Cabernet Sauvignon series expressing distinct ecological zones delineated by soil type, elevation, and orientation: Côte Rouge from iron-rich volcanic soils crowning the property at ~1,500 ft, Côtes des Pierres from boulder fields at 600–800 ft, and Côte Boisée from additional parcels.
• Artisan Wine Club Membership Entry-tier wine club with a 12-bottle annual commitment, two shipments per year (spring and fall), 20% preferential pricing, six complimentary Residence Experiences annually, and two guaranteed allocations. Average price per shipment ~$1,100; ground shipping included.
• Select Wine Club Membership Mid-tier wine club with an 18-bottle annual commitment, three shipments per year (spring, summer, fall), 25% preferential pricing, eight complimentary Residence and Terroir Experiences annually, two complimentary event tickets, and a catered lunch for two guests annually. Average price per shipment ~$1,200.
• Elite Wine Club Membership Premium wine club with a 24-bottle annual commitment, three shipments per year, 30% preferential pricing, twelve complimentary experiences annually, four complimentary event tickets, and a catered lunch for four guests annually. Average price per shipment ~$1,400.
• Taste of Stony Hill (Estate Tasting) Introductory 60-minute tasting at $75 per person (Napa community rate $60), featuring three current-release wines guided by an Estate Host. One tasting fee refunded per two bottles purchased.
• Residence Experience (Estate Tasting) 90-minute tasting at $150 per person featuring four single-vineyard wines, a cheese accompaniment, and a curated walking tour of historic estate vineyards. One tasting fee refunded per three bottles purchased.
• Terroir Experience (Estate Tasting with Lexus Vineyard Tour) Exclusive 90-minute experience at $200 per person combining a vineyard tour in a Lexus GX-550 with a private tasting at The Residence of five wines from a limited portfolio, customized to preferences; groups up to four; members receive 50% discount.
• Harvest Luncheon Annual intimate gathering held in October celebrating the harvest season with seasonal cuisine, single-cultivar olive oils, and the newest wine releases.
• Luminary Harvest Weekend Signature harvest season event in partnership with Burgess and The Home Ranch, celebrating Napa Valley's pioneering families with tastings, winemaker lunches, and the La Paulee celebration dinner. Tickets $160–$900 with member discounts.
• Table 24 Dinner Intimate 24-seat family-style dinner hosted by Lawrence Wine Estates leadership and a winemaker, featuring a seasonal three-course meal paired with wines from the Lawrence Wine Estates portfolio. Tickets around $200++.
• Private Events at The Residence Customized private event hosting at the estate for family gatherings, intimate lunches, and grand celebrations, managed by the Hospitality Team.

Quantifiable outcome

• Highly allocated wines with no direct retail availability
• +1 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Star Creek Land StewardsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerContract grazing company providing 450 sheep for vineyard floor management. Rotational grazing supports soil health, reduces machinery use, and enhances regenerative farming practices on Stony Hill's steep hillside vineyards.
• BardessonocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLuxury hotel and spa collaboration 'Vintages in the Villa' offering exclusive wine education and tasting experiences including four-night villa stays, sommelier series tastings, and curated tours across Lawrence Wine Estates properties.
• LexuscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPreferred vehicle partner for Stony Hill, with Lexus GX-550 vehicles used for exclusive Terroir Experience vineyard tours. Lexus featured in marketing materials and designated parking at estate.
• Solage ResortminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCalistoga luxury resort (Auberge Resorts Collection) offering Stony Hill members 15% preferential pricing on stays. Part of membership benefits program.
• Luminary Napa ValleycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPrivate social club uniting members across Lawrence Wine Estates historic estates (Burgess, Heitz Cellar, Stony Hill, Ink Grade, Haynes Vineyard). Complimentary after one year of membership with preferential pricing and Lexus transportation.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Screaming Eagle: Oakville cult Cabernet with a famously small production and allocation-only mailing list. Directly comparable to Stony Hill on model (allocation DTC, estate-only fruit) and category (high-end Napa red/white allocation).
• Frog's Leap: Rutherford-based estate practicing organic, dry-farmed, and regenerative viticulture across estate vineyards. Closely comparable on farming philosophy, estate-only sourcing, and DTC tasting/membership model.
• Ridge Vineyards: Mountain-grown, single-vineyard-focused producer (Monte Bello, Lytton Springs) with a strong DTC and mailing-list culture and decades-long reputation for terroir-driven Cabernet and Chardonnay. Comparable operating model and quality positioning.
• Burgess Cellars: Another Lawrence Wine Estates sister property on Howell Mountain with an estate-grown, mountain-terroir identity and member programming. Useful as an in-portfolio benchmark for Stony Hill's commercial economics.
• Diamond Creek: Napa Valley cult Cabernet producer famous for its terroir-driven single-vineyard bottlings and small production. Comparable on tiny-volume, terroir-expressive, allocation-only Napa wines.
• Spottswoode Estate: St. Helena estate focused on a single-vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon with a long-standing allocation and mailing list. Comparable on low-volume, single-estate Napa Cabernet DTC operations.
• Heitz Cellar: Sister property under Lawrence Wine Estates; historic Napa Valley winery with an established mailing list and library of aged wines. Directly comparable on ownership parent, portfolio role, and member-driven DTC model.
• Grace Family Vineyards: Small St. Helena estate with a long allocation list, low production, and collector-driven demand. Comparable as a Napa cult estate operating on scarcity and mailing-list exclusivity.
• Mayacamas Vineyards: Historic Mount Veeder/Mayacamas-range mountain winery producing low-volume Chardonnay and Cabernet from volcanic, high-elevation terroir. Shares Stony Hill's mountain-vineyard identity, classical winemaking style, and library of aged wines.
• Harlan Estate: Oakville-based cult Napa Cabernet producer with a strict allocation-only, mailing-list-driven distribution model and estate-only production. Comparable to Stony Hill as a small-volume, high-reputation Napa estate focused on direct relationships with collectors.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/stonyhillvineyard
• Xx.com/StonyHillWine
• Facebookfacebook.com/stonyhillvineyard
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/stony-hill-vineyard

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Stony Hill Vineyard