Where Terroir Meets Artistry on Sonoma Mountain

A Story of Place, Precision, and Passion
At precisely 38°N, 122°W in Glen Ellen, Sonoma, a remarkable viticultural expression has emerged. Established in 1999 on the eastern slopes of Sonoma Mountain AVA, our boutique vineyard represents the pinnacle of terroir-driven winemaking. With just 650 vines across half an acre at 450 feet elevation, we've created something truly extraordinary.
 
Distinguished Terroir
Our southeastern-facing vineyard captures the perfect balance of elements: cool morning sunshine, moderating influences from altitude and Sonoma Valley fog, and afternoon shade. This microclimate creates the ideal conditions for extended hang time—allowing our fruit to develop complex phenolics while maintaining vibrant acidity. While Sonoma Mountain's western slopes favor Burgundian varieties, our eastern position creates the perfect home for Bordeaux varietals. Distinctive soils feature higher clay content and superior water retention, permitting a dry farming approach with minimal drip irrigation. This terroir signature translates directly to the glass: higher natural acidity, elegant structure, and a refined red-fruit character that defines our wines.
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Meticulous Vineyard Management
Our vineyard composition honors Bordeaux tradition with thoughtful precision:
- 45% Cabernet Sauvignon: providing structure and aging potential
- 45% Merlot: contributing silky texture and luscious fruit
- 5% Cabernet Franc: offering aromatic complexity and finesse
- 5% Petit Verdot: delivering color intensity and structural framework
 
Every vineyard decision reflects our commitment to excellence through sustainable practices:
- Later winter pruning to carefully manage bud break timing
- Strategic canopy management throughout the growing season
- Rigorous green harvest to restrict yields and concentrate flavors
- Hand-harvesting at 23.5-24 Brix for optimal balance
 
Grapes are harvested at a precise 23.5-24 Brix—a deliberately tight range reflecting our European-inspired approach to ripeness. This exacting standard strikes the perfect balance between phenolic maturity and elegant restraint, ensuring optimal sugar-acid harmony while producing wines with moderate alcohol (13-14% ABV) and vibrant medium(+) acidity. This approach stands in deliberate contrast to the higher-Brix harvesting common in California, prioritizing structure, complexity, and aging potential over power and immediate fruit intensity.
 
Radical Quality Focus
Our production philosophy can be summarized in one word: uncompromising. With yields between 10-20 hL/ha—a fraction of commercial vineyards—we prioritize quality over quantity in the most dramatic terms. This intentional restriction, combined with vintage variation, has produced harvests ranging from just 0.289 tons (2022) to 0.754 tons (2018). This extreme approach concentrates flavors and enhances complexity but demands premium positioning—our production costs exceed $40,000 per ton, placing us firmly in the ultra-premium category alongside the region's most distinguished producers.
 
Artisanal Winemaking
Since 2014, we've produced our estate Bordeaux-style blend under the 38° North label, with each vintage receiving a unique name reflecting that year's journey. Our winemaking protocol celebrates precision:
- Optical sorting ensures only perfect berries enter fermentation
- 20-month aging in French oak (70% new) from 150-200 year old trees
- Barrels selected from central France's finest coopers: Bossuet, Vicard, and Sansaud
 
A Distinctive Signature
The resulting wine offers a sensory experience that speaks directly to the connoisseur:
- Visual: Medium ruby color with brilliant clarity  
- Aromatics: Pronounced aroma intensity spanning floral notes (rose, violet), red fruits (currant, cranberry, raspberry), black fruits (cherry, plum), herbal nuances (mint, dried herbs), and spice elements  
- Palate: Perfectly dry with medium(+) acidity, medium fine-grained tannins, medium alcohol, and pronounced flavor intensity  
- Finish: Remarkably long, with evolving secondary (cedar, cloves, smoke) and tertiary (dried fruit, tobacco, wet leaves) complexity
 
This distinctive profile has earned over twenty "outstanding quality" ratings.
 
In Distinguished Company
Our location places us among illustrious neighbors like Kistler and Laurel Glen (home of the unique "Laurel Glen clone" of Cabernet Sauvignon certified by UC Davis). This eastern slope of Sonoma Mountain represents one of California's most privileged terroirs for Bordeaux varieties.
 
The Essence of 38° North
38° North embodies the perfect alignment of geographical precision, viticultural expertise, and winemaking artistry. Our unwavering commitment to expressing this unique Sonoma Mountain site—despite vintage challenges and economic realities—results in wines of remarkable concentration, complexity, and aging potential.