Stony Hill Vineyard
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Winery |
| Founded | 1952 |
| Founder | Fred McCrea, Eleanor McCrea |
| Headquarters | Saint Helena , United States |
Area served | Napa Valley, California |
Key people | Gaylon Lawrence Jr. (owner), Carlton McCoy Jr. (CEO), Sarah McCrea (former president) |
| Products | Wine (Chardonnay, Riesling, Gewürztraminer, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon) |
| Owner | Gaylon Lawrence Jr. |
| Website | www |
Stony Hill Vineyard is a winery situated in Saint Helena, California, within the Spring Mountain District AVA of Napa Valley. Established in 1952 by Fred and Eleanor McCrea, the estate remained under family ownership until 2018. It is currently part of Lawrence Wine Estates, owned by Gaylon Lawrence Jr. alongside master sommelier Carlton McCoy Jr.
Winery
Covering 160 acres north of St. Helena, Stony Hill cultivates grapevines on approximately 42 acres at elevations ranging between 400 and 1,500 feet, with vineyards facing north and east on Spring Mountain. The vineyard has maintained organic certification since 2019 and also holds certification from Demeter International. Traditionally, Stony Hill focused almost exclusively on white varietals—mainly Chardonnay, along with Riesling and Gewürztraminer—with annual output near 5,000 cases as of 2018. Red grape varieties like Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon were introduced more recently, though red fruit is processed offsite.
The winery adheres to a classic approach to winemaking: employing neutral oak barrels, foregoing malolactic fermentation, and crafting Chardonnays characterized by elevated acidity and lower alcohol levels compared to standard Napa styles. Distribution primarily occurs through restaurant partnerships and mail-order subscriptions, with Stony Hill recognized as an early adopter of mail-order sales in Napa Valley. From 1972 until 2018, the winery produced a dessert wine named Sémillon de Soleil, which was exclusively retailed through Corti Brothers wine shop in Sacramento.
History
Fred McCrea, an advertising executive from San Francisco, and his wife Eleanor acquired land that had formerly served as a goat ranch in 1943 as a retreat property. By 1947, they planted eight acres of Riesling, five acres of Pinot blanc, and six acres of Chardonnay sourced from the Wente family vineyards in Livermore Valley, aiming to replicate the style of Burgundy white wines. The Pinot blanc was eventually replaced with Gewürztraminer. Some Riesling vines planted in 1948 remain productive today, possibly representing the oldest such vines in North America. The original wooden winery structure was built in 1951 and featured grape carvings created by Fred McCrea himself. The first Chardonnay harvest occurred in 1952, with initial sales commencing in 1954. Wine tastings were initially held on the front porch of the house constructed that same year.
Fred McCrea died in 1977. Following Eleanor’s passing in 1991, ownership passed to their son Peter McCrea and his wife Willinda; their daughter Sarah McCrea later assumed the role of company president. During the 1980s, a second production room was added to support winemaking operations. Fred McCrea served as the inaugural winemaker; Mike Chelini took over this role from 1973 until retiring in 2019.
In August 2018, Long Meadow Ranch—a larger family-owned winery in Napa Valley—acquired Stony Hill Vineyard. The McCrea family maintained equity interests: Sarah McCrea joined Long Meadow Ranch’s executive leadership team while Peter McCrea became a board member. This transaction facilitated improvements to infrastructure, growth in wholesale distribution, and enhancements to employee retirement benefits. After Chelini’s retirement, Long Meadow Ranch achieved organic certification for the vineyard.
In December 2020, Long Meadow Ranch sold Stony Hill to Arkansas billionaire Gaylon Lawrence Jr., who has been acquiring multiple Napa wineries since 2018, alongside master sommelier Carlton McCoy Jr., now serving as CEO of Lawrence Wine Estates. Jaimee Motley was appointed winemaker before being succeeded by Reid Griggs in 2021. The winery temporarily closed for comprehensive cellar renovations while production was relocated offsite. The original McCrea residence was transformed into a tasting room and guest facility named the Residence at Stony Hill.
Beginning in 2020, vineyard replanting efforts prioritized red varietals better adapted to changing climate conditions: Cabernet Sauvignon (14 acres), Chardonnay (reduced to 8.5 acres from 20 acres in 1990), and Cabernet Franc (5 acres). Wildfires during 2020 limited production to white wines to prevent smoke taint; immature Cabernet grapes were supplemented from other Lawrence properties in 2021. That year also saw the introduction of L'Escalier, a proprietary white blend combining Gewürztraminer, Chardonnay, and Riesling. Historically modest pricing was adjusted upward to align with other premium Napa Valley producers.