Beltane Ranch

History:

Beltane Ranch was once the territory of the Wappo Indians. In 1837 it was part of Rancho Los Guilicos, a land grant from the Mexican Governor of Upper California to John Wilson and Ramona Carillo de Wilson.

By 1878 the Ranch was owned by John Drummond, a pioneer California viticulturist and winemaker. Drummond was one of the first to graft the old mission style grapevines to fine wine varieties, including Cabernet and Chardonnay with cuttings from the French Chateaus: Margaux, Lafitte Rothschild and the Hermitage in Bordeaux. He introduced Merlot to California is 1883. He planted Beltane's first official vineyard in 1879.

In 1970, Hein's niece, Rosemary Wood, began restoration of the ranch house and opened it to guests, one room at a time. The first vineyards of dry-farmed hillside Chardonnay and Pinot Noir were planted the same year. Eventually blocks of Zinfandel, Merlot, Cabernet and Sauvignon Blanc were also planted.

n 2004 approximately 1300 acres of Beltane Ranch were acquired by the Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District. This area included the spectacular eight mile trail that was so popular with our guests and also with many local organizations. Though the county has no immediate plans to open it to the public, the land is protected from any future development.

Beltane Ranch releases its first private label wine, 2009 Beltane Ranch Estate Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc. The premier vintage receives much critical acclaim and launches our growing Beltane Ranch Wine business.

Beltane has expanded our agricultural offerings with expansive produce beds, additonal heirloom fruit trees and vines and new varieties of berries. Most mornings our kitchen is supplied with entirely homegrown fruits and vegetables in addition to our farm fresh eggs from our Beltane heritage breed laying hens. Our olive oil is now available at the Olive Press at Jacuzzi Winery in Sonoma and at Oxbow Market in Napa. In addition to our estate wines, our vineyard produces wine grapes for Duckhorn and Caymus wineries.