The Chalk Hill
Estate Story
Our Story Begins 50 Years Ago
Perhaps no other winery captures the casual luxury of Sonoma County better than Chalk Hill Estate. Founded in 1972, this spectacular 1,300-acre property features 300 acres of vineyards, wilderness areas, winery, hospitality center, organic culinary garden, residence, and equestrian pavilion. The winery’s vineyards are thoughtfully woven through the native foliage and contoured to fit the intricate terrain. More than two-thirds of the Chalk Hill Estate remains uncultivated. The higher elevations offer stunning views of the Russian River Valley to the west and the Mayacamas Mountains to the east.
Chardonnay Leadership
Founder’s Block Chardonnay & Clone 97
Chalk Hill’s commitment to Chardonnay began with Founder’s Block, 11 acres among the estate’s first vineyard plantings following Fred Furth’s founding of the property in 1972. As one of Sonoma County’s early champions of Chardonnay, Chalk Hill made the varietal its flagship, crafting wines that embody a signature rich yet balanced style.
In 1996, a partnership with UC Davis launched an extensive Chardonnay clonal trial, with 17 clones harvested, vinified, bottled, and evaluated separately over five vintages. The six top-performing clones were selected for replanting across the estate, shaping the next chapter of its Chardonnay program. Today, Chardonnay accounts for one-third of the estate’s vines, with 23 distinct clones, including the proprietary Chalk Hill Clone 97, contributing to the depth and complexity of the wines.
The People
The Hands Behind the Wine
A shared love of the land and dedication to every detail. Meet the people whose vision and craft shape our wines and carry Chalk Hill’s legacy forward.
Courtney Foley
2nd Generation Vitner
Courtney Foley is 2nd Generation Vintner for Chalk Hill Winery, with a deep respect for the estate, and a keen understanding of its diverse and stunning vineyards.
“As stewards of this special property, we take our legacy very seriously. This includes the site-specific wines that we carefully cultivate, but also the large portion of the property that is wilderness and not planted to vines, the bounty of produce from our organic culinary garden, as well as the social sustainability of the people who farm and work to craft the wines in our growing portfolio.”
Courtney became Director of Winemaking at Chalk Hill from 2018-2019. She is the youngest daughter of Chalk Hill Estate proprietors Bill and Carol Foley, who purchased the iconic Sonoma County property in 2010. As her family’s home for over a decade, Courtney has been surrounded by and fallen in love with Chalk Hill Estate’s culture of wine, organically-grown farm-to-table food, and its strong connection with family and friends.
Courtney is a strong voice for diversity, equity, and inclusion in the culture of the winery, and serves on the Sonoma County Vintners Board of Directors.
Darrell Holbrook
Winemaker
Born and raised in Sonoma County, Darrell Holbrook spent his childhood among the vineyards. By age 12, Darrell often accompanied his father to his job at Lytton Springs Winery, now Ridge Vineyards, driving tractors and helping where he could.
The beauty of the landscape and excitement of working in this hands-on industry was of deep interest to him even at a young age.
In 1994, after working at Lytton Springs in the vineyards, he began an apprenticeship under world-renowned winemaker, David Ramey and moved into the cellar at Chalk Hill Estate. By listening to his mentors and immersing himself in the winemaking process from the ground-up, he worked his way up from a cellar intern to Enologist and Production Manager, and then Assistant Winemaker in 2009.
In 2019, with more than 25 years of experience in the wine industry, Darrell was promoted to Winemaker at Chalk Hill Estate, which he considers a second home. He remains enthralled by its beauty, diversity, exceptional vineyards, and the thrill of harvest time at Chalk Hill. Over the years he’s learned that patience, planning, site-specific viticulture, balance and consistency, and good people make great wine.
Visit our Sonoma Estate
A Vineyard Story
Tucked into the rugged foothills of the Mayacamas, Chalk Hill offers sweeping vineyard views and a rare sense of serenity. Discover extraordinary wines in the secluded beauty of our wine country estate.
Viticulture, Winemaking & Culinary
Sustainable Farming
Sustainable agriculture has conservation at its root–meeting the needs of the present without compromising the future. Only 350 acres of vines are woven into the diverse terrain of the Chalk Hill Estate. Another 850 undeveloped acres of wild grasslands and heritage oak forests cover the undulating hills.
Culinary Garden
The Chalk Hill Estate Culinary Garden provides a bounty of produce which is transformed into of-the-moment, wine-friendly creations by our Estate Chef. The garden features antique specimens and heirloom cultivars, all grown with 100% organic farming principles.
Winemaking
For over 50 years, we have been committed to creating terroir-driven wines of character, richness and elegance from the diverse terrain of Sonoma County’s rolling hills. Years of research guide the selection of the ideal clone and rootstock for each estate vineyard block, with our vineyards and winery 100% certified sustainable.
The Land
The Chalk Hill AVA
At the convergence of the Russian River, Alexander and Knights Valleys, the Chalk Hill appellation brings together diverse mesoclimates across approximately 1,400 planted acres. Its warm Region II climate is slightly warmer than the Russian River Valley and cooler than Alexander and Knights Valleys. Named for its distinctive chalk-colored volcanic soils, the appellation features quartzite-rich volcanic ash, sand and loam, with Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet Sauvignon among its principal varieties.
What Our Guests Are Saying
“Chalk Hill Winery is one of the most beautiful wineries I have ever visited.”
— Janet K.
“They provided Outstanding service. The wine was delicious. The property and the view was amazing.”
— Jennifer I.
“The tasting room is located in a beautiful building that is elevated and looks out over hillside vineyards.”
— Art H.
“We loved every minute of the tour. It was very educational.”
— Relaxedinpa
