The O’Connell family has been producing exceptional quality apples in Sebastopol since 1913. In 2002, Jan and Dan planted Pinot Noir to the rich Gold Ridge soil of their Vine Hill Road ranch. In 2006, they harvested their first vintage and produced 300 cases of incredibly smooth, silky Pinot Noir, along with a small lot of a crisp, dry Pinot Noir Rosé.

Commitment To Excellence

The O’Connell’s have been setting the standard for special events for eight years and they would like to announce that their Vine Hill House Event Center has found its perfect partner with the O’Connell Vineyards estate-grown Pinot Noir. Vine Hill House has achieved significant recognition as an unparalleled, exclusive event facility. O’Connell Vineyards Pinot Noir reflects these same qualities - incredible fruit intensity produced in hand-crafted limited production.

Mat Gustafson is our award-winning winemaker. He learned the art of crafting fine wines under the guidance of Merry Edwards, and emphasizes low input winemaking, which allows the wine to slowly and naturally develop its inherent fruit characteristics. Mat is the head winemaker for Dutton Estate Winery and also produces exceptional quality wines for his own label, Paul Mathew Vineyards. Prior to becoming a winemaker, Mat was the Sommelier for the Flagstaff Restaurant in Boulder, Colorado then the Wine Buyer and Sommelier at John Ash & Co in Santa Rosa, California. He further expanded his expertise by owning and operating a vineyard development company in the Russian River Valley.

Mat handcrafted our inaugural vintage of 2006 Pinot Noir. Mat’s gentle, natural winemaking style has produced an exceptional Pinot Noir that captures the elegance of the winegrapes produced from the gravelly clay/loam soil of the O’Connell’s Vine Hill Road vineyards. These wines showcase the world-class Pinot Noir that is produced by the unique soil and microclimate of Sonoma County’s Vine Hill Road region of the Russian River Valley.

The O’Connell Vineyards wines are offered exclusively at our vineyards, through our mailing list, at Vine Hill House special events, and at select wine purveyors. Join our mailing list to insure these incredible wines are reserved for you. Mailing list forms are available in the Garden Grove at all Vine Hill House events. O’Connell Vineyards offers 750 ml bottles of both the Pinot Noir and Pinot Noir Rosé. Also available are a very limited number of celebration-gift magnums of the Pinot Noir.