About

Iron Horse is in the heart of Sonoma County's Russian River Valley, 13 miles from the Pacific. There are approximately 160 acres under vine, planted exclusively to Chadonnay and Pinot Noir. Iron Horse Vineyards has been crafting wine since 1976.

Wine Tasting

A visit to Iron Horse Vineyards is a bit of a challenge, but well worth the detour off the beaten path and up a narrow lane. At the top you will find a laidback rustic atmosphere with an emphasis on enjoying the beauty of nature. Magical gardens and spectacular views welcome visitors. It is said that on a clear day you can see all the way across Sonoma County to Mount St. Helena. Exploring the history behind the Iron Horse logo and tradition is just part of the experience.
Visits are by appointment only. The Iron Horse tasting room is open 7 days a week with closures for major holidays.

Wine Club

Iron Horse has five different wine club levels to choose from. All levels include varying discount rates on purchases, no tasting fees in the tasting room and invitations to special events.

Annual Production

Approximately 15,000 cases of sparkling wine annually.

Producer Style

Overall, Iron Horse sparkling wines are Pinot Noir dominant. They tend to be low dosage which contributes to crispness. They proudly display their Green Valley AVA terroir displaying refined minerality.

Producer Type

Iron Horse wines are all 'Estate Bottled', which means all grapes used for the Iron Horse wines are totally under the control of Iron Horse throughout the growing and winemaking process. Grapes come from the Green Valley AVA of the Russian River Valley in Sonoma from vineyards owned and/or controlled by Iron Horse.

People

Current Owner

Sterling Family

Partner/CEO

Joy Anne Sterling - Partner/CEO

Director of Operations

Laurence Sterling

Winemaker

David Munksgard (joined the winery in 1996)
David graduated from the enology/viticulture program through California State University in Fresno. Prior to joining Iron Horse he had experience producing still and sparkling wine in the Russian River Valley in California and in the Finger Lakes region of New York State.

Cellar Master

Roberto Moreno

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History

Iron Horse Vineyards' name comes from the fact that it was originally a railway stop in the 1890s, the only railway stop in Sonoma's Green Valley. Deserted for many years, Rodney Strong rediscovered the potential in the 1970s and began planting vineyards comprised of Pinot Noir and half Chardonnay.
Barry Sterling and his wife Audrey met at Stanford University and married soon after Barry graduated, passed the bar to become an attorney, and was inducted into the Army. They eventually moved to Paris and envisioned starting a winery. They did not find their perfect site in France, but when they returned home to California, they continued their quest. In 1976 the Sterlings purchased Iron Horse and set about completing the vineyards and renovating the run down Victorian house into one of Sonoma's beautiful homes. The logo, a rampant horse on a weathervane, was inspired by a 19th century weathervane unearthed during the project. The first sparkling wines were produced from the 1980 vintage.
Three generations currently reside on the vineyard property. Barry and Audrey's daughter, Joy Sterling left a high profile career as a television journalist to become a partner in 1986. Joy is now CEO and her brother Laurence is director of operations. The winery has a loyal following with about half the total production allocated to their wine clubs.
Iron Horse was named an American Icon in "Icons of the American Marketplace". The winery is surrounded by beautiful gardens, including over 200 varieties of roses. Visitors to Iron Horse will see firsthand the commitment to excellence and the love they have for the land.