Sonoma Coast
Legacy Rooted in a Vineyard
The pedigree of Three Sticks begins not in the glass nor even in the cellar. Instead, it begins in the rocky, volcanic soils of Durell, one of the most diverse and prized vineyards in Sonoma Valley. Planted primarily to pinot noir and chardonnay, this rolling 610-acre parcel spans the Sonoma Valley, Sonoma Coast, and Carneros AVAs and is the birthplace of Three Sticks Wines. View the in-depth vineyard book here.
Location
Durell is located in southern Sonoma County, on the western edge of the town of Sonoma. Spanning more than 750 acres of land, just 160 acres are currently planted to vineyards. The property sits less than 25 miles inland from the Pacific Ocean, with the northernmost reaches of San Pablo Bay just 10 miles to the south. Both the hills of the Coastal Range and the flats of Sonoma Valley are represented at Durell, their interplay becoming paramount to the vines grown and fruit produced there.
History
Bill Price bought the Durell Vineyard in 1996 and 2002 and made the first Three Sticks wine, a pinot noir, from the property. “We had access to a variety of fruit, and I wanted to make wines that were distinctive. I have my pick of the vineyard rows and love to see what is created from grape to bottle. That’s what drove me to make wine in the first place,” Bill recalls. In 2009 Rob Harris was brought on to direct farming at Durell and help create the portfolio of vineyards that now comprise Price Family Vineyards and Estates. Now the VP of Vineyards, Rob has overseen strategic changes and generational turnover at Durell while maintaining a clear focus on fruit quality and long-term vineyard health. He continues to measure success one vintage at a time and makes all farming decisions with a keen consideration of the past, present, and future.
Terroir
Durell Vineyard is a mosaic of diverse soil types that bestow upon its wines remarkable depth and character interwoven within the vineyard’s viticultural tapestry. From the Los Robles gravelly clay loam, found in the flatlands, to the Tuscan cobbly clay loam and the Goulding cobbly clay loam gracing the slopes, each soil type at Durell Vineyard unveils its own fascinating story.
Chardonnay
Since first being planted in 1979, chardonnay has proven itself to be a shining star of Durell Vineyard. From the sandier soils in the hills to the stony ancient river bottom soils in the flats, chardonnay expresses itself with intense concentration both on the nose and palette. Yields at Durell are naturally very low, which focuses the vine’s energy into small amounts of fruit, perfect for top-flight wines.
Pinot Noir
Pinot noir is planted on the rolling hillsides of the Durell Vineyard, taking advantage of some of the cooler microclimates on the ranch. With a beautiful expression of aromatics, mouthfeel, and structure, pinot noir from Durell shows wonderful, pretty fruit with a backbone of spicy earth notes and a deeper, quieter note of umami and forest floor.
Stats
AVA: Sonoma Coast, Sonoma Valley, Carneros
Soils: Los Robles Gravelly Clay Loam, Tuscan Cobbly Clay Loam, Goulding Cobbly Clay Loam, Clear Lake Clay, Goulding Clay Loam
Varietals: Pinot Noir 68.96 acres | Chardonnay 60.69 acres | Pinot Blanc 1.06 acres | Zinfandel 0.80 acres Syrah | Other Rhônes 2.99 acres
Pinot Noir Clones: Calera, Swan, Mt. Eden, Martini, DRC, 115, 828, 667, 5, 32, Wadenswil
Chardonnay Clones: Wente, 76, 95, Hyde, Rued, Mt. Eden
Pinot Blanc Clones: 159, 161
Acres: 750+ total; 134.5 planted | 17.45 in development
Wine List
- Durell Vineyard Chardonnay | Sonoma Coast
- Durell Vineyard Pinot Noir | Sonoma Coast
- Durell Vineyard Pinot Blanc | Sonoma Coast
- Origin Chardonnay, Durell Vineyard | Sonoma Coast
- Casteñada Red, Durell Vineyard | Sonoma Valley
Our Winemaking
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Heritage
Our Heritage collection of wines hail from the most expansive estate vineyards in our collection. Durell, Gap’s Crown, and Walala are all known for producing rich, complex, deep wines that stand the test of time. From vintage to vintage, these wines surprise and delight.
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Monopole
Our Monopole collection of wines are rare beauties from our three most precious estate vineyards. Alana, One Sky, and William James yield a collection of the most expressive, intense, and delicious wines in our wine story. These wines are hard to come by and even harder to hold onto.
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Meticulously and obsessively handcrafted from the most extraordinary barrels from each vintage across our collection of six estate vineyards. This is a love letter..
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Casteñada
Our Casteñada wines are delicious, field-blended Rhône varietals made to honor the long history of winemaking and growing in Sonoma Valley. Described as a party in a bottle, these wines are full of energy and life while harkening back to another era.
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