Wineries in California: When Frederick P. Furth flew his plane over the rugged, hilly terrain that would someday be Chalk Hill Estate Vineyards & Winery, he fell instantly in love. The rolling, undeveloped hills brought fond memories of vineyards in Germany, and Fred couldn’t wait to buy the land, plant it, and work it with his own hands. He founded Chalk Hill Estate and—due to the land’s combination of diverse mesoclimates, hillside terrain, and sunny exposure—has produced exceptional, award-winning wines that perfectly express this beautifully furrowed spot.
Chalk Hill Estate employs a
winemaking philosophy that em-phasizes gentle handling (and sometimes even a “hands off” approach), letting nature be the guide. Without fining or filtration, grapes are purely reflected in each wine. Fred’s personal preference “to be the best, not the biggest” sits well with the winemaker, who blends science and art to create luxury wines. Attentive detail and careful handling of every process ensure that each wine maintains a distinctly Chalk Hill character.
The natural beauty of this land lies in the diversity of its unique terrain. In fact, its volcanic soils and many mesoclimates are so distinct from the rest of the Russian River Valley they warranted the formation the Chalk Hill sub-AVA. Today, Executive Vice President of Vineyard Operations Mark Lingenfelder meets the steady challenge of hillside farming head-on. Mark’s philosophy to plant what is right for the site has been successful in producing perfectly balanced vines with especially high-quality grapes.
The proof lies in the reviews. Chalk Hill Estate repeatedly re-ceives outstanding awards from the most respected wine publications. Recently in The Wine
Advocate, Robert Parker deemed the 2007 Estate Red “perhaps the finest to date.” The 2006 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon received an impressive 90 points from The Wine Advocate, which it called “finesse allied with substance.” Nature pours a unique and distinctive glass of wine at Chalk Hill Estate Vineyards & Winery.
WHAT TO BUY
CONTACT
707.838.4306; 707.657.4837
concierge@chalkhill.com
chalkhill.com
10300 Chalk Hill Rd
Healdsburg, CA 95448
Tasting Room Open Daily 10–4
GETTING THERE
From Hwy 101N, exit at Shiloh Rd.
Proceed east on Shiloh. Turn left onto Old Redwood Hwy. Go 1.3 miles to Pleasant Ave and turn right. Turn left on Chalk Hill Rd and go 2 miles.
Winery is on the right.
