Long Meadow Ranch is as much a farm as it is a winery. Ted Hall and his family purchased the Mayacamas Mountain estate in 1989 and have farmed it organically ever since, producing olive oil, eggs, beef, and vegetables alongside estate Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc. The Rutherford Farmstead tasting venue brings the farm-to-table philosophy to the valley floor.

History of Long Meadow Ranch

Ted and Laddie Hall purchased the property on Mayacamas Mountain above Rutherford in 1989, drawn to the remote site’s beauty and the challenge of building something self-sustaining on a steep mountain farm. The Halls certified the vineyard and farm operations as organic in the early 1990s and have maintained that certification continuously.

The winery produces wines from its Mayacamas Mountain estate vineyard above Rutherford as well as from Apple Barn Vineyard in Anderson Valley, acquired to give the program a cool-climate Pinot Noir and Chardonnay alongside the warm-climate Napa wines. The Rutherford Farmstead, a converted farming complex on Main Street in Rutherford, serves as the tasting room and farm-to-table restaurant.

Long Meadow Ranch was certified organic before organic farming became a marketing point in Napa Valley. Ted Hall made the commitment in the early 1990s based on a belief that the farm ecosystem mattered as much as the wine, and the estate has never deviated from that approach despite the extra cost and complexity.

Vineyards and organic farming at Long Meadow Ranch

The estate vineyard on Mayacamas Mountain above Rutherford sits at elevations between 1,600 and 2,000 feet, with thin volcanic and rocky soils that naturally limit yields and concentrate flavors. Organic farming at this elevation means managing an entire ecosystem: cover crops that feed beneficial insects, composting programs that build soil health, and sheep that graze between vine rows in winter to control vegetation without herbicides.

Apple Barn Vineyard in Anderson Valley, near Philo in Mendocino County, is planted to Pinot Noir and Chardonnay in the fog-influenced cool climate of the Navarro River watershed. The contrast between the two estate sites gives Long Meadow Ranch an unusual range for an estate producer.

The wines of Long Meadow Ranch

Cabernet Sauvignon from the Mayacamas Mountain estate is the Napa flagship, a structured mountain wine with dark fruit, volcanic mineral character, and tannins that benefit from several years of cellaring. The estate Sauvignon Blanc from Napa Valley is also well-regarded, with herbal freshness and the weight that comes from warm-climate farming.

The Anderson Valley Pinot Noir and Chardonnay represent a different expression entirely: cool, restrained, and Burgundian in structure. The Pinot in particular draws attention for its precision and red fruit character within a program better known for big Napa reds. A red blend and a Sauvignon Blanc from Anderson Valley round out the lineup.

Food pairings with Long Meadow Ranch wines

The farm philosophy that drives Long Meadow Ranch makes the wines natural companions for seasonal, ingredient-focused cooking. The mountain Cabernet wants the farm’s own raised beef or lamb: a simple roast leg of lamb with rosemary and garlic, or a grilled flat-iron steak from grass-fed beef where the wine’s mineral character mirrors the terroir-forward flavors.

The Anderson Valley Pinot Noir suits lighter farm preparations: roasted beet and walnut salad, grilled salmon with pinot reduction, or roasted chicken with herbs and root vegetables. The Sauvignon Blanc from Napa pairs with goat cheese from local creameries, grilled asparagus, or fresh oysters from the Tomales Bay producers an hour west of the valley.

Long Meadow Ranch Winery: common questions