The Atwood Ranch vineyard in Glen Ellen is nestled at the base of the Mayacamas Mountains, with vineyard blocks in both the iconic Sonoma Valley and coveted Moon Mountain AVAs. The historic ranch was the site of one of Sonoma County’s first bonded wineries.
The land has grown fine wine grapes since the 1850s, and is now highly regarded for premium Cabernet Sauvignon. Atwood Ranch was a leader in developing sustainable viticulture and good neighbor practices, and has long been a favorite venue for local school field trips and bird counts, mushroom foraging, and Ad education conferences.
The “modern” vineyard was conceived and cultivated by legendary viticulturist-conservationist Tish Ward. For 26 years, Tish helped pioneer creek restoration programs with local schools, fish-friendly farming, and fostered community relations programs to engage farmers, vintners, and their Valley neighbors in collaborative efforts to retain and nurture our healthy agricultural lands and heritage.
Natural products such as kelp, fish, and organic micronutrients are used to feed the vines and, thanks to the ranch horses and cattle, composting is done on site.
Good land management enabled the ranch to survive and rebound quickly from the 2017 Nuns Fire. Atwood Ranch has added cutting-edge fuel mitigation, regenerative forestry, and rangeland management to its culture of all-encompassing land stewardship.
The historic 1908 Craftsman bungalow still stands, and is still a beloved private residence. Originally built by the pioneer Weise family, the ranch has been home to just two families over its long history. Tom and Julie Atwood lovingly restored the house in the mid 80s, and have lived there ever since.
Today, a new generation of Sonoma Valley farmers are honoring our legacy and helping us take sustainable and integrated land and crop stewardship into the future.
Taste our history and iconic terroir, and carry forward the traditions of some of Sonoma Valley’s most revered vintners. We’d love to take you on a walk through the past and the future of the Atwood Ranch Vineyard.