Chalk Hill Estate Winery

Chalk Hill Estate was founded in 1972 when San Francisco attorney Frederick Furth and his wife Peggy purchased the property in the hills northeast of Healdsburg. As the story is told, Fred Furth first caught sight of the natural amphitheater carved into the eastern Sonoma hills while piloting his plane over the Russian River. The Furths planted the first vineyards on the volcanic white-ash soils that would later give the Chalk Hill AVA its name and identity, and the appellation was officially established on October 21, 1983 with Chalk Hill Estate as its anchor producer. Under the Furth family's stewardship, the estate launched a clonal research program with UC Davis that ran from 1996 to 2001, ultimately producing the proprietary Chalk Hill Clone 97 Chardonnay that remains the flagship variety. Foley Family Wines acquired the estate from the Furth family in 2010 and has continued the multi-varietal program while investing in vineyard renewal, winery infrastructure, and hospitality.

• Founded 1972 by Frederick and Peggy Furth in the hills northeast of Healdsburg
• Chalk Hill AVA established October 21, 1983 with Chalk Hill Estate as the anchor producer and only 100 percent estate winery
• Chalk Hill Proprietary Clone 97 Chardonnay developed in partnership with UC Davis between 1996 and 2001 through one of California's largest Chardonnay clonal trials
• Foley Family Wines acquired the estate in 2010 from the Furth family; the parent organization owns multiple other California wineries

The Chalk Hill Estate property covers roughly 1,270 to 1,300 acres with nearly 300 acres of planted vineyards across the hillside and benchland terrain that characterizes the Chalk Hill AVA. Soils are dominated by white volcanic tuff (ash) from ancient Mount Saint Helena eruptions, which gives the AVA its distinctive chalky white color and is what visitors see exposed on hillsides throughout the property. The volcanic ash profile is quartzite-rich, low in fertility, well-draining, and low in vigor, naturally limiting yields and concentrating fruit character. Vineyards sit at a range of elevations across the hillside and benchland terrain, with cooler aspects suited to Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc and warmer hillside sites planted to Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and other Bordeaux varieties. The proprietary Chalk Hill Clone 97 Chardonnay is planted on a historic block on the estate and is unique to Chalk Hill.

• Roughly 1,270 to 1,300 acres total with nearly 300 planted vineyard acres; only 100 percent estate winery in Chalk Hill / Russian River Valley AVA
• Soils dominated by white volcanic tuff (ash) from ancient Mount Saint Helena eruptions; quartzite-rich, low-fertility, well-draining profiles
• Cooler aspects planted to Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc; warmer hillside sites carry Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and other Bordeaux varieties
• Proprietary Chalk Hill Clone 97 Chardonnay grown on a historic block on the estate, unique to this property

Chalk Hill's portfolio is led by Chardonnay (the flagship variety) and extends to Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Estate Red Bordeaux blends, and smaller acreage of other varieties including Syrah. The Chalk Hill Estate Chardonnay, built on the proprietary Chalk Hill Clone 97, shows the volcanic ash terroir at full expression: stone fruit, citrus, mineral salinity, and integrated French oak. The Founder's Block Chardonnay comes exclusively from a single historic block on the estate and features the same proprietary Clone 97 Chardonnay; it represents the apex Chardonnay expression in the portfolio. Estate Cabernet Sauvignon and Estate Red Bordeaux blends come from the warmer hillside sections of the property, showing structured tannins and dark fruit characteristic of warmer Chalk Hill expressions. Across the range, the unifying hallmark is the volcanic mineral signature that distinguishes Chalk Hill wines from neighboring Russian River Valley and Knights Valley producers.

• Chalk Hill Estate Chardonnay (flagship): proprietary Chalk Hill Clone 97; stone fruit, citrus, mineral salinity, integrated French oak
• Founder's Block Chardonnay: single historic block bottling using the proprietary Clone 97; the apex Chardonnay expression in the portfolio
• Estate Cabernet Sauvignon and Estate Red Bordeaux blends from warmer hillside sections: structured tannins, dark fruit
• Unifying hallmark across the range: volcanic mineral signature distinguishing Chalk Hill wines from neighboring AVAs

Chalk Hill's winemaking program emphasizes faithful site-specific expression through controlled cellar techniques. Chardonnay is barrel-fermented in French oak with a moderate new-oak component, balanced to support rather than dominate the volcanic terroir signature; the proprietary Clone 97 contributes the textural weight and mineral salinity that defines the estate style. Sauvignon Blanc receives a portion of barrel fermentation alongside stainless steel to build textural complexity while preserving aromatic precision. Red wines are typically aged 18 to 24 months in French oak with a moderate new-oak component, allowing the volcanic mineral structure to remain evident in the finished wines. The winemaking team operates from a production facility on the estate, with vinification, aging, and bottling all completed on-site. The proximity of vineyard to cellar allows picking and processing decisions to be made with maximum precision.

• Chardonnay barrel-fermented in French oak with moderate new-oak component; balanced to preserve volcanic terroir signature; proprietary Clone 97 provides textural weight
• Sauvignon Blanc combines barrel fermentation and stainless steel to build textural complexity
• Red wines aged 18 to 24 months in French oak with moderate new-oak component
• All vinification, aging, and bottling completed on-site at the estate; proximity of vineyard to cellar enables precision

Chalk Hill's visitor experience, developed during the Furth ownership era and continued by Foley Family Wines, emphasizes integration of vineyard, cellar, and culinary education. The estate's culinary gardens provide ingredients for food and wine pairing tastings, with the estate gardener leading garden tours during peak growing season. An equestrian center, a legacy of the Furth family's interest in horses, continues to host equestrian programs and contributes to the estate's distinctive character compared to other Sonoma County visitor destinations. The tasting program offers seated experiences with comparative flights showcasing the estate's volcanic terroir across multiple varieties. The Healdsburg location places Chalk Hill within easy reach of broader Russian River Valley and Alexander Valley wine itineraries.

• Culinary gardens provide ingredients for food and wine pairing tastings; estate gardener leads garden tours during peak growing season
• Equestrian center, a legacy of the Furth family's interest in horses, continues to host equestrian programs
• Tasting program offers seated experiences with comparative flights showcasing volcanic terroir across multiple varieties
• Healdsburg location places Chalk Hill within easy reach of Russian River Valley and Alexander Valley wine itineraries