— Warnecke Ranch & vineyard —

Sutro Wine Co. was created to explore Warnecke Ranch & Vineyard Volcanic Terroir.

Warnecke Ranch & Vineyard is managed by my aunt Margo Warnecke Merck, a compassionate and dedicated land steward. She has guided me to understand the meaning of prioritizing and sustaining a most valuable asset for our family and for the community. Warnecke Ranch & Vineyard is a family owned and operated, 260 acre ranch situated along the Russian River at the southern end of Alexander Valley, in Sonoma County. Historic Chalk Hill is on the property, a conifer-shrouded white volcanic ash hill rising out of the sloping vineyard blocks. I am the assistant manager and have lived here since 2010. I launched my own wine company, SUTRO, in 2012, that I operate independently from working for my family vineyard. I am the first in my family to make wine after three generations of farming grapes. Warnecke Ranch has grape contracts with SUTRO, as well as many other well known wineries, some of whom also make excellent Warnecke Ranch vineyard-designate wines. Both of my kids were born here, in a 1940’s cabin where my husband and I have carved out our little place in the larger ecosystem and history that is Warnecke Ranch.

My grandfather’s grandparents were Dutch entrepreneurs, and in particular his four great aunts. They ran mercantile stores in four major cities in Sonoma County in the 1870s known as Cnopius Mercantile. Those ancestors still make me smile, the thought of strong pioneer women, providing wares to the farmers and ranchers of this area. My grandfather’s mom would row across the Russian River in high water to get to school in Guerneville, where they lived at the turn of the century. At that time, the family business was Russian River resorts for tourists. It was that family that purchased what is now known as Warnecke Ranch in 1911 to raise sheep and to have access to the Russian River for steelhead and salmon fishing. My great-grandfather, grandfather, aunt and dad all became architects, and then, humorously, I married one. My creative calling is drawing and portraiture, and now also winemaking and storytelling. More about the cultural contributions of this special place can be found at Chalk Hill Artist Residency.