Medlock Ames

Medlock Ames is one of Alexander Valley's most genuinely committed and critically acclaimed organic wine estates. In 1998, college best friends Chris Medlock James and Ames Morison left their New York City apartment and moved across the country to pursue what most people would consider an impractical dream: building a world-class winery from scratch on raw California land. The 338-acre Bell Mountain Ranch they found on the outskirts of Healdsburg has rewarded that leap of faith with consistently excellent wines and growing critical recognition.

The philosophy is as serious as the results: 80% of the 338-acre property is managed exclusively for ecological health — native oak woodlands, grasslands, and chaparral preserved without commercial compromise. The remaining 44 acres are planted to organically and regeneratively farmed grapes, olives, and produce. The Bell Mountain soil — heavy Alexander Valley clay loam — produces muscular, deeply colored Cabernets and Bordeaux blends that have earned up to 95 points from James Suckling, 94 from Decanter, and 93 from Wine Advocate.

The Historic Healdsburg Tasting Room on Alexander Valley Road — a converted century-old country store with award-winning landscaping and stunning vineyard views — offers a complete and genuinely beautiful wine country experience. Artisan cheese and wine pairings, organic garden strawberry picking for children, and the barn owls nesting in boxes throughout the property complete a visit unlike any other in the Alexander Valley.