O’Connell Vineyards is located in the Vine Hill region of Sonoma County’s Russian River Valley. Owners Jan and Dan O’Connell are committed to excellence and high standards. They express this in their award winning Estate Grown Pinot Noir and Russian River Valley Chardonnay.

History – Apples and Winegrapes

The O’Connell family has been producing exceptional quality apples in Sebastopol since 1913. In 2002, Jan and Dan planted Pinot Noir to the rich Gold Ridge soil of their Vine Hill Road ranch. In 2006, they harvested their first vintage and produced 300 cases of incredibly smooth, silky Pinot Noir, along with a small lot of a crisp, dry Rosé of Pinot Noir . Today we offer both Lily Clare and J-Elise Estate Grown Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley Chardonnay from the Pratt Vineyard, and Russian River Valley Rosé of Pinot Noir.

Commitment To Excellence

The O’Connell’s have been setting the standard for special events since 2003 at their Vine Hill House Event Center. Vine Hill House has achieved significant recognition as an unparalleled, exclusive event facility.

Sales and Mailing List

O’Connell Vineyards wines are offered exclusively at our vineyards or from our website and at Vine Hill House special events. Sign up to our mailing list and consider joining our wine club to insure these incredible wines are reserved for you.

J-Elise Vineyard
Estate Grown Pinot Noir

Appellation – Sonoma County / Russian River Valley
Wine – 100% Pinot Noir—Single vineyard / Single clone
Harvest – September 7, 2021
Produced – 120 Cases

Appellation – Sonoma County / Russian River Valley
Wine – 100% Pinot Noir—Single vineyard / Single clone
Harvest – September 3, 2022
Produced – 66 Cases

Vineyard Character ‐ The J‐Elise Vineyard is 100% Pommard clone on 104‐14 rootstock. The vineyard is on the North side of the property and is characterized by Sebastopol sandy loam with pebble infused clay which is rich in mineral content and a pronounced aspect to the afternoon sun. The vines are trained to double cordons with 15 to 17 clusters per cordon yielding 3.00 to 3.25 tons per acre. The cool growing conditions with foggy mornings and ample warm sunshine contribute to the complexity of the fruit and the
incomparable finish.

Winemaking ‐ The Pinot Noir clusters were carefully hand‐picked in the cool, crisp morning of early September; the grapes were hand‐sorted and de‐stemmed, then cold soaked prior to pressing and fermentation; Sur lie aged with weekly stirrings; barrel‐aged eleven months in 30% new French oak. Our Pinot Noir is crafted entirely from the Pommard clone.

Tasting Notes ‐ Heavenly aromas of dark cherry fruit greet the nose. Integrated flavors of ripe berries and warm spice tones fill the mouth and lead to a smooth full‐bodied finish. This elegant wine with its concentrated fruit will continue to mature and become more
complex.

Lily Clare Vineyard
Estate Grown Pinot Noir

Appellation – Sonoma County / Russian River Valley
Wine – 100% Pinot Noir—Single vineyard / Single clone
Harvest – September 2, 2022
Produced – 247 Cases

Vineyard Character – The Lily Clare Vineyard is 100%  Pommard clone on 104-14 rootstock. The vineyard is on the South side of the property and is characterized Gold Ridge sandy loam and a gentle aspect to the afternoon sun. The vines are trained to double cordons with 15 to 17 clusters per cordon yielding 3.00 to 3.25 tons per acre. The cool growing conditions with foggy mornings and ample warm sunshine contribute to the complexity of the fruit and the incomparable finish. 

Winemaking – The Pinot Noir clusters were carefully hand-picked in the cool, crisp morning of early September; the grapes were hand-sorted and de-stemmed, then cold soaked prior to pressing and fermentation; Sur lie aged with weekly stirrings; barrel-aged eleven months in 30% new French oak. Our Pinot Noir is crafted entirely from the Pommard clone.

Tasting Notes – Heavenly aromas of dark cherry fruit greet the nose. Integrated flavors of ripe berries and warm spice tones fill the mouth and lead to a smooth full-bodied finish. This elegant wine with its concentrated fruit will continue to mature and become more complex.

Pratt Vineyard
Russian River Valley Chardonnay

Appellation – Sonoma County / Russian River Valley
Wine – 100% Chardonnay
Harvest – September 10, 2022
Produced – 154 Cases

Vineyard Character – Pratt Vineyard is a Chardonnay Clone blend (Clone 02 – 36.6%; Clone 95 – 32.2%; Clone 77 – 17.8% (musc); Clone 277 – 14.4%)

Winemaking – The Chardonnay clusters are handpicked then hand-sorted, gently pressed on the skins, barrel fermented, and aged sur lees for 11 months in French oak barrels (30% new).

Tasting Notes – Our Russian River Valley Chardonnay tastes of citrus and apricot along with a subtle oak influence. Well structured, the mouth feel is rich and the finish is crisp, yet long and fresh. This wine is both bright and full of depth.

Russian River Valley Rosé of Pinot Noir

Appellation – Sonoma County / Russian River Valley
Wine – 100% Rosé of Pinot Noir
Harvest – September 2, 2022
Produced – 150 Cases

Winemaking – Our Rosé is made from select Pinot Noir grapes sourced exclusively from the finest vineyards in the Russian River Valley.

Tasting Notes – Our Russian River Valley Rosé is crisp and refreshing.

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Awards

Our 2016 O’Connell Vineyards Estate Grown Pinot Noir was awarded 96 points (Platinum) and named Best Pinot Noir at the 2018 Monterey International Wine Competition. Here is what the judges had to say:

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Our 2016 O’Connell Vineyards Estate Grown Pinot Noir was awarded 90 points by both Wine Spectator and Wine Enthusiast:

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Our 2014 O’Connell Vineyards Estate Grown Pinot Noir was the winner of the 2016 Pinot Cup at Charlie Palmer’s Pigs & Pinot!

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Vine Hill House is the event site of O’Connell Vineyards located in the Russian River Valley wine region of Sonoma County, California. It is a beautiful country estate setting for weddings and other special occasions, business or private events.

Situated amidst Pinot Noir and Chardonnay vineyards and apple orchards that have been owned and operated by the O’Connell family since the 1930’s. To the east, the scenic views look over hundreds of acres of world class vineyards and stretch across Santa Rosa Valley to Mount St. Helena and the Coastal Mountain Range in the north to the San Francisco Bay Area in the south. To the west, the views look out across the vineyards and apple orchards to Green Valley and the Russian River Valley. Our landscaped gardens include a grove with firs, redwoods, and oaks in a natural setting, spacious lawns and lovely flower gardens, and many other delightful extras. This beautiful, private event site provides a stunning wine country atmosphere for any occasion.

We provide our event specialists for all of your planning needs. To insure your day runs smoothly, we also provide our event specialists to coordinate and manage your event.

Let Vine Hill House help you create a beautiful and memorable wedding or other special occasion.

Please visit our Vine Hill House site to learn more