Alexander Mountain Estate is located on the western ridges and slopes of the Mayacamas Mountain Range; source of some of the world’s finest vineyards. Tucked among the ridges and hillsides of Alexander Mountain Estate are over 900 acres of vineyards, spread out in a complex patchwork of dozens of distinct vineyard sites, at elevations ranging from 400 to 2400 feet above sea level. Over 70% of the vineyards are planted to Cabernet Sauvignon. Chardonnay is 14%, followed by Merlot at 11%. Cabernet Franc, Sauvignon Blanc and others make up the balance. Virtually all of this mountain fruit from Alexander Mountain Estate is made into luxury wines. Out of 63 wines that preeminent wine critic Robert Parker Jr. recently rated as California’s best, nine were from this estate.

This is a mountain vineyard whose "Alexander Valley" appellation belies rugged growing conditions. The soils on these slopes are shallow, rocky and poor, compared to soils of the valley below. Wines grown in these thin mountain soils are far less vigorous, so produce less foliage, lower yields and smaller intensely flavored berries, with distinct varietal character. Yields are typically two to three tons per acre, in contrast to typical valley floor vineyards which produce four to six tons per acre. Also, the superior water drainage of these slopes promotes healthy vines and diminishes the need for disease and pest control. Slope can play an important role too in the ripening of the fruit with greater exposure to the sun’s beneficial rays for deeper color.

The climate on Alexander Mountain Estate is not only distinct from the valley floor, it varies greatly across the estate. Part of the Coast Range, on the fifth ridge in from the Pacific Ocean, Alexander Mountain Estate is neither too hot nor too cool. It is ideally situated to bring Bordeaux varietals and Chardonnay to ripening with slow and complete maturation. It is generally cooler in summer than the valley below, thanks to air currents that rise from the valley floor in the warmer months and bring afternoon breezes to cool the hillside vines. Winters are generally warmer, promoting earlier bud break. The micro climates that are created on the property by the interaction of elevation, exposure, wind, water and soil provide a broad spectrum of viticultural choices.

The size and complexity of Alexander Mountain Estate demands a sophisticated vineyard management team to obtain the best possible quality. Within this diverse mountain property, Stonestreet farms small blocks of vineyards individually to suit the unique character of each site. Three of these sites produce eponymous Stonestreet wines: Christopher’s, Upper Barn and Block Sixty-Six.