Two bottles of Dehlinger Pinot Noir wine next to a glass of red wine on a wooden tray, with a basket of colorful flowers and green apples in the background.

Pinot Noir

As one of the first Pinot noir producers in Sonoma County’s Russian River Valley, Dehlinger is often considered a Pinot noir specialist. Sourced from our estate vineyards on Vine Hill Road, Dehlinger Pinot noirs are thought of as a reference point for the variety in the area. Luscious and balanced, with a striking purity of fruit, these wines reflect the full potential of this exceptional winegrowing region.

Grape vines with clusters of dark purple grapes hanging among green leaves in a vineyard.

Grown on an optimal site for the variety, our Pinot Noir vines were planted in two primary phases: 1975–1989 and 2011–2026.

The original vineyard was composed primarily of Pommard and Swan clones. Over time, we have diversified our clonal holdings with additional plantings of California heritage selections (Martini, Calera, and Mount Eden) as well as the best plant material that France has to offer (Clone 943). Our old vine holdings were bolstered by the purchase of neighboring vines on the historic Garbro Ranch, which are primarily Swan Clone.

This diversity of vine age, soil type, and clonal selection results in a true treasure trove for us to work with in the winery.

A treasure trove in the vineyard

Lot-by-Lot Winemaking

In a typical vintage, we ferment approximately 30 separate lots of Pinot Noir, each representing a distinct area of the vineyard, an approach which allows a wines to express its unique topography and character.

As the wines evolve in barrel, we carefully evaluate and blend these lots—seeking the most harmonious combinations and highlighting the defining traits of the vintage.

A wine bottle labeled Dehlinger Pinot Noir from 2019, two glasses of red wine, a notebook with handwritten notes, an open book titled "The Microbial World," a pen, a syringing tool, a pair of scissors, a flower arrangement, a test tube, and a wine stopper on a wooden surface, with dark background and some flowers.
Close-up of a grapevine trunk with dark purple grapes hanging from the vine and green and yellow leaves, some with reddish edges, in a vineyard setting.

Estate & Site Expression

Our goal is to produce Pinot Noirs that clearly express the nuances of our property—whether shaped by soil, vine age, or vineyard block.

Estate Pinot Noir

A blend from across the vineyard, capturing the signature depth and style of Dehlinger.

Goldridge Pinot Noir

From deeper Goldridge soils, where the vines tend to grow more vigorously, offering bright aromatics, red fruit character, and an approachable structure.

Altamont Pinot Noir

From hilltop, red, clay-rich soils, showcasing darker fruit flavors and enticing baking-spice aromas. An inclusion of a small amount of whole clusters in the fermentation lends greater structure and enhanced aging potential in this sought-after wine.

Garbro Ranch Pinot Noir

In 2017, the Dehlinger family purchased the historic Garbro Ranch which is now a contiguous part of the Dehlinger holdings. The old vine Pinot noir on the Garbro Ranch, planted primarily in 1988 to Swan Clone Pinot noir on AxR rootstock is the source of bottling honoring this site.

Learn the garbro story

Special Bottlings

When the quantity and quality of a given vintage permit, we will highlight specific portions of the vineyard with special bottlings.

Octagon

Our oldest special Pinot noir bottling, named for the vineyard surrounding the Octagon house, an eight-sided house Tom Dehlinger built in the 1970s that is a landmark of the area.

Champ de Mars

From a section of the vineyard with a soil color reminiscent of the red surface of the planet Mars that lies adjacent to the winery building.

High Plains

Originates from a privileged, high-elevation section of our vineyard planted in 1989, whose dry soils produce especially densely-flavored fruit.

Chardonnay
Cabernet Sauvignon
Syrah
A bottle of Dehlinger Altamont Pinot Noir 2023 with a glass of red wine on a wooden table, surrounded by colorful flowers, grapes, and a plate of figs and nuts.

PINOT NOIR

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A bottle of Dehlinger Chardonnay wine, a filled wine glass, green and purple grapes, green apples, and yellow berries on a table decorated with flowers and a wicker basket.

CHARDONNAY

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A bottle of Dehlinger East Face Syrah wine, a glass of red wine, and grapes on a wooden table surrounded by colorful flowers and greenery.

SYRAH

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