Yesterday, news broke that Long Meadow Ranch now owns controlling interest in historic Stony Hill Vineyard. So, today, we’ll take a look at Long Meadow Ranch, the Hall family, and some of their wines.

In 1989, Ted and Laddie Hall purchased a 650-acre property called Long Meadow Ranch in the Mayacamas foothills, above Rutherford. The post-Civil War land grant had been planted to grapes, fruit and olive orchards, and hay. But, agriculture there ceased during Prohibition and the cultivated plants were overtaken by nature. The Halls gradually rehabilitated the property and added significant new features.

The Mayacamas estate now includes a 16-acre organically farmed vineyard, about 15 acres of the original olive trees, long-haired cattle, saddle horses, the company’s winery and caves, one of only two olive mills in Napa Valley—complete with massive, stone grinding wheels—and the Hall’s home. The Long Meadow Ranch company encompasses much more though. It has become a large, multi-faceted business with sustainable, organic agriculture at the core. Livestock are raised without hormones or antibiotics, facilities run with solar energy.

Other parts of Long Meadow Ranch include:

• A 90-acre property on the lower Rutherford bench which includes organic fruits and vegetables,  chicken coops, beekeeping, and 74 acres of vines
• 69 acres of vines in northern Anderson Valley
• A complex in St. Helena which includes the Farmstead restaurant, café, and General Store/tasting room
• A tasting room in Anderson Valley
• 800+ acres of grass pasture at Tomales Station, populated with shaggy Highland cattle

The mission statement for Long Meadow Ranch is “to produce and purvey world-class wine and food and to create the highest quality wine & food experiences that are richly flavorful, healthy, safe, and enjoyable.” The values it lists are “balance, respect and stewardship.”

With an EE degree from Princeton and an MBA from the Stanford University Graduate School of Business, Ted Hall joined McKinsey & Company in 1972. He stayed with the international business consultancy through 2000, rising to the board of directors and chairman of the McKinsey Global Institute. Subsequent to that, he sat on the boards of several companies, including Peet’s Coffee, Dolby Laboratories and Williams-Sonoma. He was also a home winemaker for many years, beginning during his days at Stanford.

For about 14 months, Ted Hall was chairman of the board for The Robert Mondavi Corporation. This was during one of the company’s most difficult periods, as it suffered from over-expansion outside of Napa Valley, strong competition from bargain brands, financial losses, and serious family disagreements. It’s a complex and contentious story, well beyond the scope of this article, but well-chronicled in books and news articles. It culminated when the company sold to Constellation.

Long Meadow Ranch has also suffered serious setbacks, but not of their own making. In 2005, their current releases and library wines were destroyed, along with those of several other wineries, in the Mare Island warehouse arson disaster. In 2017, Long Meadow Ranch became a staging ground for the massive fire-fighting effort as the devastating Nuns fire raged through the Mayacamas. Long Meadow Ranch itself was saved, though its roads, fences and vegetation sustained damage.

Ted and Laddie Hall have been involved in a number of charitable and community endeavors, from the San Francisco Symphony to the St. Helena Unified School District’s Agricultural Education Advisory Committee. Ted is a director of the Napa Valley Grapegrowers and, in 2017, was named Napa Valley Grower of the Year. Ted and Laddie’s son Chris, who was just nine years old when his parents bought Long Meadow Ranch and began gardening shortly thereafter, was named a “40 under 40 Tastemaker” this year by Wine Enthusiast Magazine. He is involved in many aspects of the business.

Long Meadow Ranch offers six lines of wine: Napa Valley, Anderson Valley, E. J. Church, Mayacamas Estate, Rutherford Estate, and Farmstead. Prices range from $22 for Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc to $125 for the 25-case E. J. Church Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve.

Long Meadow Ranch Rutherford Estate Reviews

The Long Meadow Ranch Rutherford Estate is on the east side of Highway 29, just south of Mee Lane. The property incorporates the vineyard, egg-laying chickens, bees, and more than 500 varieties of fruits and vegetables. Farming is organic and sustainable.

2015 Long Meadow Ranch Sauvignon Blanc Rutherford Estate 91 14.5% 750ml screwcap $55

This 238-case production is 100% Sauvignon Blanc, fermented and aged sur-lie in stainless steel barrels. The nose offers green apple, lemon-lime, and just-ripe nectarine. The palate is medium-bodied and very long with generous acidity and very fine texture. Immediately upon opening, salty mineral is at the fore, with grapefruit, lime juice, and under ripe stone fruit in support. Given a good while to breathe, the palate becomes richer, riper and fruitier. Tart nectarine leads the way. If you prefer the latter, consider decanting. Either way, enjoy now through 2020 with ceviche or goat cheese.

2013 Long Meadow Ranch Merlot Rutherford Estate 91 13.5% 750ml $75

This dark ruby-purple wine opens with aromas of jammy black plum, black cherry, dusty forest trail, mocha, oak, and caramel. In the mouth, body approaches medium-plus with matching tannins that are fine, chalky and gently structural. Flavors are more savory than the nose: dusty earth, unsweetened chocolate, black plum and cherry, espresso, and oak. Good balance of ripeness, intensity and restraint. 100% Merlot, aged in French oak barrels, half new. Drink now through 2022. 498 cases.

2014 Long Meadow Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon Rutherford Estate 92 13.5% 750ml $75

The nose is briary blackberry, black cherry, dark chocolate, bay leaf, and light-roast, East African coffee. Flavors are much the same on the palate, which has medium-plus body with fine-grained and chalky tannins that coat the mouth. A well-built wine with a savory and appetizing finish. Drink now through 2025 with braised short-ribs or filet mignon.

Copyright Fred Swan 2018. Photos courtesy of Long Meadow Ranch. All rights reserved.

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