The Residence at Stony Hill, located on Spring Mountain in Napa Valley, opens this week, reimagining a historic and iconic winery for a modern era. Encompassed by forest and the Bothe-Napa Valley State Park, the Estate is a hidden pearl surrounded by nature with impressive views of the Valley. The Residence, originally owned by Fred and Eleanor McCrea, was redesigned to preserve the legacy and aesthetic of the original home while bringing a new luxury focused experience.
Lawrence Wine Estates transformed the beloved residential home into an intentionally designed hospitality space, offering curated wine tasting experiences to showcase the wines from one of the pioneers of luxury wine on Spring Mountain. The Residence at Stony Hill is nestled amongst steep terraced vineyards with 70-year-old vines — the first to be planted on Spring Mountain after Prohibition.
“Visiting The Residence at Stony Hill is an opportunity to explore and connect with both the uniqueness of the estate and the historic significance of the winery through the lens of time and place,” says CEO of Lawrence Wine Estates, Carlton McCoy, Jr. “We were committed to the preservation and continuation of Stony Hill as one of Napa Valley’s oldest and most prominent estates, one that connects us to a legacy and inspires to reimagine it for today.”
Designed by Hayley Johnson of Rākis Design in San Francisco, the space includes intimate nooks throughout the Residence for unique and personal tasting experiences. The design team spent three years sourcing and curating authentic vintage pieces from the mid-century era from around the world, combined with custom furniture designed to both honor the original era and reflect the next luxury phase for the brand.
Stony Hill Vineyard, established in 1952, lies on the steep eastern side of the Mayacamas Mountains in the Spring Mountain District AVA, with an elevation between 800 and 1,550 feet. Vines grow in volcanic mountain soils and, far beneath the surface, limestone rock. Stony Hill’s highly allocated wines reflect a nuanced, delicate terroir-driven style across a range that includes the flagship Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon bottlings, as well as Syrah and Alsatian varietals.
“Through a deep understanding of the soil and the vineyard, coupled with low intervention winemaking, we aim to craft wines from this site that will express the very best of Spring Mountain,” says Stony Hill Winemaker Reid Griggs. “Producing a Cabernet Sauvignon of the highest pedigree with freshness will become an increasing focus in our marginal environment, which we believe sets the stage for great wines.”
The Residence Experience, $150 per person for parties of up to six guests and lasting 90 minutes, includes a curated walking tour of the historic home and surrounding views, as well as a tasting of currently released Estate wines and option for coffee and tea at the conclusion of the experience. Guests may also book an introductory Taste of Stony Hill experience ($75 per person), for an introduction to the world of Stony Hill with a tasting of three recently released vintages from the portfolio in a communal setting for up to six guests, or the luxury tiered Collector’s Experience. The Residence at Stony Hill, located at 3331 St. Helena Hwy North, St. Helena, California, welcomes guests Thursday through Monday by reservation only.
For more information, head over to The Residence at Stony Hill’s official website.