Hop Kiln Winery History

Located in the heart of the Russian River Valley, this historic property has been a working ranch since the mid-1800s.  The Walters family built the Hop Kiln in 1905 to process hops that flourished on farms in the sunny, cool weather of our Healdsburg neighborhood.

When the hop industry faltered in the 1950s due to an invasive fungus, the Hop Kiln became idle.  Although wine grapes have been grown on our ranch since the 19th century, wine was produced for family use only until 1975 when the historic barn and kiln were converted to a bonded winery.

The property is a living reminder of Sonoma County’s rich agricultural past.  The imposing Hop Kiln and other ranch buildings have been recognized as landmarks by local, state and national historic registries.