Rodney Strong is one of Sonoma County's most dramatic wineries. Visitors are invited to our hospitality center offering a sampling of the award winning wines of Rodney Strong. Enjoy wine tasting with balcony views, taking a tour of the winery's working centers, attending special events, or just relaxing with a picnic and glass of wine on our lush lawn set among the beautiful vineyards of the Russian River Valley.
Our founder, Rodney D. Strong, was born in 1927, in Camas, WA.But Rod yearned to make wine, and in 1962 purchased an old vineyard and winery building in Windsor, once known as the Monte Carlo Winery. There he crafted his first wines by doing: asking questions, taking classes, making mistakes, and learning. Once he'd mastered the basics, he quickly came to the inevitable conclusion that all winemakers must reach: quality winemaking requires quality grapes, and the best way to assure the latter is to grow your own, and get good at it. By 1968, Rod had gotten good enough at making and selling wine, that he was able to convince financiers to loan him the money he needed to acquire land on which to establish vineyards. In those days, this county was dairy country, with pears and prune-plums, but very little in the way of grapes. Armed with the latest climate data from UC Davis, and equipped with an uncanny, visionary approach to selecting sites where great grapes would grow, Rod purchased and planted many of the best vineyards we have today; all right here in Sonoma County.
By 1970, Rod was breaking ground for a new winery building in the recently planted vineyard he called River East, in Healdsburg. Originally a large prune-plum orchard, Rod established chardonnay, pinot noir, and an impressive, efficient winery building, which today houses our tasting room and lower cellar.
Rick Sayre began his winemaking career in 1970 at the age of 19 as assistant winemaker and cellar master at Simi Winery in Sonoma County. He joined Rodney Strong Vineyards in 1979 and since has been responsible for winemaking for the Winery’s Sonoma County, Estate, and Reserve wines.
Rick Sayre began his winemaking career in 1970 at the age of 19 as assistant winemaker and cellar master at Simi Winery in Sonoma County. He joined Rodney Strong Vineyards in 1979 and since has been responsible for winemaking for the Winery’s Sonoma County, Estate, and Reserve wines.
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