A bit of California’s history in a bottle.
In the 1850s, hops farmer Reuben Harper cultivated the land that is now home to our winery. He rests among the vines he once tended, beneath the shade of a centuries-old California Bay Laurel. Today, the fifth generation of the Underwood family—pioneers in the wine and spirits business since 1888—continues his legacy of stewardship, farming with the same meticulous care and respect for the land.
We practice regenerative and organic viticulture across our two estate vineyards—Harper’s Rest and Moon Dust—both dedicated to Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. With sites in two distinct corners of the Russian River Valley, we capture the region’s extraordinary range of expression: from the warm, sun-kissed slopes of Middle Reach at Harper’s Rest to the cool, fog-laden Sebastopol Hills and its famed Goldridge soils at Moon Dust. Together, they reveal the full spectrum of the Russian River Valley’s diversity and quiet magic.
Winemaking
Our approach is simple: grow great wine in the vineyard.
We never add commercial yeasts, enzymes, tannins, acids, concentrates, or fermentation aids—only what the grapes provide on their own. Our wines mature for 14 months in 100% French oak, resting on the lees without racking to build energy, depth, and vibrancy. The real work happens in the vineyard, where we carefully coax the fullest expression from every vine.
Vineyard
We craft world-class, terroir-driven Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from our two distinct Russian River Valley vineyards. Guided by regenerative organic farming and minimal-intervention winemaking, we strive to let the land make the wine.
Harper’s Rest Vineyard, rooted in the historic Middle Reach, and Moon Dust Vineyard, nestled in the cool Sebastopol Hills of the valley’s far southwest, each bring their own unique character. Our focus is on honoring these sites and expressing their individuality with purity and precision.
This is all done with our friend and dedicated vineyard expert Matt Stornetta of Stornetta Made vineyard management. Our winemaker, Vance Rose, and Matt tirelessly consult on the best way to grow the most flavorful fruit possible to make the tastiest wine possible.
“Westside Road is the mecca of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, home to many of the region’s most renowned producers—Williams Selyem, Rochioli, and Ramey—as well as legendary vineyards like Rochioli, Flax, Allen, and Bacigalupi. Being surrounded by such heritage and excellence is inspiring.”
Regenerative Organic Certified
Our farming focuses on regenerating soil health and nurturing the entire farm ecosystem. By fostering biodiversity above and below ground, we build resilience, improve fertility, and create healthier vines.
We keep the land covered year-round with living plants, crop residues, or mulch. Diverse, nitrogen-fixing cover crops draw down carbon, return nutrients to the soil, control pests, prevent erosion, and reduce weeds. Crop rotation further improves soil structure and balances nutrients while helping combat pest and weed pressure.
We also minimize soil disturbance, avoiding heavy tillage that disrupts biology, depletes carbon, and causes erosion. By maintaining soil structure and microbiome, the land retains more water and remains healthier long term. Rotational grazing with grass-fed ruminants adds another layer of regeneration, cycling nutrient-rich manure back into the soil while giving pastures time to rest between grazings.
Compost is another cornerstone of our approach. Microbe-rich and teeming with life, it strengthens soil structure, boosts biodiversity, suppresses disease, and enhances water-holding capacity. Just as importantly, we never use synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, or fungicides. Instead, fertility and pest management are achieved through compost, beneficial plants, insects, and animals—ensuring a thriving ecosystem free of persistent chemicals.
Harper’s Rest Vineyard
Harper’s Rest Vineyard sits only a few hundred yards west of the Russian River in what is referred to as the Middle Reach of the Russian River Valley.
This is hallowed ground for both Pinot Noir and Chardonnay where the who’s who grows and produces some of the best of these varietals in the United States. The property was planted in 2006 with just over 8 acres of vines (7.2 acres of Pinot Noir and 0.9 acres of Chardonnay). We have 14 clones of Pinot Noir planted and one great clone of Chardonnay - Montrachet.
Moon Dust Vineyard
The Moon Dust Vineyard is nested within the Sebastopol Hills in the coolest area of the Russian River Valley, home to the most desirable Goldridge soils.
First planted to vines in 1996, the property consists of four pristine acres of Chardonnay, comprising two individual clones across two blocks. In 2007, the estate was expanded to comprise an additional 11-acres of Pinot Noir, planted to 6 distinct Pinot clones. The wines are a true reflection of vine maturity, the highest quality soil, a world-class microclimate, organic viticulture, and minimal intervention winemaking.
Woodblock Print
Andrea Starkey is an Ohio printmaker whose work is inspired by both nature and the natural materials used in its creation.
Practicing the technique of traditional Japanese woodblock printmaking, Moku Hanga, she creates woodblock and monotype prints exploring the atmospheric conditions of light and the random complexity and majesty of trees and their limbs.
This woodblock print is proudly featured on our new 2023 Harper’s Rest wine labels.
"I've traveled all over wine country during my years as a wine and spirits distributor, but the Russian River has always resonated with me—for both its exceptional wine quality and its authentic, down-to-earth culture. Harper’s Rest is a truly unique and beautiful property in the heart of the Russian River Valley."
