Place Matters.
There are no shortcuts when it comes to making world-class wines. It requires a long-term commitment to finding great vineyard sites and having an outstanding viticulture team to develop them. It demands a committed, passionate winemaking team and an on-going investment in craftsmanship. We ve gathered it all here at Rodney Strong. No shortcuts. It s my family s commitment. Tom Klein, Proprietor
Place Matters. Sonoma County, California An early pioneer in Sonoma County, Rod Strong was an acknowledged visionary who understood the potential that Sonoma County s soil and climate held for producing world-class wines. He was the first to craft a single-vineyard Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, one of the first to plant Pinot Noir in Russian River Valley and the first to produce a Chalk Hill Chardonnay. Today, Winemaker Rick Sayre and the Klein family continue their drive for innovation and devotion to Sonoma County, with 13 exceptional estate vineyards representing an exquisite range of varietal selection and regional terroir. tom klein Place is not everything. But place is the most important thing. Tom Klein, Proprietor 1
Prime Appellations alexander VALLEY Chalk Hill ALEXANDER VALLEY Alexander Valley is best known for the classic Bordeaux varieties which thrive in the unique soils and warm climate, with parts of the valley moderated by cooling ocean breezes and evening fog. Sauvignon Blanc from the Alexander Valley is characterized by ripe melon and pear tones, highlighted by zesty lime peel notes. Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot grown here are marked by deep plum and blackberry flavors, with abundant, supple tannin structure. A testament to the amazing quality of the region, each of our single vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon releases comes from small Alexander Valley vineyard sites. CHALK HILL Rod Strong was the first to see the potential of the Chalk Hill growing area as an exceptional place for Chardonnay, and planted his first Chardonnay vines here back in 1965. The ocean fog and chalky-white volcanic soils combine to produce distinctive Chardonnays that offer crisp citrus and mineral tones supported by lush floral notes and a rich baked apple character.
RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY Well-known as one of the finest cool-climate growing regions in California, the Russian River Valley has made its mark not only as a premier Chardonnay region, but as one of the few wine regions in the world capable of producing world-class Pinot Noir. Here in the fog-laden vineyards, Chardonnay develops crisp apple and citrus character. Pinot Noir offers up generous cherry and spice tones, with luscious, sensuous texture and deep earthy character that are the hallmarks of this notoriously temperamental varietal. RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY SONOMA COAST The Sonoma Coast AVA extends from the San Pablo Bay in the south all the way up to the Mendocino County border. Compared to the larger Sonoma County region, the Sonoma Coast is characterized by cool climate and significantly higher rainfall almost twice the annual rainfall of its inland neighbors. Many vineyards are above the fog line, where sun exposure is sufficient to fully ripen the fruit. Sonoma Coast is best known for its excellent cool-climate Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. sonoma coast 73
Sustainable Practices As a family-owned winery, we are committed to doing everything we can to preserve the Earth for generations to come. 4 This means using sustainable practices now. We have gone acre by acre through our estate properties to ensure we are taking every step we can to safeguard this region s eco-system. We are proud that our solar energy system is one of the largest of any winery in the world, and that we were the first carbon neutral winery in Sonoma County. As we look to the future, we continue to test and implement the latest sustainable practices. By doing so, we improve the quality of life in the community around us, and ensure exceptional wines in the glass.
Single Vineyard Wines These wines embody Tom Klein s vision of Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignons that match in quality with the finest wines of the world; truly Californian, specifically from Alexander Valley, with a pedigree of place captured. They are 100% estate grown, meticulously farmed, single vineyard in origin and exemplify the very best winemaking practices. ALEXANDER S CROWN / CABERNET SAUVIGNON / ALEXANDER VALLEY Perched high on a hill just west of Jimtown at the southern end of Alexander Valley, Alexander s Crown was the first Sonoma County vineyard to be bottled as a single vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon. Planted in 1971, it rises to 350 feet at its peak, with well-drained gravelly loam soils. The very pinnacle Block 1 has deep red soils and tends to produce the most intensely flavored fruit. The Crown expresses Cabernet in a notably Bordeaux-like style, with red fruit flavors, soft tannins and beautifully balanced acidity. ROCKAWAY / CABERNET SAUVIGNON / ALEXANDER VALLEY Established in 1994, the Rockaway vineyard site is planted primarily to Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, and includes all five of the classic Bordeaux varieties. On the eastern slope of Alexander Valley just above Geyserville and rising to an elevation of 750 feet, the site slopes to the northeast and southwest, with gravelly clay sub-soils over fractured sandstone. The well-drained, low-ph soils encourage the production of small berries in the clusters. In the glass, this translates to bold, concentrated Cabernet Sauvignon with juicy red and black fruit character and an elegantly round and seductive mid-palate. BROTHERS RIDGE / CABERNET SAUVIGNON / ALEXANDER VALLEY High in the hills east of the small town of Cloverdale, Brothers Ridge is planted to Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec. Soils are well-drained loam over sandstone, shale and ancient greenstone. With elevations rising to over 1000 feet, its primarily western-facing slopes help the vines capture the full warmth of the afternoon sun, ripening Cabernet well into the chocolate and black fruit profile, with exceptional richness. 5
Reserve Wines Our Reserve wines are crafted in our Artisan winery. Techniques such as cluster pre-sorting, berry sorting, cold soaking, extended maceration and a free-run only protocol are accomplished in a truly state-of-the-art facility, with small tanks and equipment sized for the most discriminating vineyard selection process. CHARDONNAY / RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY Selected from our finest vineyards in Russian River Valley, our Reserve Chardonnay has inviting aromas and wonderfully rich flavors and textures, all wrapped in a crisp, long finish ideally suited for satisfying true Chardonnay lovers. PINOT NOIR / RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY Crafted from select clones from our Russian River Valley vineyards, this medium-full bodied Pinot Noir is soft and richly flavored. CABERNET SAUVIGNON / ALEXANDER VALLEY Full bodied, with intense flavors, this age-worthy Cabernet is layered with round, ripe tannins that lead to a long, smooth finish. SYMMETRY / RED MERITAGE / ALEXANDER VALLEY Symmetry is a Red Meritage wine that celebrates the art of winemaking to its fullest extent. The wine is an expression of harmony; Rodney Strong Vineyards aim to carefully strike a balance of geology and climate, varietal selection and excellence in our craft. Symmetry exemplifies our dedication to and passion for Sonoma County. 10 6
Estate Vineyard Wines Each Rodney Strong Estate Vineyards wine highlights the diversity of Sonoma County s world-class appellations. Specific grape varieties are matched to growing conditions, shepherded through harvest and delicately blended for optimal balance and flavor. CHARLOTTE S HOME SAUVIGNON BLANC / NORTHERN SONOMA Light, crisp and highly aromatic, with ripe melon and pear from our Alexander Valley vineyards, and citrus, mineral and traditional herbaceous character from our Russian River Valley vineyards. CHALK HILL CHARDONNAY / CHALK HILL Fruit from this vineyard is grown in white volcanic soil that characterizes the Chalk Hill appellation. Creamy and crisp, with abundant fruit character, mineral, and toasty oak, this medium-full bodied Chardonnay displays delightful natural acidity. RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY PINOT NOIR / RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY The night-cooled Russian River Valley produces Pinot Noir of elegance and class. Supple in texture, this medium bodied wine is aged in predominantly French oak, which adds a subtle, toasty vanilla character. ALEXANDER VALLEY CABERNET SAUVIGNON / ALEXANDER VALLEY The Alexander Valley terroir displays itself as bold fruit aromas while flavors of this Cabernet are concentrated with a rich texture and soft tannins. KNOTTY VINES ZINFANDEL / NORTHERN SONOMA Made from a variety of mature vineyards, with some vines over a century old, this Zinfandel is elegant with fresh red berry fruit from our heritage Russian River vineyard combined with the ripe jamminess from our Alexander Valley vineyards. 117
Sonoma County Wines Rodney Strong Vineyards Sonoma County wines are made with select, premium fruit from throughout the county. Our winemaker brings together grapes from each region to make the best possible wine. Careful vineyard sourcing, oak aging and meticulous winemaking contribute to exceptional, consistent quality. CHARDONNAY / SONOMA COUNTY We source our Chardonnay from the cool Russian River Valley, Chalk Hill and Sonoma Coast regions. Bright aromas mingle with hints of toasty barrel complexity; deliciously focused fruit flavors with refreshing acidity give cause for one more sip. MERLOT / SONOMA COUNTY We farm our Merlot primarily in the warmer Alexander Valley, where the wine grapes display deep, dark fruit flavors and mature tannins. We also blend in some Russian River Valley fruit, which adds bright, red fruit and light herb accents. Lush flavors predominate, and are enhanced by aging in small oak barrels which add a toasty character to the long finish. CABERNET SAUVIGNON / SONOMA COUNTY We farm Cabernet Sauvignon on bench, hillside and mountain vineyards in the varied soils of the Alexander Valley. Aged in small oak barrels, this Cabernet is full bodied, with a spicy kiss of oak on the long finish. 8
Visiting Rodney Strong Vineyards Just south of the quaint town of Healdsburg, our winery and tasting room are nestled in the sweeping vineyards of Russian River Valley. Join us to experience Sonoma County taste our award-winning wines, take a tour or join us for one of the many events held throughout the year. OPEN DAILY 10:00am - 5:00pm WINERY TOURS 11:00am & 3:00pm CONTACT (707) 431-1533, (800) 678-4763 or rodneystrong.com ADDRESS 11455 Old Redwood Highway, Healdsburg, CA 95448 Interested in our wine clubs? Call 866-779-4637 Email cc@rodneystrong.com Visit rodneystrong.com SYMMETRY SOCIETY Membership in Symmetry Society gives you access to our exclusive Single Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignons as well as the iconic Symmetry and the critically-acclaimed Reserve collection. Taste our passion for Sonoma County and the exceptional terroir of our estate vineyards. COLLECTOR S CIRCLE As a member of our Collector s Circle, you receive exceptional Estate and winery exclusive wines to enjoy at home. Plus, you will be invited to special events and concerts, receive exclusive seasonal wine offers and enjoy special benefits here at the Hospitality Center. You can also tailor your wine shipments to your personal preferences. 9
PO Box 6010 Healdsburg CA 95448 USA Phone 866.928.4941 Fax 707.433.0939 rodneystrong.com