Shahin Shahabi founded Stonehedge Winery in 1990. While living in Lyon, France for a few years, Shahin gained valuable experience working in wine production. The first Stonehedge vintage was released in 1992 and immediately found a place on Wine Spectator’s list of Best Buys. In the years that followed, Stonehedge Winery has remained dedicated to making excellent Napa Valley wines at consumer-friendly prices.
The strategy is simple: keep the operation small and focused. Stonehedge works with some of the best grape growers throughout the state of California, including the Napa Valley’s Stagecoach Vineyard.
With a relaxed, cozy, friendly atmosphere, Stonehedge’s tasting room is conveniently located in the heart of downtown Napa. It is a living room, of sorts, with its rustic charm and Tuscan-hued views. Visitors are made to feel like family. And Winemaker Jon Alexander-Hills is often in residence, eager to chat about the wines.
Jon grew up in Southern California with a love of the outdoors. He jokes that he was working on a doctorate degree in plant physiology when he became disenchanted and headed next door to the enology building, where he received his master’s degree in the subject. While in school, he worked as a cellar worker at the fabled Robert Mondavi Winery. Learning all aspects of creating great wines during school, he graduated, working at various wineries before landing at Stonehedge Winery, a stone’s throw from Mondavi, where it all began for him.
“One thing we always try to do is to emphasize the fruit and not so much the winemaking,” Jon says. “We try to make everything well balanced and appealing to our customers.”
The wines have consistently received high praise and accolades and are often pointed to as wines to be discovered. But perhaps one of Stonehedge’s most appealing attributes is its ability to consistently produce excellent, award-winning wines at affordable prices.