History

Our 710-acre estate, known as Windsor Oaks Vineyards, is located just south of Healdsburg in Sonoma County California. The property was part of the Rancho Sotoyome land grant of 1841 and was later acquired by Antonio Perelli-Minetti, who was the first to plant grapes on the property. In the 1920’s the estate was used as a summer residence; extensive stonework from the gardens can still be seen from original Balverne Estate property. In 1972,  the ownershipship changed hands, grapevine were replanted, and winemaking begun under the Balverne label. Balverne was a well-known wine brand throughout the 1980s, when it was poured at the White House and served in the finest restaurants across the country.

In 1991, the property was purchased by its current owner, Bob Stein, who renamed the property Windsor Oaks Vineyards.* The property is successfully managed as Vineyards, selling fruit in recent years to over 35 highly-regarded wineries throughout the states. Winemaking resumed on the property in 2005 under the Windsor Oaks Winery brand. In 2012, Bob and his wife Renee made the decision to honor the legacy of their beloved property by re-introducing the Balverne name. In 2017, the Notre Vue Estate Winery and Vineyards were created, adding another higher level of wine, service, and experience. 

*Windsor Oaks Vineyards combined the Windsor CA locality and with extensive population and number of oak species.