Our Name
Our vineyard name and logo pay tribute to the narrow-gauge Sonoma Valley Railway that ran between Sonoma Town and the village of Glen Ellen from 1882 to 1907.
The old track imprint runs the length of our 21-acre property on the valley floor between Sonoma Mountain and the Mayacamas Mountains. Part of the original trestle was visible from the vineyard entrance until the winter of 2017.
"Ahead and toward the right, across sheer ridges of the mountains, separated by deep green canyons and broadening lower down into rolling orchards and vineyards, they caught their first sight of Sonoma Valley and the wild mountains that rimmed its eastern side....The air was aromatic with laurel. Wild grape vines bridged the stream from tree to tree. Oaks of many sorts were veiled in lacy Spanish moss."
Jack London, The Valley of the Moon
Glen Ellen
Trestle Glen Vineyard is located in the town of Glen Ellen. The town's name derives from a 1,000-acre vineyard established in 1868 by California pioneer Charles V. Stuart and his wife, Ellen. The American writer Jack London settled here and wrote a paen to the natural beauty of this area in his 1913 novel, The Valley of the Moon.
Glen Ellen belongs to the Sonoma Mountain American Viticultural Area (AVA), known for diverse micro-climates on rocky hillside terrain. Varietals include Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, and Zinfandel.
Our Land
Our location between two mountain ranges and over geothermal hot springs allows for extended, frost-free growing periods, protected from the famed coastal fogs of Northern California.
Sparse, gravelly volcanic soil and good cultural practices ensure low vigor, low yield, and small concentrated berries for our 8 acres of Cabernet Sauvignon and Zinfandel grapes.
As in Jack London's day, our property is dotted with majestic California oaks, fragrant laurels, wild grapes and native manzanita trees. Herons, hawks, quails, wild turkeys, foxes, bobcats and the occasional mountain lion call this area home.
The Bruce Cohn Era
Trestle Glen Vineyards was originally part of BR Cohn Winery, founded in 1984 by longtime Sonoma resident, wine producer, philanthropist, classic car enthusiast and manager of numerous rock n' roll bands, Bruce Cohn.
For almost 20 years, Trestle Glen grapes contributed to BR Cohn’s award-winning small block wines, most famously the Silver Label Cabernet Sauvignon.
Following the sale of BR Cohn Winery in 2015, Cohn retained Trestle Glen Vineyards to continue production of his boutique wines. He produced two award-winning vintages of Cabernet Sauvignon before passing ownership of the vineyard to the Wheeler Family in 2020.
The Future
As the new owners of this wonderful piece of history and cultivation, our goal is to continue to showcase the excellence of this microclimate, the skill of master winemakers, and the care of a family-owned business.
We have now expanded our wine lineup beyond our estate with our 2021 Los Carneros Chardonnay and Central Valley Rose of Syrah and Grenache. We are confident these new wines will attest to our commitment to quality production from reputable growers, and provide much enjoyment to our customers.
Further into the future, we are looking to expand our wine selection with new plantings of carefully-chosen varietals to maximize our estate efficiency and quality, and to take full advantage of the unique features of our property. In addition, we hope to improve our facilities with the goal of creating a dedicated tasting room in the next few years.
We look forward to growing with you!