It's our dream that visitors to this website understand the unique qualities of our wine and the very special place where we make it.

We're a small, family-owned winery, and we intend to stay small, providing exceptional wine to discriminating consumers.

A number of qualities set our wines apart. They tend to be heavily extracted, very darkly-colored, and extremely ripe and fruity. They have strong flavors and aromas. Many are made without the use of preservatives, including sulfites, chemicals and laboratory manipulations. Our philosophy, espoused by winemaker Tony Coturri and vineyard manager Phil Coturri, is that the wine is made in the vineyard, and the winery is the custodian of the wine.

This difficult and rather pure style of winemaking has its roots in old Europe, particularly in Tuscany. It requires grapes from organic, low-yield vineyards.

It's no accident that we believe strongly in winemaking techniques from the Old World, since our founder, American-born Vance Sharp, lived in Europe for 20 years. Learning to appreciate wine from all over the continent was one of his favorite pastimes.

After 20 years in Europe, when Vance and his German-born wife, Monika, decided to locate in California, they fell in love with a hillside estate in Sonoma. A short year later, 1 day after Vance's 50th birthday, they were planting Hailey's Creek Vineyard. Sharp Cellars’ vineyards are named after the Sharp’s five grandchildren, Hailey, Tyla, Keenan, Kayln and Kole.

Vance and Monika are also dedicated to giving back to the community; both are involved in numerous charitable organizations. Vance has been a Boys and Girls club board member, Rotarian president, school board member, mentor to youth, and is a charter member of the Association of African-American Vintners. Monika is a Team in Training participant and mentor and a strong supporter of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

"How can one not be happy in these surroundings?" said Sharp from his estate overlooking the Sonoma Valley. "We are bent to the earth, working in the dirt, growing something that people can enjoy and learn from. Giving back to your community is staying close to the bare roots of humanity. You can't get any more grounded to the earth than that," he noted.