From Vine to Table: The Inaugural 2025 Dutton-Goldfield Harvest Camp Experience
This harvest season, we welcomed 20 of our most engaged members and supporters to the very first Dutton‑Goldfield Harvest Camp —and what a day it was. From before the foggy sunrise to a warm, flavorsome Italian dinner with library wines, we lived, tasted, learned, and celebrated the rhythm of grape-to-glass with soulful intention.
Dawn in the Vineyards: A Wake-up Call with Purpose
Before beginning, Steve Dutton led us into the vineyard, pointing out how each block is mapped and each crew member positioned. What followed was nothing short of poetry in motion—the harvest team moved in unison: fast, clean, precise; headlamps dancing like fireflies. Baskets filled without leaves and MOG (materials other than grapes), clusters were clipped with intention, and our group watched the choreography of picking in the foggy darkness.
During a candid Q&A, Steve described how Dutton Ranch retains over 90% of its crew year after year, a feat rooted in respect, trust, and care. He shared that the Duttons provide onsite housing for all their workers, including modest homes or dorm-style units for seasonal and senior employees.
We learned how this stability allows the team to move swiftly as the harvest window opens—because these are not temporary hands arriving, but a tightly bonded crew who know every vine, every nook, every rhythm of the region. Then, as the fog began to lift, we walked among the vines to pick our own grapes with care and saved a few clusters for us to test once we arrived at the winery.
In the Cellar: Science, Art & Community
Guided by winemaker Melissa Stackhouse and enologist Bella Santia, campers were immersed in the alchemy that bridges vine to bottle. Under Bella’s guidance, each cluster of 5 Wells Vineyard Pinot Noir was sorted by our campers. Next, teams rotated through temperature-stable rooms. They took Brix and T° readings, watching how juice transforms—observing (and tasting) Pinot Blanc at 17° Brix, down from 21 before the ferment. We saw fermentation in action, bubbles rising, yeast working its quiet magic.
In deeper tanks, campers observed punchdowns, but actively participated in raking out skins from drained tanks before heading to the press. Next came the soul of the cellar. We gathered around barrel racks and tasted last year’s Walker Hill Chardonnay and Emerald Ridge Pinot Noir—showing how wines evolve in wood. Then we contrasted those with young lots still in barrel and those mid-malolactic fermentation, comparing new oak, lees influence, and subtle changes in texture.
Bella and Melissa bounced between groups as questions flowed. They answered from cold rooms, barrel rooms, and catwalks—transforming wine theory into tactile experience.
Vineyards Lunch & Learn
At midday, we gathered under warm, blue skies in the heart of Green Valley at the Dutton Ranch Red Barn for a purposefully crafted lunch, guided by our estate sommelier Rachel Thralls and longtime Sonoma caterer Lori Bianchi of Bianchi Catering. Rachel—Certified Sommelier and deeply rooted in Sonoma County wine education—brought precision and passion to every pairing, while Lori curated a local, seasonal menu that honored simplicity and flavor. Together, they paired each course with a Dutton‑Goldfield wine, weaving stories provided by Melissa and Steve of vineyard site, climate, and varietal character. As guests tasted, they learned why certain textures, weights, and flavors sing together—and also felt empowered to follow their own palate preferences, trusting “drink what you like” above all.
Evening by Design: Library Wines & Shared Stories
As twilight deepened, we made our way to Ca’Bianca for a sit-down four-course dinner, paired with library wines and large-format vintages. Led by Steve’s wife, and Sonoma County Winegrowers President, Karissa Kruse, we “passed the toast”, toasting the land, the labor, and the legacy of Dutton Ranch. Every bottle told a chapter of place, patience, and purpose.
Each guest left with a canvas goodie bag brimming with merch, wine openers, apparel, and keepsakes—tokens of a day that lingers.
🌱 Thank You, and What’s Next
To our campers: you joined with curiosity, respect, and open hearts. Your questions, joy, and company enriched the entire experience. Thank you for trusting us to share the soil, the stories, and the season.
And for those reading this who weren’t with us this year—consider this your invitation for next time. Harvest Camp will return, and when it does, you’ll want to be part of it. Questions? Reach out to Megan at megan@duttongoldfield.com. Interested? Fill out this interest form for Harvest Camp 2026! > Click Here
