Staff Picks: The Wines We Love to Drink
At Dutton-Goldfield, tasting wine is part of the job. Loving and living it is the bonus. Our Staff Picks collection pulls back the curtain on the bottles our team actually chooses to drink, not because they’re newest or coolest, but because they deliver every time.
This lineup reflects personal taste across the company, from winemaking to hospitality to leadership, and showcases the range of vineyards and styles that excite us most right now.
Melissa Stackhouse, Winemaker
Melissa’s pick, the 2023 5 Wells Vineyard Pinot Noir, captures what she values most in Pinot: lift, precision, and quiet complexity. Aromas of lilac, forest floor, and baking spice lead into a bright, graceful palate layered with cranberry and Bing cherry. It’s thoughtful without being heavy-handed, and endlessly drinkable.
“Often cold...often windy...killer steep slopes. Low yielding. Some years the fruit just doesn't quite make it in but when it does, it is spectacular!”
Megan Hartman, Hospitality Manager (left)
Megan gravitated toward two site-driven Pinots that reward curiosity. The 2022 van der Kamp Vineyard Pinot Noir is wild and expressive, with blackberries, lavender, herbs, and baking spice, while the 2022 McDougall Vineyard Pinot Noir leans savory and coastal, offering black cherry, rhubarb, cola, and minerality. Both are soulful wines that shine with food and conversation.
“I like Van Der Kamp because it is light and savory, very Burgundian, and that it's some of the oldest (if not the oldest) Pinot Noir vines in Sonoma County, and the property has a lot of stories and is gorgeous.”
Marianne Luzaich, Office Manager
Marianne’s favorite is the 2022 Fox Den Vineyard Pinot Noir, a wine that leans into the more aromatic, quietly complex side of Green Valley Pinot. It opens with dried lavender, purple florals, and sandalwood, with savory notes of bay leaf and herbal nuance woven throughout. On the palate, it’s layered and graceful, with dark cherry and wild strawberry framed by warm baking spice, the kind of Pinot that feels both comforting and intriguingly distinctive.
“Quintessential RRV wines. I need to be tasting them to expand my thoughts. 🙂”
Ed Thralls, General Manager
Unsurprisingly, Ed’s pick is Chardonnay. The 2023 Walker Hill Vineyard Chardonnay stands out for its balance of energy and depth, opening with golden apple, lemon bar, and apple blossom. It’s vibrant and layered, with just enough richness to feel complete, the kind of Chardonnay that reminds you why the variety matters.
“Chardonnay keeps my attention in a way no other variety does (except maybe Pinot). When it’s done right, it balances verve, texture, and restraint, and still feels effortless to drink. It’s the wine I reach for when I want something thoughtful without being overly precious.”
Steve Dutton, Owner
Steve’s pick, the 2023 Dutton Ranch–Snow Vineyard Pinot Noir, reflects what he’s always valued most: site expression and balance over flash. Snow Vineyard consistently delivers purity and finesse, with bright red fruit, floral lift, and a sense of ease that makes the wine feel complete without being heavy. It’s a Pinot that speaks clearly of where it comes from, rewarding careful farming and restraint in the cellar, and one Steve reaches for because it drinks beautifully now while still honoring the vineyard behind it.
Staff Picks is an invitation to drink alongside us. These are the wines we pour for friends, bring to dinner, and save for nights when we want something special without overthinking it.
