Steve Dutton

Steve Dutton was born in 1967, the same year his father planted the family's first Chardonnay vineyard on his ranch in western Russian River Valley. There has never been a moment in Steve's life when he wasn't absolutely sure that he would always farm that vineyard. Today, Steve is responsible for farming not only that original Chardonnay vineyard, but also over sixty additional plots of some of the finest and most coveted Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Syrah and Zinfandel in the Russian River Valley and Sonoma Coast appellations.

A fifth-generation Dutton to live in the area, Steve began working with his father, Warren, by the time he was five years old. His leap into the family business full time came in 1987, as his initial fascination with farming equipment became a keen passion for farming. At the age of 32, Steve was named Sonoma County's "Young Farmer of the Year." Steve explains, "All throughout the growing process, from surveying a new plot for a vineyard to choosing the moment to harvest, a farmer knows that everything comes back to the partnership you have with the environment. Through the successes and the failures, the work and the seasons, when a farmer experiences that partnership with the land it's rewarding."

While Steve's day is taken up mainly working with Dutton Ranch winery-clients and organizing the crews who work the family's vineyards, he also works closely with Dan on the business of Dutton-Goldfield Winery. His role is managing the vineyards that go into the Dutton-Goldfield wines, as well as assisting with the management and marketing efforts of the winery.