Our Story
Michel-Schlumberger’s first vines were planted in 1979 by Jean-Jacques Michel, a native of Switzerland. Michel traveled extensively across Northern California in search of the perfect location to establish his winery. He quickly recognized the potential of the Dry Creek Valley climate and soils to produce premium Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, and Chardonnay grapes, and saw the contoured exposures of Wine Creek Canyon, in particular, as ideal for creating unique flavors, especially in red wines.
In 1991, Jacques Pierre Schlumberger joined the winery team, bringing with him a legacy of over 400 years of winemaking in Alsace, France.
It was at this point that the Michel-Schlumberger brand was born. Over the years, the winery’s exceptional wines and the beauty of its estate have garnered global attention and acclaim. The mission-style architecture of the estate reflects Michel-Schlumberger’s European roots while honoring the influence of early Spanish settlers in California. Today, the winery’s white stucco walls, terracotta-tiled roof, bell tower, and grand courtyard create a spectacular setting for a day in Sonoma’s wine country.
Our Estate heritage is also reflected in the guest experience, which includes motorized tours through the vineyards, walking cellar tours through the production area, barrel tastings, and seated reserve tastings of our award-winning, small-production wines.
The Vines
Michel-Schlumberger’s vineyards stretch across the rolling hills, with Wine Creek quietly flowing along the front of the Estate. The property boasts more than 61 acres of prime benchland vineyards—long, narrow strips of level land bordered by steeper slopes above and below, renowned for producing healthy, high-quality grapes. Our viticultural team goes to great lengths to maximize the Estate’s natural advantages, carefully spacing and trellising to specific elevations to highlight the unique characteristics of each site. The distinct combination of benchland and hillside terroir, along with specially selected clones, allows us to create wines that are elegant in style yet confidently Californian.
While we focus on our signature varietals—Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, and Chardonnay—more than 15 varietals are grown on the Estate. Located just 17 miles from the Pacific Ocean, our vineyard blocks benefit from a subtle oceanic influence, ensuring even ripening.
Commitment to Preservation
From the very beginning, our commitment to preserving the land and the environment cannot be overstated. We pride ourselves on leading the way in Wine Country sustainability.
In June 2016, with the assistance of Westcoast Solar Energy, we designed, engineered, and installed a 215-kilowatt energy-generating system—the largest solar energy system in Dry Creek Valley. It consists of 672 ground-mounted solar panels and three inverters.
The system generates all of our electrical needs, and in a typical year, we produce more electricity than we use, selling the excess back to the energy provider on the grid.
Over the life of the system, we will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by more than 5,000 tons of CO2—equivalent to planting over 200,000 trees.
