Floodgate / Starscape Vineyard

AVA

Russian River Valley

Decade

1970s

Current Owner

Mike Mike Zhao bought the property in 2013; Chris Walden was currently managing and transitioned to managing for the new owner. Chris eventually leased the property from Mike and changed the name to Starscape. After the harvest of 2022 Chris Walden left the property and Mike Zhao hired new vineyard manager. Starting with the 2024 vintage name went back to Floodgate.

Location Notes

Treton-Healdsburg rd, Forestville

Wineries

Capiaux

Description

The current-named Starscape Vineyard is located at the south end of the Middle Reach of the Russian River Valley, adjacent to Mark West Creek, and along Trenton-Healdsburg Road in Forestville. It is near Kistler Vineyard and Ritchie Vineyard. The vineyard was planted originally in 1971-1972 to Martini (? 13 or 16) clone of Pinot Noir and named Mark West Vineyard. Apparently, Mark West had a production facility in Graton but suffered through a series of ownership disruptions. The Mark West brand, production facility and wine inventory were acquired in 2012 by Derek Benham and his brother Courtney Benham, former owners of the Blackstone brand.

The Mark West Vineyard was acquired by Bill Hambrecht in 2006, named Floodgate Vineyard, and became an estate vineyard for Alysian Wines and Floodgate Wine Company, brands started by Hambrecht and winemaker Gary Farrell in 2007. Hambrecht had owned the Floodgate Vineyard along with grower Fred Peterson in Anderson Valley. This 52-acre vineyard was sold to Goldeneye in 2003, became one of four estate vineyards for that winery, and eventually renamed the Narrows. This freed up the name Floodgate.

Bill Hambrecht needed cash to pay $11 million in legal settlements in 2013, necessitating the sale of his prized vineyard property. Originally listed for $17 million, it was sold in June 2013 for $10.2 million. This selling price did not bring enough to pay off all of his debts. According to court documents, a disgruntled Hambrecht Wine Group employee who had won a $56,263 employment judgment prior to the sale became the owner of the property including a 150,000-case winery and the Floodgate Vineyard. However, the details of the legal battle are unclear to me and records show the Floodgate Vineyard and winery were sold at a Sonoma County sheriff’s auction for $100 on May 22, 2014. The legal trail for me ends here. When the vineyard was renamed “Starscape” is unclear. The current lessee (since 2019) and vineyard manager of the Starscape Vineyard is Chris Walden, who has worked with the vineyard at least since 2012. He did not respond for further information.

The Starscape Vineyard currently consists of 74 acres, planted from 1971-1972 to 2009. Pinot Noir clones include Martini, Swan, Pommard, and Dijon 667, 777 and faux 828. There is also Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc planted.

The vineyard contains two significant old-vine Pinot Noir blocks, Blocks 3 and 4. Both blocks were planted in 1971 to the Martini selection of Pinot Noir and represents the vineyard’s historic Martini planting.

Beginning with the 2015 vintage, Capiaux Cellars has purchased the entire production of Block 4 and has continued to do so every vintage since. Capiaux bottled the wine under the Starscape Vineyard designation from 2015 through 2023 and returned to the historic Floodgate Vineyard name beginning with the 2024 vintage.

Block 3 is a separate old-vine planting and has supplied fruit to other producers, including Joseph Jewell and Aonair. Capiaux has also purchased half of Block 3 in the 2021 and 2025 vintages and will have option to purchase the entire block starting in 2027.

A number of other producers have made Floodgate or Starscape vineyard-designated Pinot Noir over the years, but wines produced from the property’s other blocks should not be attributed to the historic 1971 Martini Block 4.

Certified