$5,500,000
Summary
Pelkan Ranch – A Premier Knights Valley Vineyard Estate
Nestled in the heart of Sonoma County’s prestigious Knights Valley AVA, Pelkan Ranch spans 66.7 acres of breathtaking wine country just six miles northwest of downtown Calistoga. Acquired by John and Carolyn Pelkan in 1985, this extraordinary estate includes 21.31 acres of meticulously planted vineyards that thrive amidst a landscape celebrated for its world-class viticulture.
Set against the dramatic backdrop of Mount St. Helena, the ranch shares a coveted mountain ridgeline with the esteemed Peter Michael Estate Vineyard. Perched at elevations reaching 950 feet, the vines here flourish in rugged, iron-rich red volcanic soils—producing bold, expressive fruit that embodies the essence of mountain terroir.
Pelkan Ranch has long been a sought-after source for top-tier winemakers, with its grapes featured in acclaimed wines from producers such as Chiron, Keplinger, Carlisle, and Trinitas. The vineyard yields intense, structured fruit bursting with deep red berry flavors, bramble, plum, leather, graphite, and a distinctive mineral character born from volcanic earth.
Beyond its viticultural pedigree, the property offers a charming guest or vineyard manager's residence, along with prime sites for building a future estate home. Surrounded by rolling vineyards, boutique wineries, and rural residences, Pelkan Ranch is both a private retreat and a gateway to the rich wine culture of Napa and Sonoma.
Whether you're an aspiring vintner or a connoisseur seeking a foothold in one of California’s most storied wine regions, Pelkan Ranch offers a rare opportunity to own a piece of wine country history.
-
Gently sloping hillside vineyards up to 950± ft in elevation,
-
Volcanic and rocky well-drained soils
-
Total 66.7± acres
-
21.31± Acres currently planted to vines
-
Owned since 1985
-
Vineyard planted between 1988-2007
-
Varietals planted: Cab Franc, Syrah, Grenache, Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc
-
Includes 3 on-site irrigation wells
-
Well #1: 75 GPM
-
Well #2: 5 GPM
-
Well #3: 5 GPM
-
-
On-site water storage
-
Additional water storage for fire abatement
-
Existing vineyard home: 1,540± sq ft
-
Flat building pad with extraordinarily expansive views
-
Electric connected
-
Waste: Septic
-
Propane on site
Vineyard Plantings Overview
Highlights
gallery
Virtual Tour
Knights Valley
Knights Valley is one of the last remote corners of Sonoma County that’s undeveloped, like a picture postcard of the sleepy agricultural valleys of an older California. But that isn’t the whole story: Knights Valley is one of the few areas that may have become more rural over the last century.
The Knights Valley AVA bridges Mount St. Helena and the Mayacamas Mountains and is anchored by Alexander Valley AVA to the west, Chalk Hill to the south, and cozies up to Calistoga (in Napa Valley) on the east. Access to the valley is via twisty sections of Highway 128 through mountainous terrain; the road eventually straightens out in a high valley, where it’s bordered by stately oaks draped with Spanish moss.
Currently, over 2,000 acres are planted to vineyards on the valley floor, but cattle operations are also an important part of agriculture here.
