Visit to Starfield Vineyards – Botanical Garden, Wildlife Habitat & Great Wines!
Starfield Vineyards is a 67-acre property located east of Placerville. The vineyard ranges between 2200 feet elevation and 2,800 feet. While having written a few stories on their wines, I had not previously visited them. Tom Stinton, owner, invited me a few months ago and agreed on my next trip in the area I would stop by. I had met Rob, son and winemaker, at a wine event called “The Festival of Undiscovered Grapes” in San Jose earlier in the year. What I discovered at the property was so much more than a winery with vineyards, tasting room, and a production area.
Photo ©Michael Kelly
They had previously sent me a “test tube” of Sierra Spice allowing one to smell the aromas of their mountain air of resin, bark and needles which provide airborne oils (terpenes) in the air which influence their wines tastes. The test tube is filled with Ponderosa Pine, Incense Cedar and Douglas Fir. When viewing the vineyards that are grown next to the forest, it is easy to see their influence. Ponderosa Pine that commands most of the surrounding forest, provides distinctive herbal and floral aromatics. These include vanilla, butterscotch, pineapple, anise, tarragon, basil, lemon, orange, rosemary, dill, parsley and hops. The Cedar contributes woody, pine, musk, sweet balsamic, fresh hops, cloves, oregano and pencil shavings. The Douglas Fir adds pepper, rose and lavender.
Photo ©Michael Kelly
The vineyards are well groomed and pristine in appearance. The vineyards contain 24 blocks of approximately 1.5 acres each. Only varieties which grow in Southern Europe and near the Mediterranean are planted.
Picture of Rob Stinton with hat and Tom Stinton on right Photo ©Michael Kelly
One of the first items was to see the tasting room which was modern and immaculately clean. There is also a large outside tasting area under cover with breath taking views of the grounds.
Photo ©Michael Kelly
Both Rob and Tom took us on a six-passenger golf cart tour of the property. The “us” included two of my friends, Mike and Martha Dunne, who hadn’t seen the property since its early stages. Both Mike and Martha are fellow judges and published writers. We started out on the ride entering and under a canopy of roses like a gateway to a dreamworld.
One of the first things visited was their grass and concrete amphitheater which they hold concerts during the summer months on Fridays. Currently it has capacity of around 200 attendees, and they are planning to expand it to 300. One of the perks of attending is that you can order a pizza and have it delivered to the lawn during the concert and of course a bottle of wine!
Photo ©Michael Kelly
Next up as we drove the paved pathway, they pointed out various walking trails that were jettisoned into and around the vineyards. Also, they pointed out where zip lines were being considered, horseback rides and other venues to help entice and drive the future generations to come and stay to enjoy the grounds.
Photo ©Michael Kelly
One of the most beautiful venues I have seen at a winery was the stop to a modern designed building constructed on one of the ponds on the property. The lake is called Starfield Lake and in bloom were azaleas, Iceland and Sallie Holmes roses, multiple varieties of Water Lilies, that again created an idyllic and pastoral setting.
Photo ©Michael Kelly
The pavilion is used for release parties for members of their wine club.
Photo ©Michael Kelly
Above Tom Stinton was explaining both the difficult construction of the building overwater and how the lake came to be from both mining and a peach orchard many years ago.
Photo ©Michael Kelly
We continued the tour seeing their production area and acres of vineyards passing by Turtle Pond were Pygmy Water Lilies and Wild Roses were in bloom. Since it was a warm day most of the turtles were under the water where it was cooler. Did see one poking its head out to get some air.
Photo ©Michael Kelly
The golf cart tour concluded back at the outside tasting room where a table was laid out for our tastings and conversations. Here is where Tom and Rob provided us with more history of the property and their vision on things for the future. While sampling some of the delightful light and refreshing wines on a warm day that included: Viognier, Marsanne, Grenache, Mourvèdre and a Rosé. The “le grand chef-d’oeuvre” was bringing out which can only be described as an edible work of art, their gourmet Gold Country pizza. Chef Scott Tomblin provided us with thick crust pizza with edible 24 karat gold cut with a large scissor. Each bite provided a symphony of flavors from the fresh ingredients.
Mike Dunne captured a great picture of the pizza and used it with permission
The discussion and conversation, besides wines and vineyards, did focus on the plans to attract families and younger folks to come and enjoy the facility and grounds. They included, besides the items discussed earlier, a building to hold a children’s play area and offering non-alcoholic wines. We also discussed their goal of an integrated system providing natural predators, western bluebirds and tree swallows, organic farming practices and cultivating bees for the vineyard. They purposely have left corridors for northern owls, peregrine falcons, red tailed hawks and coyotes to help reduce damage to the crops from rabbits and rodents.
This was an eye-opening visit. While enjoying many of the wines, some making my Best Wines Tasted List for 2026, I never imagined what was behind the welcoming gates of the winery. Had I known in advance, I would have allowed a lot more time and may have brought a sleeping bag to enjoy the Starfield Vineyards at night.
A definite winery to visit as this story just skims the highlights of a surprising vineyard and their creative owner and winemaker.
Sláinte,
Michael Kelly