Articles & Interviews
Joe Campbell “Looking Back on a Defining Year at Starfield Vineyards in El Dorado County,” Wine Bulletin, January 5, 2026
Starfield Vineyards sits high above Placerville on a 2,400-foot ridge in Apple Hill, where rows of vines roll downhill toward lakes, forest trails, and wide Sierra views. Founded by third-generation grower Tom Sinton as a second chapter after planting Shell Creek in the 1970s, the vineyard reflects both experience and restraint. Today, with son Rob guiding winemaking across 31 sustainably farmed acres, Starfield focuses on Rhône and Mediterranean varieties shaped by granite soils, mountain air, and cool nights that slow ripening and sharpen expression.
The 2025 vintage marked the second year of Starfield’s move toward field blends and co-fermentation—an approach Sinton believes produces wines that feel more complete and more alive than those assembled later in the cellar. The method requires trust, flexibility, and a healthy tolerance for chaos. Blends are imagined well before harvest, yet the season always intervenes, forcing last-minute revisions. Some final calls happened just hours before picking—sometimes at 4 a.m.—as different parcels were stitched together into single, living expressions of the year.
Yields in 2025 were down roughly 30 percent, yet the vineyard gained clarity in return. Careful shoot thinning and cluster selection to one cluster per shoot kept vines in balance, allowing the naturally cool season to preserve acidity while drawing out generous fruit. The team let certain blocks hang a little longer than usual, harvesting at slightly higher Brix to maintain depth without sacrificing freshness. The resulting Rhône wines showed lift and energy, expressive without feeling pushed.
There were surprises along the way. A new yeast trial turned Tempranillo brighter and more fruit-driven than in past years, transforming a variety once marked by savory tones into something more generous and red-fruited—an evolution the team plans to continue exploring. Starfield also harvested Grenache Blanc for the first time, experimenting with gentle natural oxidation. Early results were encouraging, suggesting this high-elevation site could support further white Rhône innovation in future vintages.
In the cellar, the goal was to protect what the vineyard delivered while keeping fermentations moving in cool autumn conditions. Managing nutrients precisely and co-inoculating for malolactic fermentation helped fermentations finish cleanly and early—a crucial improvement in a region where cold cellars can stall progress. Each technical choice served a single aim, preserving purity and balance across the lineup.
Midway through the year, Starfield continued its transition toward organic and regenerative viticulture. Sinton and his team saw immediate gains in soil health and diversity from new cover cropping, and they plan to test drones in 2026 to further reduce tractor passes and compaction, promoting a thriving vineyard ecosystem.
Looking ahead to the release of the 2025 Estate Grenache Blanc and the wines that follow, Sinton sees the year as a reminder of why Starfield exists. The smaller harvest created space to slow down, to listen more closely, to respond rather than dictate. Every decision, from yeast selection to co-inoculation, was a deliberate step toward wines that feel grounded in place and genuinely honest to El Dorado. For the Sintons, that is progress— not just better wines, but a deeper responsibility to the land itself.
The wines featured in the Wine Recommendations section were provided by the winery for the purpose of review. The selection and tasting of these wines were independently conducted. No compensation or incentives were provided for inclusion in the story. As always, the top priority is to provide readers with informative reporting.
2023 “The Miner’s Inch” Red Blend- explodes from the glass with a flamboyant bouquet of black cherries, plums, and blackberries laced with pepper and herbs. The palate unfurls juicy fruit with vibrant acidity, fine-grained tannins, and touches of licorice and cocoa seamlessly integrated post-oak.
2023 Mourvèdre- opens with lifted aromas of black raspberry, boysenberry, and spiced plum interspersed with wild herbs, cracked pepper, dried rose, and a subtle gamey nuance that reveals the variety’s wilder side. On the palate, it’s concentrated yet remarkably vibrant, with layers of dark red and blue fruits carried by a savory backbone. The finish lingers and focuses, promising greater complexity with time in bottle.
Meredith May “Finding Sierra Spice: Starfield Vineyards’ Rhône-Style Wines Define El Dorado Terroir,” The Somm Journal, December 2025-January 2026
May explores how Starfield Vineyards in El Dorado express a distinctive regional identity—what winemaker Rob Sinton calls “Sierra spice.” This aromatic character comes partly from volatile terpenes released by surrounding Ponderosa pine, incense cedar, and Douglas fir, creating a sensory effect similar to garrigue in the Rhône Valley.
The estate integrates 31 acres of vineyards with forest and ponds, reinforcing the relationship between landscape and wine style. The brand’s identity reflects this environment and Sinton’s passions: the labels are crafted from solargraphs—long-exposure pinhole photographs taken over several days at 2,400 feet elevation, capturing the sun’s arc above the vineyard.
Highlighted Wine and Notes
The article features reviews of standout Starfield releases, emphasizing high acidity, vibrant fruit, and site-driven aromatics:
- 2024 Hope Rising (Marsanne/Roussanne/Viognier): mineral-driven; guava, key lime, pear, vanilla spice; bright acidity. 95 points.
- 2024 Estate Viognier: papaya, vanilla cream, elderflower, pear blossom; balanced by low ABV and minerality. 95 points.
- 2023 Estate Grenache: pomegranate jam, herbs, white pepper, anise, clove, and “Sierra spice.” 93 points.
- 2023 Estate Cinsaut: quartz soils, low ABV; fennel, hibiscus, basil, red tea, tomato broth; brisk acidity. 93 points.
- 2023 The Miner’s Inch (multi-varietal blend): black cherry, tobacco, licorice, cedar, cinnamon, clove; saline freshness. 94 points.
Key Themes
- Terroir Expression: Conifers and forest environment contribute measurable aromatic impact.
- Art + Science: Label imagery and winemaking philosophy reflect creativity, experimentation, and place.
- Quality Recognition: Multiple wines score 93–95 points, emphasizing excellence in Rhône-style winemaking.
Full Article in the Somm Journal See pg. 54
Nancy Brazil, “Starfield Vineyards: Mountain Wines from California’s El Dorado AVA,” Pull That Cork,” pullthatcork.com, November 20, 2025
Over the years we have tasted many interesting wines made from mountain vineyards. It takes extra work to grow grapes at elevation, but mountain locations can provide significant elevation change, variable sun exposure, slope and soils all within a single estate. Starfield Vineyards is located in just such a special place. We recently received a selection of eight of their wines as tasting samples. Full Story
Michael Kelly, “2024 Starfield Vineyards Hope rising – a White Blend of Marsanne and Roussanne,” California Wines and Wineries, CaliforniaWinesAndWineries.com, November 20, 2025
On the eyes a light straw coloring. . .and then [I was] being “blown away” with the perfume or aromatics of honeysuckle. . .On the palate . . .stone fruits specifically peach, tangerine and honeydew. . .Finish was soft and embracing. Full Story
Starfield Vineyards Assesses 2025 Harvest, WineBusinessMonthly, November 19, 2025
Starfield Vineyards reports that the 2025 harvest was smaller but extremely high-quality, with 36 tons harvested—about 30% less than last year. Harvest ran from August 11 to October 13, with most fruit picked in September. Winemaker Rob Sinton highlights the success of co-ferments (Syrah–Viognier and Mourvèdre with Petite Sirah) and expanded trials using Renaissance yeasts, both contributing to particularly bright, fruit-forward aromatics this year.
The season was unusually cool, with only one day exceeding 100°F—similar to the 2023 pattern. Night harvesting (starting at 3–4 AM) allowed fruit to remain cool and maintain freshness, supporting Starfield’s signature bright style.
2025 marked the first harvest of Grenache Blanc, processed with a no-sulfur, natural-oxidation technique that yielded golden color, stone-fruit flavors, and an almost tropical note. The first estate Grenache Blanc from this vintage will be released in late spring 2026.
The vineyard continued its shift toward organic and regenerative practices, seeding a blended organic cover crop with a no-till drill and building soil organic matter. Starfield plans to deploy drones on steep slopes to apply organic materials and release beneficial insects.
One standout variety this year was Tempranillo, which combined its usual savory, charcuterie tones with unexpectedly intense blackberry and blueberry fruit, potentially making it one of Starfield’s best vintages for this grape.
Tom and Rob Sinton attribute the purity of the red wines to a tighter focus on fermentation temperatures, yeast nutrition, and co-inoculating for malolactic fermentation, allowing ML to complete before cellar temperatures dropped. They call these the purest wines produced in Starfield’s 14 years.
The release concludes with an overview of Starfield’s high-elevation Sierra Foothills estate, sustainable and regenerative farming programs, and the unique “Sierra Spice” character imparted by surrounding Ponderosa pine, Incense cedar, and Douglas fir forests. Full Release
Michael Kelly, “2023 Starfield Vineyards Aglianico – A Scarce and Underrated Varietal,” California Wines and Wineries, CaliforniaWinesAndWineries.com, November 14, 2025
This wine will make my annual Best Wines Tasted for calendar year 2025!
James Melendez, “2024 Viognier, 2024 Marsanne & 2024 Hope Rising” YouTube Video Short, November 11, 2025
Wine writer and video blogger James Melendez highlights the high elevation hillside terrain of El Dorado which produces wines with vibrant acidity and a clear varietal expression. He focuses on three whites: Starfield Viognier, which he calls aromatic with stone-fruit notes and good acidity. He finds the Marsanne has subtle tropical notes, and hints of honey or almond, while the Hope Rising blend produces a balanced white with expressive fruit and a crisp finish. See the full video for the complete review.
Michael Kelly, “2022 Starfield Vineyards and Winery Syrah with Slow Cooker Birria Tacos,” California Wines and Wineries, CaliforniaWinesAndWineries.com, October 29, 2025
Starfield Syrah Swirls with Blackberry and Black Pepper, on the Palate Minerality and Fresh Plowed Earthen Fields
Photo ©Michael Kelly
The Winery
Photo from Starfield Vineyards
The winery was founded in 2012 by Tom and Rob Sinton with plantings of 31 acres on the hillsides east of Placerville, California in El Dorado County. They are located at 2759 Jacquier Road.
Map courtesy of https://uscountymaps.com/el-dorado-county-map-california/
The naming of the wines, especially their new labels starting with the 2023 vintages, highlight the history of region from the Gold Rush with wine names as Miner’s Inch and Rising Hope. These two are for a nearby mine.
The winery produces 17 varieties of wines comprising of mostly Rhone varieties (66%) and Italian (30%) and a few Spanish varieties. The vineyards have been farmed using sustainable and fish-friendly farming since their inception.
Photo from Starfield Vineyards
The wineries name Starfield refers to “Star Fields”, sites where in their words “fruit develops the optimal balance of aroma, flavor and texture”. They also consider what they refer to as Sierra Spice, the aroma and taste characteristics that come from the western facing forests surrounding the vineyards. The local trees are Ponderosa Pines, Cedars and Douglas Firs and their oils provide earthy and woodsy forest aromatics from their oils.
The Wine – “Wine is bottled poetry” – Robert Louis Stevenson
Photo ©Michael Kelly
This was sent to me as an advanced barrel sample as it is not released today. This wine was aged in 30% new French oak and 70% in neutral oak for 18 months. It is 14.5% alcohol with 269 cases produced. It is made with 97% Syrah and 3% Grenache. It will not be released until 2027 and pricing is expected at $60/bottle. Can hardly wait to taste this aged wine in 2027.
Photo ©Michael Kelly
This wine on the eyes was an inviting red brick color with medium viscosity. On the nose, soft and subdued fruit with violets waft into the senses, no slapping one in the face with dripping sweetness. Stoic and respectful best describes this wine on inspection. On the palate, the wine swirls with blackberry and black pepper. On the finish, minerality and freshly plowed earthen fields complement the fruit for a smooth and lasting sip.
The Food and Wine Pairing – “Food without wine is a corpse; wine without food is a ghost. United and well matched, they are as body and soul: living partners” – Andre Simon
Photo ©Michael Kelly
Selected to pair this Syrah with one of our favorite wintertime foods, Slow Cooker Birria Tacos. The ingredients for the slow cooker included chuck roast (fat cut off), yellow onions, garlic cloves, garlic powder, onion powder, dried oregano, cumin, chili powder, cinnamon, chipotle in adobo, crushed tomatoes, beef broth, white vinegar, kosher salt and bay leaves. Two Flatiron Pepper Company mixtures were added to the sauce: Hatch Valley Green and Dark and Smoky.
Photo ©Michael Kelly
The beef pieces were first browned and then transferred to the slow cooker. The broth was then added covering the meat and slowly cooked for eight hours.
Each tortilla was fried and then the beef placed in each taco with freshly cut purple onions and shredded Monterey jack cheese. A side bowl with Birria sauce was for dipping!
One of our favorite and warm dishes as the evenings start to cool down with warmth and spiciness. The wine with its subdued fruit and earthiness was a great counterbalance for the dish. A very good food and wine pairing this evening.
Sláinte,
Michael
Blake Gray, “California Wine Grapes Left for the Birds,” Wine-searcher.com, September 18, 2025
Starfield Scales Back Harvest Amid California Grape Glut
In Wine-Searcher’s report “California Wine Grapes Left for the Birds,” Starfield Vineyards’ co-owner Tom Sinton explains why the winery is cutting its 2025 harvest to just 36 tons, down from 166 tons two years earlier. Facing oversupply and rising farming costs, Sinton says Starfield is “managing to survive the storm” by focusing on quality and long-term sustainability.
Full Article
Virginie Boone, “New Releases from California’s Sierra Foothills,” JebDunnuck.com, September 16, 2025
Starfield Shines in Jeb Dunnuck’s Sierra Foothills Report
In Jeb Dunnuck’s “New Releases from California’s Sierra Foothills,” critic Virginie Boone explores how high-elevation producers in El Dorado and Amador Counties are balancing heritage, innovation, and climatic adversity. She says that Starfield Vineyards is “making some notable estate wines from [their] 2,400-feet elevation hillside vineyard like Viognier and Cinsaut as well as selling grapes to others. Starfield founder Tom Sinton’s grandfather once made wine with Louis Martini. . .and Sinton also planted Shell Creek Vineyards in Paso Robles.”
When reviewing the wines she comments: “Father-son team Tom and Rob Sinton (Rob makes the wines) are making some great wines from their estate Starfield Vineyard just outside of Placerville in El Dorado County. Planted in 2012 to mostly Rhônes, the wines are fresh and bright and among the new breed of wines from the appellation worth seeking out.”
She rated the 2022 Sparkling Brut Rose 91, the 2022 Cinsaut 91, the 2022 Mourvedre 92 and the 2023 Viognier 92, and the 2022 Grenache 93. All reviews are available in the Accolades section of this website.
Full Article
Cori Solomon, “Explore California’s El Dorado Wine Country,” Wanderwithwonder.com, September 9, 2025
WanderWithWonder Spotlights Starfield in El Dorado Wine Country Guide
In “Explore California’s El Dorado Wine Country,” travel writer Cori Solomon offers a beautifully rendered tour of the region’s wineries, landscapes, and heritage, positioning El Dorado as a hidden gem in California’s wine story. The article weaves together Gold Rush history, scenic trails, and wine tasting experiences with evocative descriptions of vineyard settings, regional terroirs, and varietal diversity. Solomon says of Starfield:
“The Starfield Vineyards site is one of the most beautiful locations in El Dorado County wine country. The landscaping features an enchanting, park-like setting. With forests of Ponderosa Pines, Cedar, and Douglas Firs serving as the backdrop and buffer between the vineyard, Starfield Vineyards developed the land to include two ponds and a lake, promoting biodiversity with sustainability for both the natural environment and the vineyard. The focus is on utilizing the Sierra spice to its fullest potential to define their wines.”
“Tom Sinton grew up on a ranch in Paso Robles and, at a young age, fell in love with the connection between food and wine. He planted his first vineyard, Shell Creek Vineyard, on the family ranch in Paso Robles in 1972. During this time, he earned a master’s degree in enology from UC Davis. After working in the human resources industry in the Bay Area from the mid-1980s through 2003, he returned to his roots and eventually purchased a property in El Dorado in 2012. His son, Rob, also became passionate about wine during his college days at UC Davis. Tom and Rob collaborate at Starfield Vineyards.”
“Focusing mainly on Rhône varietals and a mixture of Italian and Spanish varietals, Starfield Vineyards’ viognier is their most popular and flagship wine.”
The Wines of Starfield Vineyard. Photo by Cori Solomon
Full Article
Nicole Nielsen & Mike Garry, “CRN Digital Talk Radio: “What’s Cookin’ on Wine – Interview with Rob Sinton,” CrnTalk.com, September 8, 2025
Rob Sinton on ‘What’s Cookin’ on Wine’ — Starfield’s Alpines in the Glass
In the What’s Cookin’ on Wine podcast episode (September 8, 2025), host Michael Horn interviews Rob Sinton, winemaker and co-owner of Starfield Vineyards, about his family’s wine journey, green practices philosophy, and the distinct challenges and rewards of mountain viticulture in El Dorado County. Rob discusses how Starfield balances innovation and tradition, walking listeners through their varietal choices, and how the “Sierra spice” signature evolves in different vintages. He also reflects on climate variability, and what it takes to maintain quality in a high-elevation site. His remarks give listeners both a behind-the-scenes look at Starfield and a deeper appreciation for the subtleties that set this region apart.
Full Episode
Mary Babbit & Mary Orlin, “Starfield Vineyard winemaker Rob Sinton says high altitudes and Sierra spice make this El Dorado County winery a star, Ep. 115,” SipSipHorrayPodcast.com, Sept 2, 2025
Rob Sinton on Sip Sip Hooray: Altitude, ‘Sierra Spice,’ and Reinventing Starfield
Starfield Vineyard winemaker Rob Sinton says high altitudes and Sierra spice make this El Dorado County winery a star, Ep. 115
For this episode, the Marys are on location with Rob Sinton, winemaker at El Dorado County’s Starfield Vineyards. This is where the grapes meet the sky, as they say, thanks to high altitude vineyards reaching upwards of 2400 to 3000 feet in elevation. Here at Starfield Vineyards, you gaze at the vineyard views surrounded by […]
In Episode 115 of Sip Sip Hooray, hosts Mary Babbitt and Mary Orlin sit down with Rob Sinton at his Starfield Vineyards estate in El Dorado County. They begin by framing Starfield as “where the grapes meet the sky,” noting the vineyards’ high elevations (2,400 to 3,000 feet) and surrounding evergreen forests. The episode emphasizes how this mountain terroir gives Starfield wines their signature “Sierra spice,” a spicy/herbal aromatic imprint that distinguishes them from other California wines. Rob traces Starfield’s founding (with his father Tom Sinton) as a deliberate search for ideal terroir for Rhône and Italian varietals in the Sierra Foothills. He describes Starfield not just as a wine producer, but as a creative experiment: he is reimagining wine labels through solargraphy, reviving “forgotten” grape varieties, and even making his own vermouth. The hosts and Rob also discuss the sensory experience of the property—ponds, trails, forested views—and how immersion in the land shapes the visitor’s relationship to the wine. They taste through several wines, including a 2022 Sparkling Brut Rosé of Grenache, a 2024 Viognier, and a 2023 red blend called The Miner’s Inch. Overall, the podcast presents Starfield as a high-altitude, terroir-driven winery that marries scientific curiosity, aesthetic vision, and region-specific character, with Rob positioned as both steward and innovator.
Full Episode
Don Sonderling, “From Gold Dust to Grape Vines: The Treasures of El Dorado County,” Monarch.wine, June 10, 2025
Monarch Wine Profiles El Dorado’s Rich Heritage & Starfield’s Place in It
In “From Gold Dust to Grape Vines: The Treasures of El Dorado County,” Don Sonderling traces El Dorado County’s transformation from a Gold Rush epicenter into a thriving wine region. The article begins by evoking the region’s gold-mining past—with James Marshall’s 1848 discovery—and contrasts that legacy with today’s “liquid gold” of wine, as rolling vineyards replace abandoned mines. Sonderling highlights Starfield Vineyards:
“Tom Sinton has history, vines, and wine in his blood.
“In 1924, his grandfather began a partnership with Louis M. Martini, making sacramental wine during the prohibition years. The partnership continued until 1936, when the winery was sold.
“Tom’s business career and wine education are quite varied. However, it culminated in Tom’s purchase of land in the Sierra Foothills in 2012, which is now Starfield, with the initial vintage being 2016.
“Today, Tom, his son, and his family are all involved in this unique piece of property named Starfield because, in Tom’s words, “We believe that great wine comes from ‘Star Fields’—unique sites where fruit develops the optimal balance of aroma, flavor, and texture.”
“Due to the unique terroir and microclimates, you can sample a variety of wines, including French, Italian, and Spanish varietals. Highly rated, award-winning, and affordable, these wines express the area. As is typical of this region, they are crisp, fresh, aromatic, clean, and unique, as is this magical property.
“Allow ample time for your tasting and an extra hour or three to wander the trails, vineyards, and gardens that can only be described as enticing as Starfield’s sparkling Brut Rosé. This is a property where you can let the stress of the outside world fade away and take in the glory and beauty of nature, with its lush trees, vibrant flowers, well-maintained gardens, serene lake, and tranquil ponds. This is a special oasis.
“Vibrant and alive during spring, in the fall, the colors turn to vibrant gold, yellow, and red. Let yourself become enveloped in the beauty of the land and vineyards as you wander around and through the almost 4 miles of marked trails. You may even want to take a picnic lunch, a bottle of wine, and meander down to the amphitheater, sit on the lawn, and become enchanted by the exquisite setting.
Visit Starfield and enjoy exceptional wines in a setting of unparalleled beauty. Let yourself be immersed in this special El Dorado property and feel the magic.
Full Article
Ken Zinns, “Starfield Vineyards & Winery,” Grape-Nutz.com, January 30, 2025, http://grapenutz.com
Starfield Vineyards & Winery
Our next afternoon winery visit was a fairly short drive away, at Starfield Vineyards & Winery just northeast of Placerville. As had been the case for most of the day, we made a quick dash through the rain from the car to the tasting room, where we were greeted by winemaker Rob Sinton. Rob and his father Tom are the proprietors of Starfield.
The Sinton family has a long history in the wine business – Tom’s grandfather partnered with Louis Martini to produce sacramental wine during Prohibition. Tom grew up on his family’s ranch in the Paso Robles area, where they grew alfalfa and sugar beets and raised cattle. When he was a teenager he spent a summer with his family in France which kindled his love of wine. In 1972, Tom planted grapevines on the family ranch – this became Shell Creek Vineyard, still a noted vineyard site. Tom earned an enology degree from UC Davis and managed Shell Creek until he sold the vineyard in 1990. Though he subsequently spent a number of years in other business ventures, he never gave up on the idea of planting another vineyard and starting a winery. Rob wasn’t too interested in wine when he was young, but he also attended UC Davis and after taking a wine course and dabbling in home winemaking he ultimately switched his major to viticulture and enology.
The Starfield label was established in 2011 with a small amount of wine that Tom and Rob made in Napa Valley at a custom crush facility. They wanted to establish their own vineyard, winery, and tasting room, and knew that doing that in Napa would be too expensive for them. While they continued to make wine in Napa for a few more vintages, they searched up and down the West Coast for a place where they could plant their own vineyard. In 2012 they purchased their property in El Dorado County at an elevation of 2,400 feet – the higher elevation and sloping hillsides were a particular attraction to them.
Starfield began planting grapevines on their property in 2013, and they currently have about 30 acres of vines with 16 grape varieties in 24 vineyard blocks, with mostly Rhône and Italian varieties as they felt those would do well at their site. The vineyard features a number of different soil types and slope aspects. The vines are farmed sustainably with Fish Friendly Farming practices, and the Sintons have created the extensive Gardens at Starfield which run through the vineyard site and include paths that lead out from the tasting room. The first harvest from the estate vineyard came in 2016. Starfield typically sells about 30-50 tons of their estate fruit to other vintners though Rob told us that they didn’t sell as much last year. Tom continues to do much of the vineyard management work while Rob has taken the lead in making the wines since 2020.
Though Tom and Rob would like to build their own winemaking facility in the future, they’ve been making their wine at the Element 79 winery in the Fair Play region in recent years. They produce a wide variety of wines at Starfield, both single-varietal and blends. Almost all of the Starfield wines are made with estate-grown fruit except for their Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Cabernet Sauvignon. For white wines, fruit is whole-cluster pressed and typically barrel-fermented in neutral oak in a temperature-controlled space. They block malolactic fermentation for most whites, and the wines stay on their lees for an extended time in barrel. Blends for white wines are done early in the year following harvest and bottled in the spring. Red wines are fermented in stainless steel tanks, sometimes with a percentage of whole clusters, and blends are usually done the following spring. Reds are typically aged for 12-18 months in a combination of new and older barrels – mainly French oak along with a smaller number of Hungarian and American oak barrels for some wines.
After Jane, Larry, and I had introduced ourselves to Rob, he asked us whether we’d prefer to taste while standing at their indoor tasting counter or have a seated tasting on their heated covered patio. We checked outside but even with overhead heaters it was still a bit chilly so we opted to taste indoors. Since none of us had any particular tasting agenda in mind, Rob had us choose what we wanted to taste from the large number of wines on the Starfield tasting menu. Rob did ask if we felt like starting off with a sparkling wine, and we thought that sounded good, so he poured us the 2021 Sparkling Brut Rosé. Made entirely from Grenache and picked for rosé at about 19 brix, this was made by the traditional Méthode Champenoise, with 18 months in bottle prior to release. This featured upfront citrus and stone fruit aromas with floral undertones and fine bubbles.
We continued with four white wines, beginning with 2023 Vermentino. Unlike most of the Starfield whites, this was fermented in a stainless steel tank and then aged for 8 months mostly neutral French oak barrels. With citrus, stone fruit, and herb aromas, this had a medium-light texture, bright acidity, and a fresh finish. Next was the 2023 Viognier, fermented and aged in 25% new French oak, with bâtonnage (lees-stirring) and full malolactic fermentation. Displaying tropical fruit and stone fruit on the nose plus spice and floral undertones, this had medium weight and slightly creamy texture on the palate with a clean finish.
The 2023 Marsanne, blended with 8% Roussanne, was another tank-fermented white, aged in 8% new French oak, and with no malolactic fermentation. Rob told us that during visits with Tom to the Rhône Valley, he found that he preferred the Marsannes from there that did not go through malolactic fermentation. Upfront stone fruit aromas with hints of citrus and herbs, this had medium texture and a pleasant finish. Our final white wine was the 2023 “Hope Rising” blend – 43% Marsanne, 43% Roussanne, and 14% Viognier, aged in about 90% neutral French oak. This featured brighter stone fruit and citrus on the nose, a touch of spice, and a good balance of a medium-rich mouthfeel and fine acidity, with a long finish.
Moving on to red wines, we started with three lighter ones. The 2022 Grenache was made from 100% Grenache and aged in about 15% new French oak. This had a ripe red fruit profile along with plenty of spice, moderate tannins and a fresh finish. We followed that with the 2022 Cinsault, which was blended with 3% Counoise and 2% Grenache, and aged in 25% new French oak. Showing even more spice on the nose than the previous wine, this also displayed ripe red fruit and earth plus a touch of vanilla/oak, with fine tannins. Another lighter red was the 2022 Counoise, blended with 5% Cinsaut and aged in a little under 20% new French oak. This featured upfront floral aromas with strawberry and herb notes, medium body with fine tannins and a lively and flavorful fresh finish.
We wanted to try a couple of the bigger red wines so we next tasted the 2020 Aglianico, blended with 3% Grenache and aged in about 50% new French oak barrels. With darker ripe berry fruit plus earth and spice aromas, it had plenty of structure and fairly grippy tannins. The 2022 Tempranillo was also blended with 3% Grenache and aged mostly in French oak along with a little Hungarian and American oak. This had a more earthy aromatic profile with dark berry fruit, spice, dried herbs, and hints of smoked meat and vanilla/oak, with medium-full body and good structure.
I was curious about the winery’s Starfield Light line of wines, which are de-alcoholized to 8%. We decided to taste the 2022 Starfield Light “Smith Flat Red Blend” – a blend of eight varieties led by 41% Mourvèdre and including 5% Muscat. This had subtle plum and blueberry notes, with a fairly light mouthfeel and finish. Rob thought it would be interesting to compare that wine with the same wine that had not gone through the de-alcoholizing process. This 2022 “Smith Flat Red Blend” was actually not on the tasting room wine list and it was a fascinating comparison. This had similar but bolder aromatics, with earth and herb components joining the fruit notes, a bigger structure on the palate and longer finish. Rob noted that they’re just starting to experiment with the Starfield Light line and he feels that there’s a niche for them in the wine market.
Other wines that we didn’t taste with Rob include Fiano, Chardonnay, Rosé, Pinot Noir, Barbera, Mourvèdre, Cabernet Sauvignon, several red blends, Muscat, and a Starfield Light white blend and Rosé. In addition, they produce two sweet Vermouths (with more to come). There are a lot of different bottlings, and Rob noted that this has become part of Starfield’s appeal, since they have something for nearly everyone. He said that he’s been particularly happy that the Mourvèdre and Cinsaut have been doing very well, and that those varieties really show the “Sierra Spice” that many El Dorado vintners feel is a hallmark of wines from the region. Starfield currently makes around 3,000 to 5,000 cases annually depending on the vintage, and almost all of their wines are sold direct to consumer.
I asked Rob if there’s anything new coming up, and he said that he and Tom co-fermented more different varieties in 2024 than they’ve done before – for example 8% Aglianico co-fermented with Mourvèdre, 5% Roussanne with Syrah, and a co-fermented field blend of Rhône varieties for their Rosé. Rob also said that Starfield is introducing a new label design and that the tasting room will be offering new options that include chocolate and cheese pairings. And with ever-present wildfire threats, they’re continuing to upgrade the fire protection of their buildings and other property.
Jane, Larry, and I had a fun time talking and tasting with Rob at Starfield. He was quite an engaging host, and we enjoyed the wines. While we didn’t take advantage of the tasting room patio on this cool and rainy day, it looked like a beautiful spot to enjoy a tasting in nicer weather. The wines displayed a good balance between ripeness and restraint – neither too bold nor too lean – that delivered plenty of flavor while allowing the varietal character to show through more clearly than from a number of other producers. My favorites included the 2023 Vermentino, 2023 “Hope Rising,” 2022 Counoise, and 2022 Tempranillo. As Rob pointed out, with Starfield’s extensive lineup of wines, visitors to the tasting room are almost sure to find something they like.
Randy Smith, “Interview with Rob and Tom Sinton,” TheWineWrite.com, December, 2024
Tom & Rob Sinton Reflect on Starfield’s Vision and Roots
In “Tom & Rob Sinton Talk Starfield Vineyards,” Randy Smith presents an in-depth conversation with father and son about their journey, philosophy, and ambitions at Starfield. The piece begins by describing how Tom discovered a 31-acre hillside site in the Sierra Foothills, east of Placerville, and how he felt both called and challenged by its terroir. Tom frames his work at Starfield as a continuation of a legacy—he is a third-generation grower—but also as a fresh chapter. Rob, now more deeply involved, brings his own perspective, especially on vinification, varietal experimentation, and positioning Starfield for recognition. The article highlights their complementary roles: Tom focusing more on vineyard, logistics, and vision; Rob leaning into winemaking detail, innovation, and the technical side. Smith also emphasizes Starfield’s terroir-driven approach, discussing how elevation, soil, and microclimate influence decisions about what to plant, how to manage the vines, and how to express “mountain identity” in the bottle. The Sinton duo speaks about balancing ambition with patience: scaling yield versus preserving quality, taking risks but respecting nature’s limits, and building a reputation over time. The piece closes with a sense of optimism and humility: Tom and Rob acknowledge that building a distinguished mountain winery is a long game, but they are committed—rooted in history yet forward-looking. Their shared aim is for Starfield to be both expressive of El Dorado’s terroir and a winescape people will talk about for years to come.
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Fred Palmer, Editor, “Apples, Wine, Food and Dogs Oh My, Plus LGBTQ,” Outword Magazine: No. 755, October 24 – November 14, 2024
Starfield Vineyards shines in Outword Magazine’s Fall Travel Issue!
In Outword Magazine’s “Apples, Wine, Food and Dogs Oh My,” travel writer Fred Palmer profiles a weekend getaway to Apple Hill and names Starfield Vineyards as a standout destination for wine lovers and pet owners alike. Palmer and his traveling companion arrived at Starfield after touring local farms.
“Our first stop on Saturday was Starfield Vineyards. From the street. . .Starfield looks like a lot of places with an iron gate, and an inviting road up the hill but inside it is so amazing. Starfield opened in 2019 and has a great family story to tell. We were welcomed with a glass of blanc de blanc in main public tasting room with stunning vineyard views and friendly staff.”
“. . .Starfield is dog friendly, so there were lots of pups to pet if you do not have your own dog. Theo took care of us in the main tasting room. We enjoyed a visit to their lake that is reserved for members only, with a charcuterie plate consisting of house-made pork pickled grapes and other nibbles. We are fortunate to live in our area with tons of wineries but I must say the Starfield is now one of our new favorites, and the lake alone is worth joining, the club, so we did! We loved the Santa Cruz Mt Chardonnay, one of three wines not estate grown, the Rhône style white was both acidity tart with a lemongrass note. The Miners Inch, their flagship wine (first vintage of the winery), was slightly dry, complex and delicious! And, not on the list, a Pinot noir, Petaluma Gap – Gaps Crown Vineyard Sonoma.”
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Christopher Sawyer, “The Sommelier Files: Spectacular Starfield Vineyards on the Varietal Show!” SawyerSomm.com, May 2, 2024
Rob Sinton pours a lineup of high-elevation wines and talks Starfield’s mountain style
In “Spectacular Starfield Vineyards on THE VARIETAL SHOW,” sommelier and wine journalist Chris Sawyer films on location at Starfield Vineyards & Winery with winemaker Rob Sinton. The episode centers on Starfield’s high-elevation approach in the El Dorado AVA and how mountain conditions shape our fruit expression, texture, and spice profile. Tasting through a Starfield lineup, Rob and Chris discuss site selection in Apple Hill, why elevation matters for balance and aromatics, and how Starfield’s blends and single-variety bottlings are crafted to capture freshness without heaviness.
Taste along with Chris and Rob: 2021 Blanc de Blancs, 2020 The Miner’s Inch, 2020 The Big Canyon & 2020 Barbera Reserve.
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Norm Roby, “Exploring the Rhones Less Travelled” WineReviewOnline.com, November 24, 2023
Starfield’s 2022 Marsanne earns high praise from Wine Review Online’s Norm Roby
In his Wine Review Online column “Exploring the Rhônes Less Traveled” (Nov 24 2023), longtime wine writer Norm Roby embarks on a journey through lesser-known Rhône grapes now thriving in California — varieties like Bourboulenc, Terret Noir, Marsanne, Roussanne, Cinsaut, and Counoise In a wide-ranging piece, Roby pauses to single out Starfield Vineyards as a benchmark for Marsanne, citing its 2022 El Dorado Marsanne ($34) as
“. . .attractive now but has all it needs to age long and well. On the nose it comes across with ripe peach and nectarine fruitiness with citrus as well. Then on the plush and round palate, it has vibrant flavors of orange rind and cloves along with mineral notes. Solid and well-integrated, it continues the ripe peach, apricot theme in its lengthy finish. Overall, it is concentrated but so lively it invites a second glass. 1656 cases made. 94”
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Laurie Daniel, “El Dorado AVA: wines with altitude – and challenges,” LaurieDanielOnWine.com, September 25, 2022
Starfield in Focus: El Dorado Wines with Altitude and Resilience
Laurie Daniel’s “El Dorado AVA: Wines with Altitude – and Challenges” presents a portrait of an appellation embracing both promise and peril. The article recounts a press trip under the banner “El Dorado Rising,” in which eight wineries banded together to promote their high-elevation sites and winemaking (sites ranging from 1,200 to 3,500 feet). Daniel details the obstacles the region has faced: the Caldor Fire in 2021 that blanketed vineyards in smoke and claimed some vines outright, prolonged wildfire haze, and damaging frost events in subsequent vintages. The article then turns to Starfield Vineyards, owned by Tom and Rob Sinton,
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R.H.Drexel: “Wines that Touch the Sky: The Alpine Terroir of El Dorado,” JebDunnuck.com, March 15, 2022
“Starfield is a stunning start to an El Dorado wine excursion,” with alpine beauty and balanced, light-on-its-feet wines.
In her feature “Wines that Touch the Sky: The Alpine Terroir of El Dorado,” journalist R.H. Drexel introduces readers to the high-elevation magic of California’s El Dorado AVA — a mountainous region where vineyards climb from 1,200 to 3,500 feet and deliver wines with alpine freshness and “pine-like aromatics”
She begins her tasting journey at Starfield Vineyards, founded by winegrowers Tom and Rob Sinton, describing it as “a stunning way to start an El Dorado wine excursion.”
Starfield Vineyards
Starfield Lake Pavilion
Founded by naturalist, owner, and winemaker Tom Sinton, Starfield Vineyards is a stunning way to start an El Dorado wine excursion. Nature lovers will be enchanted by the nearly 67 acres of hillside vineyards, shaded by ponderosa pines and surrounded by groves of azaleas, rhododendrons, hydrangeas, dogwoods, aspen, maples, and scarlet oaks, not to mention the nearly 10,000 flowers and ornamental shrubs found throughout the estate.
Starfield’s beautifully made wines are balanced, light-on-their-feet, and equally light on extraction.”
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Liz Thach, MW, “Bears In The Vineyard And Other Challenges Of Being An Emerging Wine Region In El Dorado County,” Forbes.com, July 1, 2021
El Dorado’s Wild Challenges — Bears, Fire & Grape Dreams
In her Forbes article “Bears in the Vineyard and Other Challenges of Being an Emerging Wine Region in El Dorado County,” Liz Thach explores the inherent difficulties and risks faced by growers and wine producers in El Dorado as they strive for recognition and viability. She frames El Dorado as a region full of promise, though beset by obstacles uncommon in more established wine areas. Wildfires, smoke, frost, wildlife incursion (such as bears), regulatory constraints, and trail-blazing for reputation are recurring themes. Thach argues that emerging wine regions like El Dorado must find ways to differentiate themselves in a competitive landscape. She notes that many growers are carving niche identities tied to elevation, microclimate, and varietal experimentation, rather than competing volume-wise with lowland appellations. The article emphasizes that such regions are often forced to bear risks others avoid, from vineyard damage to uncertain consumer awareness.