Stony Ridge Winery in Livermore is Closed
Stony Ridge Winery
Stony Ridge Winery traces its roots to 1887, when it was originally established at the historic Ruby Hills site in Pleasanton. The winery changed hands several times over the years. The name and operations were revived in 1975, when a group of young winemakers leased space in Livermore and continued production under the Stony Ridge label.
In the 1980s, it was associated the Scotto family who operated Villa Armando Winery in Pleasanton for about 25 years (originally the Garatti Winery). The family purchased the Spanish mission-style building, dismantled it, and transported the sections on a large flatbed truck to 4948 Tesla Road in Livermore. There, it was reassembled and revitalized as the tasting room and café for Stony Ridge Winery.
In 2000, the Vaughn family purchased Stony Ridge and established a sister winery, Crooked Vine. The two brands shared the same tasting room and facilities, allowing visitors to sample wines from either label. As a relative newcomer to winemaking, Dale Vaughn-Bowen quickly earned recognition. In 2002 alone, her wines collected 17 awards, including a double gold at the California State Fair for Malvasia Bianca (a popular dessert wine sold in distinctive blue bottles) and a silver in the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition for the Crooked Vine Zinfandel.
After the Corbett family acquired both Crooked Vine and Stony Ridge in 2007, they emphasized 100% estate-grown wines from their Del Arroyo Vineyards. Located about 200 feet above the Livermore Valley floor with five different soil types, the 180-acre site was one of the largest growers in the valley and supplied fruit for both labels, plus other local wineries. It supported a wide range of varietals, from Cabernet Sauvignon and Petite Sirah to Viognier and Malvasia.
The winery was a busy event venue, hosting more than 75 events annually, including weddings, corporate gatherings, and community functions. The century old mission-style building, landscaped grounds, barrel room, and courtyard made it a popular, intimate setting for celebrations and Livermore Valley wine events.
Garatti Winery Origins (1898–1960)
Italian immigrant Frank Garatti arrived in Pleasanton in 1895 at the age of 16. Before entering the wine business, he worked at the Remillard Brick Company (a prominent local industry) and operated a boarding house for several years to build capital. This hard work enabled him to construct his first small winery in 1902.
He initially began making wine in 1898 to supply his own café/restaurant in downtown Pleasanton. Four years later, he opened Garatti Winery—the first bonded winery in the town—on St. John Street. The operation started small but expanded significantly as he acquired local vineyards, eventually reaching a capacity of over 1 million gallons.
The winery remained in the Garatti family for decades after Frank's death. One of his grandsons, Stephen Anthony Kalthoff, grew up working in the Pleasanton vineyards and wineries, including his grandfather's original Garatti operation, preserving family ties to the local wine heritage.
Local Pleasanton historical accounts and Scotto family records confirm the Garatti structure's evolution from a small 1902 café-winery to a mid-20th-century production facility. The physical relocation of the Villa Armando building in 1989 added a nice layer of history to the Livermore Valley wine scene for several decades. That chapter appears to have ended with the closure of the Stony Ridge and Crooked Vine wineries and the remodel under its present occupant, Del Valle Winery.
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Stony Ridge Winery
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| Stony Ridge Winery Photographed by Erik Wait |
The Wine Seeker's Guide to Livermore Valley
by Thomas C. Wilmer
The Wine Seeker's Guide to Livermore Valley by Thomas C. Wilmer
Featuring Stony Ridge Winery (page 29)
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