Crichfield+Black Estate Vineyards fulfills a dedication that both Tim Crichfield and Sherry Black-Crichfield have toward sharing the bounty of the land with family and friends. Having traveled extensively, they have been impressed with the way that food and wine are intertwined with culture.
Although Tim and Sherry both had roots in the San Francisco Bay Area and their children and grandchildren were firmly established here, work took them to various parts of the world and they lived for periods of time in South America, Miami, Chicago, and New York before deciding to split their time between Sonoma County and New York City. They have since permanently become full time residents of Sonoma County.
In 2011 Tim and Sherry purchased a 14.5 acre parcel in Sonoma County in the rural area of Petaluma. The land had been used for grazing cattle and sheep. Transforming the property from a blank canvas into a farm and vineyard took about 2 years. In 2014, they planted chardonnay and viognier and, later, planted Syrah. The vineyard is located in the Petaluma Gap area of Sonoma County which is characterized by warm days, windy evenings, cool nights and blankets of fog.
Tim and Sherry frequently entertain friends and family at the vineyard. The organic garden and orchard on the property provide a bounty of fruits, vegetables, and olives that they serve to their guests. They both believe it is important to know how the food and wine consumed is planted, cared-for, and harvested, so they try to source food locally, especially from their own garden when they can, and serve the best wines produced from grapes grown in the Petaluma Gap.
Crichfield+Black is a family endeavor, and much of the design and work on the property is a labor of love from children, grandchildren, nephews and nieces.