A number of years back, when we founded Clockwise as its own small winery, we had an exciting vision. We wanted to take the balanced, complex, and layered style that Steve MacRostie pioneered with our Sonoma Coast and Russian River Valley Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs, and apply it to other regions and grape varieties. The goal was to give our acclaimed Winemaker Heidi Bridenhagen a new playground, where she had the freedom and creativity to explore making any wine she wished.

We chose the name Clockwise because it represents so many of the winemaking elements that are important to us, including time, wisdom, and knowledge. To further emphasize these ideas, the label features an illustration of a navigational sphere. As both a clock and a compass, the sphere reflects the way Clockwise explores different appellations, while always being aware of where we started, where we are, and where we are going.

As it’s evolved, the Clockwise portfolio has grown to include a handful of acclaimed wines. From our extraordinary Clockwise Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon and Red Blend to our Clockwise Sauvignon Blanc, Zinfandel, and Rosé of Cabernet Sauvignon, each wine is an opportunity for Heidi and her team to take everything they’ve learned over the years and to apply it to new grapes and regions. Because these wines come from acclaimed small vineyards that our team has sought out specifically for Clockwise, they are true limited-production rarities, with production generally being less than 350 cases.

Ultimately, Clockwise has allowed us to do two very important things; it has preserved MacRostie’s 35-year focus on cool-climate Chardonnay and Pinot Noir while allowing us to share unique and exciting new wines with our members and customers. We’ll drink to that!

At a Glance: Sustainable Wine at MacRostie

• Regenerative farming focused on soil health and biodiversity
• Cover crops, composting, and biochar to improve vineyard resilience
• Reduced synthetic inputs and herbicide minimization
• Owl boxes, insectary rows, and sheep grazing for natural balance
• Crafting Sustainable Sonoma Wines with long-term stewardship

At MacRostie Winery and Vineyards, sustainability isn’t a marketing phrase; it’s a responsibility. From our estate vineyards in the Petaluma Gap to our coastal sites along the Sonoma Coast and in the Russian River Valley, we farm with a long-term vision: to leave our land healthier with every vintage.

What Makes a Winery Sustainable?

For us, sustainability means improving the vineyard ecosystem over time, not simply maintaining it. Rather than focusing only on reducing inputs, we practice regenerative agriculture, an approach centered on soil health, biodiversity, and long-term resilience.

Healthy soils support balanced vines. Balanced vines produce wines that express their site more clearly. That connection between farming and flavor defines our philosophy.

Regenerative Wine: Beyond Organic and Sustainable

Consumers often wonder about the difference between organic vs sustainable wine and now, regenerative wine.

• Organic farming focuses on eliminating synthetic chemicals.
• Sustainable farming varies by program and standards.
• Regenerative farming actively restores soil, increases biodiversity, and strengthens ecosystems year after year.

At MacRostie, regenerative practices include planting diverse cover crops, minimizing soil disturbance, composting vineyard materials, producing biochar from prunings, encouraging beneficial insects and birds, and using rotational sheep grazing to naturally manage vegetation.

These practices build soil organic matter, improve water retention, and reduce the need for synthetic fertilizers and herbicides.

Why Biodiversity Matters

A vineyard is far more than rows of vines – it is a living, interconnected ecosystem. At MacRostie, we actively cultivate biodiversity to help our vineyards thrive naturally and sustainably.

We plant native hedgerows and flowering insectary rows to support pollinators and beneficial insects that contribute to ecological balance. Owl and bluebird nesting boxes encourage natural predators that help manage gophers and vineyard pests without relying heavily on synthetic controls. During the growing season, carefully managed sheep grazing reduces the need for tractor passes, lowering diesel use while naturally managing vegetation.

Together, these practices create a healthier vineyard environment and reflect what Eco-Friendly Winemaking truly means: working with nature to build resilience, rather than relying solely on intervention.

Does Sustainable Wine Taste Different?

A common question is: Is sustainable wine actually better?

Sustainability alone doesn’t guarantee quality. But healthy vineyards consistently produce more balanced fruit. When vines grow in living soils with deep root systems and natural nutrient cycles, they ripen more evenly and require less intervention.

The result is wine that feels vibrant and expressive of place. Our Chardonnay captures coastal freshness and tension. Our Pinot Noir reflects nuance and vineyard character.

Sustainability enhances authenticity.

Sustainable Wine in California: A Long-Term Commitment

Sustainability in California winegrowing is evolving rapidly. Many wineries are moving beyond compliance-based programs toward regenerative practices that address soil carbon, water conservation, and biodiversity.

At MacRostie, this is not a short-term initiative. It is a multi-generational commitment to strengthening our vineyards with every season.

As one of the wineries advancing sustainable farming in Sonoma County, we believe producing Sustainable Sonoma Wines means investing in the land for decades — not just vintages.

Experience It for Yourself

If you’re visiting Sonoma County, we invite you to experience our vineyards and sustainably made wines firsthand.

Taste how thoughtful farming translates into vibrant Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Walk through vineyards where biodiversity thrives. See how regenerative agriculture shapes the wines in your glass.

Great wine begins with healthy land — and that’s something you can taste.

Interested in wines grown with intention?

Explore our current releases or join our Wine Club for access to limited-production Chardonnay and Pinot Noir crafted from our sustainably farmed vineyards.

Dear Friends,

In 2013, the year I became winemaker at MacRostie, we acquired a prized 20-acre parcel of land on Westside Road in the acclaimed Middle Reach region of the Russian River Valley. Our vision for the property was ambitious and included building our MacRostie Estate House, as well as a small-lot winery designed for our single-vineyard Pinot Noir program—both of which were completed in 2015. The land also came with a small 13-acre Pinot Noir vineyard that we named Thale’s (pronounced Thay-lee), after Steve MacRostie’s wife.

With an ideal combination of location, climate, and soils, we saw incredible potential for Thale’s Vineyard, but at the time that potential was unrealized. Working alongside Steve and viticultural guru Allen Holstein, we began refining our approach to farming the vineyard, implementing new soil nutrition and irrigation protocols, new shading and pruning procedures, limiting crop levels, and replanting the vineyard with modern viticultural practices and the finest clones and rootstocks.

Today, this vineyard gem features 11 different blocks, each with a unique combination of clone, aspect, soil type, and vine age—yielding numerous exciting options for blending. As a result, we regularly use grapes from Thale’s in our Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir, Blanc de Noirs sparkling wine, and our tête de cuvée Pinot Noir, The Loch. While Thale’s has become a cornerstone of our vineyard program, elevating the complexity of any wine it contributes to, its purest expression can be found in the single-vineyard Thale’s Pinot Noir, including our newly released 2022 vintage. I hope that you enjoy it, and that it provides a fascinating taste of our vineyard home in the Russian River Valley.

Best wishes,
Heidi Bridenhagen, Winemaker