Ownership transition reflects deep roots in Sonoma County farming and a vision for a more connected wine experience
April 16, 2026 (Sebastopol, CA) — Dutton-Goldfield Winery today announced it has embarked on a significant new chapter in its history. Sonoma County farmer Steve Dutton and his wife, Karissa Kruse (Dutton), a respected wine industry leader, have assumed full ownership of the acclaimed Russian River Valley winery.
The transition not only maintains the winery’s founding vision, but introduces a renewed commitment to the coastal vineyards, farming families, and authentic sense of place that have long defined Dutton-Goldfield wines.
The ownership announcement follows an earlier announcement from the winery that it appointed Melissa Stackhouse, who joined the winery in 2022, to head winemaker as Dan Goldfield transitioned into retirement.
“This is deeply personal for both of us,” said Dutton and Kruse in a joint statement. “Dutton-Goldfield has always been rooted in long-term relationships, stewardship of the land, and a belief that great wines begin in the vineyard. Stepping into ownership together feels like a natural extension of the life we’ve built around agriculture and this community. We are honored to carry forward the winery’s legacy while also bringing fresh energy to how we share these wines and this place with others.”
Steve Dutton is a fifth-generation Sonoma County farmer whose family has been rooted in the region for generations, playing a longstanding role in the farming community. Through his leadership of Dutton Ranch, he continues that legacy with a hands-on approach to farming and a long-term commitment to the land and the vineyards that define the region. Karissa Kruse, chief executive officer of Sonoma County Winegrowers, has been deeply involved in Sonoma County viticulture for nearly two decades through her ownership of The Nines Vineyard. She also co-founded Argot Wines in 2007 and transitioned out of ownership in 2021.
As part of this next phase, Dutton-Goldfield will deepen its commitment to sourcing exclusively from Sonoma County vineyards and increasingly focus its portfolio on the historic Dutton Ranch, an original Sonoma County Century Club farm. This evolution reinforces the winery’s roots in multi-generational farming and highlights the distinctive coastal sites stewarded by the Dutton family.
While the broader wine category faces ongoing headwinds, Dutton-Goldfield sees a clear opportunity to lead through deeper, more meaningful consumer connections. The winery is expanding its hospitality approach with more relaxed, welcoming experiences, expanded happy hour programming, and immersive offerings that bring guests closer to the vineyards, the farming story, and the people behind the wines. The focus is simple: make our wine more approachable, more relevant, and more connected to how people gather and experience wine today.
Bringing its focus back to the vineyards, Dutton-Goldfield is placing Dutton Ranch at the center of its next chapter while creating more approachable, engaging ways for consumers to connect with the land, the farming, and the wines that define its place in Sonoma County.
About Dutton-Goldfield Winery
Founded in 1998, Dutton-Goldfield Winery is a Russian River Valley producer of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay rooted in Sonoma County’s cool coastal vineyards. Now under the ownership of fifth-generation farmer Steve Dutton and Karissa Kruse (Dutton), the winery is increasingly focused on wines grown from the historic Dutton Ranch, an original Sonoma County Century Club farm. Grounded in multi-generational farming and a deep respect for the land, Dutton-Goldfield is committed to crafting wines that reflect the character, history, and future of Sonoma County while creating experiences that make wine more approachable, engaging, and connected to how people gather today.
