St. Helena, Calif.—Stony Hill Vineyard will become part of Long Meadow Ranch Wine Estates through an acquisition announced Aug. 28. According to the statement announcing the deal, the McCrea family will retain an equity interest in the combined entity, which is led by Ted Hall and executive vice president and COO, Chris Hall.  “We have admired Stony Hill for more than 30 years and look forward to continuing the traditions established by the McCrea family including their commitment to producing terroir-driven, age worthy wines with low-alcohol, beautiful acidity and minerality,” Ted Hall said in the statement.

Stony Hill was founded in the late 1940s and is considered a pioneer in the production of Chardonnay. The winery introduced a Cabernet Sauvignon in 2009. The winery and vineyards will now be part of Long Meadow's group that includes other properties in Napa Valley and the Anderson Valley of Mendocino County. 

All Stony Hill employees will be retained by Long Meadow. Mike Chelini, winemaker for Stony Hill for more than 40 years, will serve as winemaker for the 2018 harvest and continue on in the role of winemaker emeritus. The vineyard, hospitality and operations teams will join the new company as well. “We consider this as less of a traditional sale and more of an integration of two family businesses to make a stronger whole," said Sarah McCrea.

International Wine Associates (IWA), a California-based mergers and acquisitions advisory firm that specializes in the wine industry, served as the exclusive advisor to and represented the McCrea family and Stony Hill Vineyard in the transaction.