History
Stephen Singer’s engagement in the food and wine world spans over four decades. Early in his career, he developed a deep affinity for Syrah—shaped in part by the visionary influence of importer Kermit Lynch, whose early advocacy for Rhône Valley wines left a lasting impression. His work as a wine retailer, consultant, and restaurateur (Chez Panisse, Table 29, César), and as an importer of Tuscan olive oils, eventually led him to Sonoma where becoming a wine and olive grower felt like a natural, if inevitable, progression in his passion for the pleasures of the table.
Farming closed the loop on his relationship with food, wine, and the table but also opened new doors. His deepening commitment to Syrah, Viognier, and Tuscan olives grown steadfastly with regenerative and organic practices, has brought both challenges and unexpected nuance to his understanding of oil and wine production. From the ground to the finished bottle, every season is a lesson in patience, precision, and purpose, an ever-evolving act in a lifelong culinary journey.
The Baker Lane Estate
Sebastopol, California West
Sonoma Coast AVA
Vineyard
YEAR
PLANTED:
2003
CLONES:
Six selections of Syrah (Hudson, Durrell, Estrella, 877, Shiraz, 470) and one of Viognier
PLANTED ACREAGES:
5 acres Syrah, .4 acres Viognier
EXPOSURE:
ELEVATION:
SOIL TYPE:
FARMING:
West
280 feet
Goldridge (light, sandy loam)
Sustainable, regenerative and non-certified organic
Olive Orchard
YEAR
PLANTED:
2003 and 2018
CLONES:
All Tuscan varieties: 80% are Frantoio, 9% Leccino, 11% Pendolino
PLANTED ACREAGES:
1.5 acres total
EXPOSURE:
ELEVATION:
West
280 feet
SOIL TYPE:
Goldridge soil on legacy terraces
FARMING:
Organically farmed and hand-picked
Tucked into the Sebastopol Hills of West Sonoma County, the Baker Lane Estate, named after our road, is a cool-climate, west-facing vineyard planted exclusively to Syrah and Viognier.
When the vineyard was being established in 2002, Sebastopol was barely into its transition from apple orchards to a celebrated winegrowing region. Planting Syrah here felt like a gamble but it was grounded in this belief; that great wines are born from grapes that struggle just enough to ripen and that this tension allows time for complexity, structure, and depth to develop in the fruit and wines produced from them. Over two decades later, the value of this approach has been born out in fact. Each vintage brings new challenges and new insights. With the steady guidance of viticulturist and winemaker Greg Adams, the vineyard continues to offer profound lessons and incredible wines that deepen our understanding of this special site.
Olive Oils
Stephen Singer’s passion for olive oil emerged during his early travels in Italy and deepened through his years as wine director and restaurateur at Chez Panisse. In seeking oils from artisanal Tuscan producers, he discovered that—like wine—great olive oil profoundly reflects its land and culture.
A visit to the Chianti Estate, Badia a Coltibuono in 1984 in particular produced this insight: virtually everything tastes better with vividly fruity expressive olive oil.
That experience led Stephen to create a boutique olive oil importing company to supply Chez Panisse and other enthusiasts for great Tuscan olive oil. Today, growing and bottling world-class olive oil is central to the work at Baker Lane—guided by the same values behind the wines: sustainability, care for the land, and a reverence for flavor.
With mature trees and expert milling, the estate’s oils continue to carry the soul of their Tuscan inspirations.
Our Wines
Years of growing and learning on the Baker Lane Estate have shaped our understanding of what the greatest distinctions are of this site. Each growing season deepens our connection to the flavor and vinous character possibilities that this land possesses.
At Singer, quality is paramount. We focus and make wine from the most distinctive vineyard blocks, crafting micro-quantities of Syrah and Viognier that reflect more than two decades of farming and four decades of the pursuit of flavor. The results echo a deliberate sense of craft and a deep respect for land and place.
Syrah
Syrah has a rare ability to express both power and nuance. This Northern Rhône variety offers rich aromatics, vibrant color, and age-worthy structure. It’s also one of the most transparent grapes when it comes to site. On our cool, west-facing hillside, Syrah is the clearest way to capture this vineyard’s true character and unique voice.
Viognier
Viognier thrives here in a way that surprised us—holding onto its energy and acidity while delivering floral, stone-fruited complexity. What began as a blending grape for our Syrah quickly earned its own space. We’ve since expanded plantings in our coolest block to craft a small amount of varietal Viognier each year.
Team
Stephen Singer
Proprietor
Fanny Singer
Proprietor
Greg Adams
Viticulturalist and Winemaker
Kari Kittinger
Sales & Marketing
REDEFINING CALIFORNIA SYRAH
MINDFUL FARMING
40-YEARS OF A DELICIOUS QUEST