Earl Stephens planted his vineyard in 1997, transitioning from growing apples to grapes. The vineyard is located in Green Valley, about eight miles inland from the Pacific, in the northern end of Green Valley and the southwest portion of the Russian River Valley.

The vineyard has four different clones of grapes, Dijon 115, 667, 777, and Pomard 4, which contribute to the diversity of the grapes grown in the vineyard. The land has three different types of soil, Gold Ridge, Franciscan, and riparian, with three different exposures, northwest, southwest and western. The different elevations, exposures, and soil types contribute to the diversity of the grapes, giving them different tastes, which results in a complex and interesting wine.

The vineyard has an elevation difference of 125 feet, with the top of the vineyard a thick gold ridge soil, which is actually decomposed volcanic ash. As the elevation drops, the soil changes to Franciscan, a shale hard pan, and then to riparian at the bottom. The different soil types and exposures give the grapes grown in the vineyard unique characteristics, contributing to the diverse and complex taste of the wine. The vineyard also has a microclimate, which is influenced by its proximity to the ocean, which contributes to the taste of the grapes and the wine.

The blend of the four clones and the diverse soil, elevations, exposures, and microclimate make Earl Stephens vineyard a unique and special place to grow grapes and make wine. The multiple variables in the vineyard, such as the diverse soil types, elevations, and exposures, give the grapes grown in the vineyard a distinct and complex taste, which results in high quality wine.