The Norton Family

The Norton family’s roots in Sonoma County stretch back more than a century. During his college years studying electrical engineering at UC Berkeley, Ben Norton spent his summers working on the Skinner Ranch south of Healdsburg, gaining hands-on experience that would shape his future in agriculture. After graduating in 1906, he and his wife, Georgina, who held degrees in chemistry and physics, purchased their first ranch near Fitch Mountain. By the 1930s, the Norton’s had expanded their operation with the acquisition of the property that is now Silver Oak Winery, where they raised sheep and grew apples, prunes, and wine grapes. Ben went on to become a respected leader in the region’s wine industry, serving as vice president of Allied Grape Growers/United Vintners in the 1950s. Following his passing in 1955, the family continued his legacy of farming and stewardship. In 1982, vineyards were planted on the Alexander Valley ranch the family had purchased in 1917. Today, the next generation honors that legacy by farming 12 acres of Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon on the historic property, continuing a tradition of innovation and dedication that began more than a century ago.