Erin Mitchell and Randy Czech founded Unturned Stone in 2010 with a clear conviction: that exceptional wine comes from exceptional farming, and that the wine industry's aura of exclusivity does more harm than good. A decade and a half later, their 1,000-case project sources from seven organic vineyards across Sonoma and Mendocino Counties, makes all the wine themselves, and prices every bottle to be genuinely accessible. Unturned Stone is woman and LGBTQ owned, and it wears that identity not as a marketing point but as a statement of values.
Seven Vineyards, Two People, One Philosophy
Erin and Randy work with organically farmed fruit from parcels in Bennett Valley, Mendocino, and beyond. All ferments occur naturally, with no commercial yeast additions. In the cellar, they rely on taste and experience rather than laboratory numbers, making only minimal additions when the wine genuinely needs them. They work out of a friend's winery and do all the winemaking by hand. That closeness to the process is evident in the wines: they are precise, alive, and deeply personal.
The Wines: Sauvignon Blanc, Zinfandel, Merlot, and More
The Unturned Stone portfolio spans white, orange, red, and rose expressions. The Hatchling is a 100 percent Sauvignon Blanc from Mendocino. Short Mac blends Zinfandel and Carignan. The Moonwater Merlot draws from Bennett Valley. Each wine takes its name from the specific character of its origin parcel, and each reflects Erin's winemaking instinct: restraint in the cellar, expressiveness in the glass.
Inclusion as a Practice
Erin and Randy believe that the best way to build inclusion in wine is by dismantling its myths. They work with distribution partners who make the wines available across restaurants, retailers, and grocery stores. They keep pricing fair. They talk openly about who they are and why it matters. Unturned Stone is not a niche producer for insiders. It is a winery making the case that natural wine should belong to everyone.
