In 1966, Hugh and Ruth Seaton purchased a 70-acre ranch in Dry Creek Valley. The property included a small farmhouse, an old red barn, and orchards of apples, prunes, and oranges, along with a few early grapevines. Hugh eagerly embraced the work of tending each crop. Their son, Buzz—fresh out of high school—remembers people questioning the family’s decision to buy the ranch, but he always defended his father’s dream of farming and helped however he could.

In 1982, Buzz helped Hugh build a second home on the hillside of the property. With its wall of windows overlooking the valley and Ruth’s beautiful gardens, it became the home Hugh and Ruth shared for the rest of their lives. As the years passed and the demand for wine grapes grew, the orchards gradually transformed into vineyards. Apples and prunes gave way to Merlot and Zinfandel, and Hugh continued to farm the land with dedication until his final days.

Buzz married his high school sweetheart, Sally, in 1970. They settled in Santa Rosa and raised three daughters—Amy, Heather, and Lauren. Many childhood memories were made on the ranch in Healdsburg, where Buzz and Hugh built a tent platform along the creek. Family campouts, swimming in the water, and running through the crops became cherished traditions.

By the time the girls finished college, the ranch they had grown up exploring had become a thriving 30-plus-acre vineyard producing Merlot, Cabernet, and Zinfandel grapes for local wineries. Buzz was still running his private construction company but found himself spending more and more time helping his father in the vineyard. Burning the candle at both ends, he and Sally decided in 2004 to move into the original farmhouse so Buzz could work alongside Hugh full-time. Within a few years, fruit from Seaton Vineyards was winning Gold Medal awards for the wineries that sourced it. With growing recognition, Buzz realized he had something special—and his dream of owning a winery began to take shape.

Today, Seaton Winery is a family-owned, family-operated, small-production winery. Buzz continues to farm the vineyard, while his daughters help him run and grow the brand. Sally’s warmth and welcoming spirit make guests feel instantly at home. Seaton Winery is truly a family affair, and we are honored to share it with our friends, neighbors, and visitors from all walks of life.