After operating Sextant Wines in Old Edna for a decade, Nancy and Craig Stoller have purchased the Old Edna Township in the heart of the Edna Valley. The oldest township in the county is ready for another chapter in its long and storied history.
extant Wines first arrived in Edna Valley in 2009 when it moved from its previous location on Higuera Street. Since their arrival, proprietors Nancy and Craig Stoller dreamed about the day they might be able to own this historic townsite and permanently call it home. Now, the Stollers dream has come true as they announced earlier this week that they have purchased the Old Edna Township and are elated about the chapter that lies ahead.
“We couldn’t be more excited and grateful to be the owners of such a unique property in Edna,” says Craig Stoller. “We fell in love with the property when we purchased the adjacent vineyard in 2007, so to operate the entire town seemed like the natural next step. We have big plans to share the Old Edna story with our visitors—we want people to stay for the day or overnight in one of the guest houses and join our appreciation for this remarkable piece of history.”
The historical records of Edna Valley can be traced back to the 1840s, but the origin of the namesake still remains a mystery. Approximately a half dozen individuals have owned Edna Valley over the last 180 years, each building on the history and hard work of the owners before them. This pattern continues as Pattea Torrence had owned the property since 2002. She worked tirelessly to restore the buildings and groom the grounds, creating the beautiful property you see today. It was her love for history, architecture, and design that fueled her passion to restore the townsite. “I am very much looking forward to 2019 and watching Old Edna evolve with the Sextant team at the helm,” says Torrence.
Proprietors Nancy and Craig Stoller have a deep-rooted history in the wine industry. The Stoller family founded Sunridge Nurseries in 1977 and is dedicated to producing the finest grape stock in the world. Craig joined the Stoller family business upon graduation from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo in 1991. He started out on the road exploring wine regions, meeting winegrowers, and of course, learning about wine. Now as CEO of Sunridge Nurseries, Craig has enjoyed watching the industry grow while taking part in supplying vines to winegrowers across the globe. His passion for high-quality wine has led the journey in the vineyard while Nancy has focused her creative energy towards internal operations, public relations, and marketing for Sextant.
“We have a dynamic team that is just as enthusiastic and passionate about the future of this property as we are,” says Nancy Stoller. “We look forward to designing one-of-a-kind wine tasting experiences and providing vineyard tours. We want to help visitors create memories that will last a lifetime by hosting celebrations like baby and wedding showers. When I walk on the property I’m greeted by a sense of the past and it’s a beautiful feeling. With my heart full and overflowing with gratitude, I look forward to the possibilities that lie ahead.”
The Stollers officially took ownership on January 7 and site improvements are already underway. When asked about what’s next, Nancy Stoller noted, “We invite you to come out and see what’s happening in Old Edna—you’ll have to see it for yourself to believe it.”
