POWER OF ATTORNEY

         Know all by these presents, that the undersigned hereby constitutes and
appoints Todd Wilson and Gwendolyn Toney, and each of them individually, the
undersigned's true and lawful attorney-in-fact ("Attorney") to:

         (1)      execute for and on behalf of the undersigned, in the
                  undersigned's capacity as an officer and/or director of
                  SonomaWest Holdings, Inc. (the "Company"), Forms 3, 4, and 5,
                  and any amendments thereto, in accordance with Section 16(a)
                  of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the rules
                  thereunder;

         (2)      do and perform any and all acts for and on behalf of the
                  undersigned which may be necessary or desirable to complete
                  and execute any such Form 3, 4, or 5 and timely file such form
                  with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission and
                  any stock exchange or similar authority; and

         (3)      take any other action of any type whatsoever in connection
                  with the foregoing which, in the opinion of such Attorney, may
                  be of benefit to, in the best interest of, or legally required
                  by, the undersigned, it being understood that the documents
                  executed by such Attorney on behalf of the undersigned
                  pursuant to this Power of Attorney shall be in such form and
                  shall contain such terms and conditions as such Attorney may
                  approve in such Attorney's discretion.

         The undersigned hereby grants to Attorney full power and authority to
do and perform any and every act and thing whatsoever requisite, necessary, or
proper to be done in the exercise of any of the rights and powers herein
granted, as fully to all intents and purposes as the undersigned might or could
do if personally present, with full power of substitution or revocation, hereby
ratifying and confirming Attorney, or such Attorney's substitute or substitutes,
shall lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue of this power of attorney and
the rights and powers herein granted. The undersigned acknowledges that the
foregoing Attorney, in serving in such capacity at the request of the
undersigned, is not assuming, nor is the Company assuming, any of the
undersigned's responsibilities to comply with Section 16 of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934. The Attorney and the Company shall not be liable for any
error of judgment or for any act done or omitted or for any mistake of fact or
law. The undersigned agrees to indemnify the Attorney for and to hold the
Attorney free from and harmless against any and all loss, claim, damage,
liability or expense incurred by or on behalf of the Attorney arising out of or
in connection with acting as Attorney under this Power of Attorney, as well as
the cost and expense of defending against any claim of liability hereunder, and
not due to the Attorney's own gross negligence or bad faith. The undersigned
agrees that the Attorney may consult with counsel of their choice (which may but
need not be counsel for the Company) and the Attorney shall have full and
complete authorization and protection for any action taken or suffered by the
Attorney, or any of them hereunder, in good faith and in accordance with the
opinion of such counsel.

         This Power of Attorney shall remain in full force and effect until the
undersigned is no longer required to file Forms 3, 4, and 5 with respect to the
undersigned's holdings of and transactions in securities issued by the Company,
unless earlier revoked by the undersigned in a signed writing delivered to the
foregoing Attorney.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has caused this Power of Attorney
to be executed as of this 22nd day of December, 2005.

                                /s/ Walker Roberts Stapleton
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                                Signature

                                Walker Roberts Stapleton
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