We seek a certain wildness in the vineyards we work with—a feeling that they belong to the land rather than being forced onto it. As a small, solo operation just trying to make things work, we’ve turned to rehabilitating small, overlooked plots—half-acre to three-acre sites scattered across the Santa Ynez Valley. Some were planted decades ago and forgotten, others inherited by folks who didn’t quite have a plan for the vineyard. We call them “pocket vineyards,” and we take them in like strays, farming them by hand with the goal of restoring balance to both the vines and the soil beneath them.

Our approach is rooted in regenerative practices: no-till farming, diverse cover cropping, and reintroducing native species to encourage a healthy, self-sustaining ecosystem. Much of our energy is focused on building soil life. The vines almost feel secondary—dare we say—because we believe that if the vineyard ecosystem is thriving, the best fruit will follow. By listening and adapting to each site’s natural rhythm, we’re able to farm vineyards that are full of life and harmony, and that’s what allows us to make the best possible wines with that true sense of place we are all after.

Even when we’re not directly farming a site, we try to maintain a deep connection to it. We’re in the vineyards across the region, throughout the season. Walking rows, observing the stresses and changes, tending to sites…staying close. Our relationship isn’t transactional—it’s emotional. This closeness keeps us grounded in the vintage and guides every decision we make. We seek out older vines in vineyards with clear coastal influence. Often we are drawn to places that represent the natural habitat of Santa Barbara County and explore them as a way to understand the ever-evolving history of our region’s terroir.