Carhartt Family Wines

Carhartt Family Wines

1541 Rancho Santa Ynez Rd., Santa Ynez, CA
carharttfamilywines.com

Region: Santa Barbara County

Owner: Mike, Brooke, and Chase Carhartt

Winemaker: Brooke Carhartt and Chase Carhartt

About: In 1996, Mike and Brooke Carhartt planted a vineyard along with a dream on the historic Rancho Santa Ynez™ property. Today, with their son Chase, the Carhartts grow grapes and craft wines on that same patch of ground. We are a ground-to-glass operation as well as direct-to-consumer. The Carhartts take extreme pride in farming their own fruit sustainably, with the utmost care and consideration for the environment.

What is your favorite forgotten grape? Mission Grape

What was your first experience with a forgotten grape? We made our first vintage of ‘Carhartt Venture Buffalo’ in 2012, with the varietal, Cinsaut.

What do you love most about the forgotten grapes? What I love most about forgotten grapes is the opportunity to remind consumers that they exist! With over 3000 registered grape varieties in the world, we have limited our taste buds to a few handfuls of “popular” grapes. When I get to grow, produce, taste, and pour these forgotten varietals, it reminds me and our industry that our history is worth exploring in greater detail, and the future of grape growing and winemaking can be even more delicious than we could ever imagine!