Hey guys!
This week's update is all about California. From the Central Coast to San Francisco and the Sierra Foothills, one unexpected stop seemed to lead to another, making for one of the most memorable wine trips we've had in a long time. Hope you enjoy!
An Unexpected Weekend on California's Central Coast 🌊
From an Instagram message to Bassi Vineyard and Phelan Farm, an unforgettable weekend through California wine country
Last weekend was a reminder of the serendipity that seems to follow wine. What started as a simple drive up California's Central Coast unexpectedly turned into an unforgettable weekend spent alongside some of the region's most exciting winemakers.
Pictured: Big Sur, California
I'd been in California for the past few weeks, and the plan was straightforward: make the drive from Los Angeles to San Francisco along California's Central Coast, taking our time and soaking in the scenery. Before leaving on Saturday, a friend suggested we reach out to a few Central Coast winemakers to see if anyone might be around for a quick cellar visit or barrel tasting. The first people that came to mind were Mikey and Gina Giugni of Scar of the Sea & Lady of the Sunshine.
Pictured: Mikey from Scar of the Sea
I shot Mikey a day-of Instagram DM, and within minutes got a response I couldn't believe: "We're doing a farmer and producer a BBQ party tonight, do you want to join."
The timing felt almost to perfect to be real.
A few hours later, my three friends (none of whom are particularly into wine, but were happily along for the adventure) and I turned off the highway onto a small country road and pulled into Bassi Vineyard, where the Scar of the Sea and Lady of the Sunshine teams were hosting a casual barbecue and get together for many of the region's winemakers.
Pictured: Mikey Giugni, Raj Parr, and Matt Taylor
We spent the evening walking through the vines practically next the Pacific Ocean, talking with growers and winemakers, opening incredible bottles, and getting a glimpse into the tight knit community that has made California's Central Coast one of the country's most exciting wine regions. Afterward, we found a cheap hotel five minutes down the road and called it a night.
Pictured: Winemaker BBQ
The next morning brought the reason everyone had gathered in the first place: the second annual SLO Coast Wine Fair, hosted by none other than Raj Parr at Phelan Farm in Cambria. I'd wanted to visit Raj's estate for years, so finally seeing it in person felt pretty surreal.
Pictured: Parr Collective
The fair showcased growers who both farm and make their own wines, and the quality across the board was remarkable. We spent the morning tasting through bottle after bottle, meeting producers, and talking about farming, vineyards, and the future of California wine. Everything was drinking beautifully, especially wines from Matt Taylor Wines, Outward Wines, and Failla Wines.
Pictured: SLO Coast Wine Fair
Just as we were getting ready to continue our drive north, Raj pulled us aside and poured through his upcoming 2025 releases before walking us through one of the vineyard blocks on the property. Along the way he tasted us on his 2022 Savagnin, which ended up being one of the most memorable wines I tasted all month.
Pictured: SLO Coast Wine Fair Poster
What started as a simple drive up the coast unexpectedly turned into an unforgettable weekend spent with some of California's most thoughtful winemakers. Huge thank you to Mikey, Raj, and everyone else who welcomed us so generously.
Pictured: Raj Parr and me
It's weekends like these that remind me how small and incredibly welcoming the wine world can be.
Wine Destinations in the Bay Area 🌉
A few spots we hit while we were in the city
Pictured: A Foggy Golden Gate Bridge
Among my many other California adventures the past few weeks, I finally got to spend some meaningful time in San Fransisco, a city I’ve always heard amazing things about, especially for wine. I wasn’t able to hit all the spots, but here are a few highlights:
Verjus 📍
Without a doubt one of the best meals we had in San Francisco. The menu was full with incredible seasonal dishes, and somehow the wine list was even more exciting. It reminded me a lot of Four Horsemen in Brooklyn: casual, incredibly thoughtful, and the kind of place where you could happily spend hours working your way through the list. I'll absolutely be back.
Pictured: Verjus
Ordinaire 📍
One of the OG natural wine shops and bars in the Bay Area. Located across the bay in Oakland, it's a bit of a trek if you're staying in San Francisco proper, but it's well worth it. The selection is phenomenal, with an impressive mix of local California producers alongside bottles from some of the world's best natural winemakers. If you're even remotely interested in natural wine, this is a must visit.
Pictured: Ordinaire
Golden Sardine 📍
Another standout from the trip. Golden Sardine has one of the deepest and most thoughtfully curated Riesling lists I've come across at a wine bar, with bottles spanning a wide range of styles, producers, and vintages. The pricing felt remarkably fair too, making it an easy place to explore without feeling intimidated. I'd happily go back just to work my way through more of the wine list.
Pictured: Golden Sardine
Honorable Mentions: Chez Panisse, El Chato, Ruby Wine, Bar Part Time, Bar Gemini, Kitchen Istanbul, Palm City, Rampant Bottle & Bar, Arcana, Saison, Snail Bar, Sirene
Producer Highlight ⭐
One of our favorite parts of wine is the discovery: we’re constantly being put on to new regions, producers, and cuvées from our friends. We’ll never be able to try EVERY wine, but we want to take a moment to mention some producers that excite us!
Ellsworth Wines 🍷
Location: Sierra Foothills, California 📍
Pictured: Sierra Foothills. Image by Bryn Silva
Last weekend I traveled to California's Sierra Foothills, where Bryn and Jeffrey Sherwood of Ellsworth Wines are reimagining what thoughtful, intentional farming can look like. Originally from the suburbs of Washington, D.C., the pair moved out West in pursuit of lives rooted in wine and agriculture, eventually settling in Grass Valley, where they planted a 1.5 acre home vineyard and built a small winery.
Pictured: Jeffrey Sherwood of Ellsworth Wines
Farming sits at the heart of Ellsworth's philosophy. Their vineyards lie in the northern reaches of California's Gold Country at roughly 1,500 feet in elevation, where hot, dry summers meet iron-rich clay soils capable of holding winter rainfall deep into the growing season. Bryn and Jeffrey farm without tilling, irrigation, fertilizers, herbicides, or pesticides, believing each site should be healthier when they leave it than when they first arrived. Every task is done by hand, from pruning and canopy work to harvest, with an emphasis on building biodiversity, protecting soil life, and allowing each vineyard to find its own balance over time.
Pictured: Jeffrey in his cellar
That same philosophy carries into the cellar. Fermentations are carried out with native yeasts, no commercial additives are used, and the wines are neither fined nor filtered. Juice and wine move only by gravity before aging in neutral French oak and stainless steel, preserving both energy and transparency. The finished wines feel like honest reflections of a part of California that continues to fly under the radar, wines defined by careful farming, patience, and a deep respect for the lands from which they come.
Pictured: Ellsworth Home Vines
On our way to Lake Tahoe for the Fourth of July weekend, my friends and I stopped by to spend an afternoon with Jeffrey. What was supposed to be a quick visit quickly turned into a vineyard walk, barrel tasting, and an impromptu lesson on farming and viticulture. He first showed us the home vineyard, where he grows a number of varieties, including Sauvignon Blanc, which he's particularly excited about, before leading us into the cellar, where he poured nearly every wine resting in barrel. The wines were drinking beautifully, especially the rosé and reds, but what stood out even more was hearing Jeffrey talk through the philosophy behind Ellsworth and the care that goes into every decision, both in the vineyard and the winery.
Pictured: La Onda and Ellsworth Wines
As we packed up to leave, Jeffrey generously sent us on our way with a bottle of Ellsworth and another from fellow Sierra Foothills producer La Onda. I left with a much deeper appreciation for both Ellsworth and the Sierra Foothills as a whole. It's a region full of thoughtful growers, exciting wines, and a strong sense of community, and I can't wait to spend more time exploring it. Thanks again to Jeffrey for the incredible hospitality.
Wine Club Updates 🍷 📦
July's shipment is heading out soon! In honor of America's 250th anniversary, this month's theme is a celebration of American wine, featuring a lineup of bottles that showcase the incredible diversity and talent found across the country. We're really excited for you to dive in. If you have any questions or run into any issues, feel free to reach out to [email protected] and they'll get you sorted quickly.
Not a member yet? You can sign up here:
That's all for this week! California gave us far more than we could fit into a single newsletter, and we're already looking forward to getting back out there. Thanks so much for reading, and as always, drink responsibly! 🥂