Just as people raised their eyebrows when Gary Pisoni began planting pinot noir vines on the steep slopes of the Santa Lucia Highlands, many still shake their heads at the amount of hand-labor we put into our vineyards. But we wouldn’t take care of our land in any other way. Farming by hand is challenging—and harder still in the mountains. Doing so requires patience, precision and a deep understanding of each vine.

We are fortunate to have a team whose expertise is matched by their desire to constantly learn and grow. For Mario Reyes, for instance, who has worked with us for thirty years, meeting the challenges of very difficult hand-farming is satisfying in and of itself. For him, as for the rest of the team, doing so also comes with the reward of knowing the work we share coaxes distinguished fruit into being.

We’re grateful to work with our amazing team, and delighted to share a glimpse into this care behind the vines.