The Makers

After planting Rancho Ontiveros, James worked in vineyards in the Sonoma Coast and the Russian River Valley, driving home to Santa Maria on the weekends to take care of his own vineyard. It was during this time that James developed many impactful relationships in the wine industry, and began looking at wine and winemaking as a way of life rather than solely a practical use of the land. In 2003, he took his first of many trips to Burgundy, tasting in the cellars, walking the vineyards, and learning about biodynamic practices of producers like Domaine Dujac, Lucien Le Moine, Domaine Leflaive, and Domaine Romanée-Conti. He would take these lessons home with him to the Santa Maria Valley, and implement many in his own vineyards and wines.

Born and raised in Santa Barbara County, Justin has over a decade of experience making wine from the same county in which he’s lived his entire life. After a friendship formed between him and James, developed over their shared love of Burgundy and mutual interest in restrained pinot noir and chardonnay, Justin joined Ranchos de Ontiveros as Winemaker in 2016. His winemaking style is to stay true to the land, picking grapes earlier than most to avoid the need to add external factors. Justin views pinot noir and chardonnay as mediums through which to express time and place, especially adept at showcasing the character of the place it was grown.