About

Sunlight isn't talked about as much as soil, but I believe it's what makes wine unique.

Cabell Coursey

I believe that the vineyard, land, and climate speak to me. I strive to make wines with transparency, revealing not only the character of the vineyard and vintage but also the history and potential of my craft and the Graves Vineyard.

After more than two dozen harvests, each one still shapes me as a vintner and winemaker. I cut my teeth in the vineyards and cellars of Burgundy, New Zealand, and Willamette Valley before establishing my California career making benchmark wines in the Napa and Russian River valleys.

My craft was shaped by the lessons of my mentors. Dr. Neil McCallum encouraged me to think scientifically; Jacky Truchot taught me to question absolutely everything; and Lalou Bize-Leroy inspired me to overcome the fear to fail.

We are guided by the philosophy that farming and winemaking are one practice, not two disciplines. The care and attention dedicated to each growing season transcends from the vineyard to the cellar. We make wines with the purpose of nurturing the essence of the fruit, place, and time. Join us in the movement to redefine great California wine.

Graves Vineyard

Protected by high-elevation evergreen forests and cooled by the westerly breezes from the Pacific Ocean, the Graves Vineyard is marked by the rugged terrain of Bennett Mountain, southwestern exposure, and a volcanic soil composition of red clay, basalt boulders, and shattered rock. The soaring hillside and sun work together to achieve ripeness at lower sugar levels, resulting in wines with the rare combination of forthright character, fine texture, and a capacity to develop profound complexity with age.

The 13 acres of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Syrah are framed by an ecologically diverse, 40-acre estate. Our vineyards are farmed without the use of systemic herbicides, pesticides, and fungicides. The pollinator’s garden and insectary promote healthy populations of birds, insects, and predators. Encinals, ponds, and rocky outcrops are home to red tail hawks, jack rabbits, bobcats, mallard, coyote, and even a family of migrating river otter. We are dedicated to preserving our estate with a clean eco-conscience and find our serenity in the magic on the mountain.