Lady of the Sunshine - 'Chêne Vineyard' - Pinot Noir - Edna Valley, CA - 2021

this vintage is a 50/50 split of dijon clone 667 and 115 from the steepest hillside blocks that sit on monterey formation rock bed. this site is naturally devigored and makes for concentrated, small clusters that achieve stem lignification early on. the grapes were fermented with 100% whole-cluster with light extraction during fermentation. the wine was pressed in our wooden basket press at dryness and aged for 10 months in neutral french oak barrels before being racked for the first time to bottle, without filtration.
think crushed raspberries, violets & dried rose petals with chalky tannin
264 cases produced | 13.0% alcohol

I started Lady of the Sunshine in 2017 as a playful expression of wines that focus on farming, prioritizing organic and biodynamic vineyard sites, and making wine without additives or manipulation. The ultimate goal is to make fun, fresh, what we call, breakfast wines, that are built on the mantra, "know your farmer". I've drawn inspiration from my home, and from the regions and other winemakers I've worked with in France, New Zealand, Oregon and Napa. My personal growth in my trade is inspired by Old World winemaking techniques, from a simpler time, when less was more.
Lady of the Sunshine only works with vineyards practicing organic farming techniques or better. All of the wines are fermented using native yeast, natural acidity, minimal amounts of sulfur, and neutral french oak barrels. The wines are moved off the lees only once for bottling, & are always unfined and unfiltered. These wines are made with intention, love, and a deep respect for the land, carrying with them the spirit of the place in which they come from.

The foundation of Lady of the Sunshine focuses on regenerative, biodynamic farming practices that lead us to spend more time walking, listening and learning from the land we farm.
The goal is simple, to leave the land better than we found.
I grew up on my family’s ninety acre biodynamic ranch, Narrow Gate Vineyards in the Sierra Foothills of California. I am now a second generation biodynamic farmer and winemaker, inspired by my father’s trade. Growing up on a biodynamic farm, I learned we must lean into Mother Nature to work with her, rather than against her. Through regenerative farming practices, we can heal soil, increase biodiversity, and turn waste into new energy.
With inspiration from home, I now farm 6.5 acres on the Central Coast of California, where I utilize regenerative, biodynamic farming practices in pursuit of making wines that speak of place. The Chene Vineyard, which I have been farming since the beginning of 2018, received it’s Demeter certification for biodynamic farming practices in June 2020, after a three year conversion period. I hope that this newly earned stamp will bring authenticity to inspire others about farming for our future, by healing through farming.