If you visit our facility in Lompoc you’ll surely run into Claire. She will most likely be on a forklift effortlessly maneuvering her way from warehouse to warehouse carrying barrels and managing the day’s activities. As part of our core cellar team, Claire was a vital part in this year’s harvest. We asked Claire what the challenges she faced during harvest this year that differed from past years. “The biggest challenge was an intense heat wave at the height of fruit intake and fermentation. This sped up the ferments and kept us on our toes during a critical point in harvest. This harvest differed for me in that the yields were lower than my past three harvests, allowing us time to focus on vinifying the different varietals with intention and distinction. I’m really excited and proud of the quality of wines we were able to produce this year!”