A fresh name on our shelves has caught the eye of many of our savviest customers: Farm Cottage.

A newer project from older grapes, with a revered California vineyard (and name) behind it – it's no surprise the wines are solid. Oh, and it's Santa Cruz ❤️🔥 We're digging in!

A big part of the draw here is the fruit, which comes from some of Santa Cruz's most impeccably farmed sites – including the iconic (and now, family owned) Trout Gulch vineyard.

With his Farm Cottage project, winemaker Ryan Alfaro puts relentless energy into getting the best from these organic, dry-farmed (and in many cases, own-rooted!) old vines.

The Alfaro family has been a mainstay of Santa Cruz for almost 30 years, starting with a 60 acre apple orchard purchased by Richard and Mary Kay Alfaro. They quickly got to work planting block after block of own-rooted vines, from Wente Chardonnay and several clones of Pinot Noir (Pommard, Mount Eden, Vosne-Romanée to name a few) to Syrah and Grüner. This was the backdrop for Ryan's childhood, which he rigorously followed with studies at UC Davis, a graduate degree from University of Auckland, a lot of time in Dijon and a stint working for Adam Tolmach.

After farming it for almost two decades, the Alfaros purchased nearby Trout Gulch – and are now in the amazing position of deciding which fruit to keep and which to sell to the rest of California's top tier.

Farm Cottage is a second, more personal label made by Ryan, who has also grown into the role of head winemaker at Alfaro Family Vineyards. The cuvées represent his pick of fruit across Trout Gulch, Ryan Spencer, Christie and Lester Family vineyards.

It's a very delicious lineup and if we may give you a hot tip: the Syrah is some of the most delicious we've tasted, from anywhere ;)

2023 Farm Cottage Ryan Spencer Vineyard Syrah, Santa Cruz Mountains $50
Syrah from his eponymous Ryan Spencer vineyard planted by the family in '01. Fermented 100% whole cluster with pied de cuve added on the second day. Aged in neutral French oak.

2023 Farm Cottage Pinot Noir, Santa Cruz Mountains $50
A blend from Trout Gulch, Alfaro Family and Lester Family vineyards; intended to give a holistic taste of Santa Cruz. Fermented with 77% whole clusters and aged in neutral French oak.

2023 Farm Cottage Lester Family Vineyard Pinot Noir, Santa Cruz Mountain $65
From Lester Family vineyard, situated 3 miles from the coast. Fermented wtih 50% whole clusters with pied de cuve added on the second day; aged in neutral French oak.

SHOP FARM COTTAGE

Photos via @farmcottagewines and @alfarofamilyvineyards