California grown,
Midwestern rooted.
Small-batch California Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and skin-contact orange wine — from organically farmed, cool-climate, coastal vineyards in the Sta. Rita Hills, Santa Maria Valley, and Santa Barbara County.
Native yeast. Gentle maceration. Minimal sulfites. Each bottle, one vineyard's voice.
Shop current vintages →
The beauty is in how little it's asked to change
Cool-climate · Coastal · Native yeastFates' Lieutenant focuses on cool-climate, coastal vineyards — sites shaped by ocean influence and tended sustainably. These conditions, paired with natural farming, give the wines complexity, clarity, and an authentic expression of place.
We harvest at optimal ripeness to preserve vibrancy and balance — moderate alcohol, bright acidity. In the cellar, we honor nature's chemistry: native yeast fermentation, gentle maceration, minimal sulfites, no additives.
The single-vineyard releases
Sta. Rita Hills · current vintages
Jeff Wooledge — Founder and Winemaker
From Michigan to Sta. Rita Hills, since 2020For Jeff, a Midwest native working a corporate job, the moment came in 2020 — when the world shifted and the chance to join harvest emerged. What began as a singular adventure became a calling.
He discovered an intuitive understanding of the craft and a fascination for what cool climates and coastal breezes can create. Today he splits his time between Michigan and Santa Barbara County, working with single-vineyard sites farmed organically and biodynamically.
Read Jeff's story →
From the field
Coastal · cool-climate
Yearly shipments, up to 52% off
Three tiers · curated to your tastesAnnual shipments at member pricing — three, six, or twelve bottles, curated to your individual tastes and preferences.