Vine Wrangler
Get the Dirt from owner Mark Strombotne
“Being small allows us to give personal attention to every detail in order to handcraft each wine vintage and make it special. ”
What was your first vintage year? Our inaugural vintage was 2021.
How many cases do you make per vintage? We average just around 500 cases.
Do you have a Tasting Room? Not yet, but we hope to in the near future.
If not you, who is your winemaker? Ashley Herzberg
What wine made you want to become a winemaker/start your own winery? Pinot Noir of course.
What varietals do you work with? Only Pinot Noir because it loves our terroir in the cool Sebastopol Hills.
What vineyards do you source from?
From our estate vineyard only. We chose this vineyard because it is located in the cool Sebastopol Hills region of the Russian River Valley AVA and has the top rated Goldridge Fine Sandy Loam soil.
What type of oak treatment do you use? 35% new French oak.
What do you love about your winemaking region? What makes it different special?
The Russian River Valley is a special place in the world for the best Pinot Noir on the planet. The Sebastopol Hills offers the perfect blend of foggy mornings, cool breezes and warm sunshine to grow happy Pinot Noir.
What’s the story behind your winery name / label?
I wrangled horses and cattle as a cowboy, then judges and juries as a lawyer. I now wrangles vines and wines as a winegrower. Our Vine Wrangler Highland Estate Vineyard Pinot Noir grows in coastal fog, ocean breezes, and Goldridge fine sandy loam soil in the cool corner of the Russian River Valley on the Sonoma Coast. Our sensitive but temperamental Pinot Noir grapes mature slowly into luscious world class wine.
Most importantly, what's so great about being small? What can you do as a small winemaker, that wouldn't be possible for larger wineries?
Being small allows us to give personal attention to every detail in order to handcraft each wine vintage and make it special.
For more information about Oxlee Graham Wines, please visit their website or follow them on Instagram.