Drew Family Cellars

Jason Drew launched Drew Family Cellars in 2000 while still working as associate winemaker at Babcock Vineyards on California's Central Coast, producing his first wines in a Central Coast warehouse. The vision from the outset was to find a site capable of producing genuinely cool-climate Pinot Noir and Syrah rather than the sun-drenched expressions common elsewhere in California. In 2004, Jason and Molly Drew purchased a 26-acre former apple orchard in Elk, on the Mendocino Coast, and broke ground on the vineyard in June 2005, completing the first estate crush that same autumn. The property sits at 1,250 feet elevation just three miles from the Pacific Ocean, placing it at the western edge of Mendocino County and within the boundaries of the Mendocino Ridge AVA.

• Founded 2000; initial production based in a Central Coast warehouse while Jason Drew worked at Babcock Vineyards
• 26-acre Elk property purchased 2004; vineyard established June 2005 with first estate crush completed fall 2005
• Estate located at 1,250 ft elevation, 3 miles from Pacific Ocean, westernmost vineyard in Mendocino County
• 2024 marked the 25th vintage, a milestone for this family-owned operation

Jason and Molly Drew remain the sole owners and operators of Drew Family Cellars, keeping the winery firmly in the hands of its first-generation founders. Jason serves as winemaker and brings formal academic training to his craft, holding an Agro-Ecology degree from UC Santa Cruz and a graduate Oenology degree from the University of Adelaide in Australia, alongside more than 35 years of hands-on winemaking experience. The tasting room at 31351 Philo Greenwood Road in Elk operates Friday through Saturday by appointment, reflecting the boutique, relationship-driven model the Drews have always maintained. Their commitment extends beyond wine to the land itself, with certified organic and regenerative farming practices shaping every decision on the estate.

• Jason and Molly Drew own and operate the winery as a first-generation family business with no outside investors
• Jason Drew trained at UC Santa Cruz (Agro-Ecology) and the University of Adelaide (graduate Oenology)
• Tasting room in Elk, CA open Friday and Saturday by appointment only
• Certified organic and regenerative farming practices applied across all estate operations

The heart of the Drew portfolio is Faite De Mer Farm, the 10.5-acre estate vineyard in Mendocino Ridge planted to a mix of heritage California Pinot Noir selections and Dijon clones. Beyond the estate, Jason Drew sources fruit from a carefully curated set of ranches across two distinct appellations: Valenti Ranch, Perli Ranch, and Fashauer Vineyard within Mendocino Ridge, and Morning Dew Ranch, Wendling Vineyard, and Fog Eater Vineyard in Anderson Valley. Mendocino Ridge is a non-contiguous AVA defined by vineyard sites above 1,200 feet, exposed to direct Pacific influence and very different in character from the valley-floor vineyards of Anderson Valley below. The combination of ridge sites and valley-floor sources allows Drew to capture both the airy, wind-driven tension of coastal heights and the deeper fruit concentration possible in more sheltered Anderson Valley blocks.

• Estate: Faite De Mer Farm, 10.5 acres in Mendocino Ridge AVA, planted to heritage California clones and Dijon selections
• Mendocino Ridge sources: Valenti Ranch, Perli Ranch, and Fashauer Vineyard, all above 1,200 ft elevation
• Anderson Valley sources: Morning Dew Ranch, Wendling Vineyard, and Fog Eater Vineyard
• Drew Family Cellars is the only estate winery within the Mendocino Ridge AVA

Jason Drew's approach in the cellar mirrors the philosophy on the farm: minimal intervention, maximum expression of site. Fermentations rely on native yeasts and whole cluster inclusion, techniques that support structural complexity and freshness without artificial shortcuts. Fining and filtration are minimized or avoided entirely, preserving the texture and detail that cool-climate fruit from Mendocino Ridge naturally offers. The result is a portfolio of wines consistently described for their restraint, elegance, and genuine aging potential, drawing comparisons to the earlier vintages of Littorai and Williams Selyem, two Californian benchmarks for terroir-driven Pinot Noir. Varietals extend beyond Pinot Noir and Syrah to include Chardonnay, Albarino, Gamay, Chenin Blanc, and a GSM field blend, reflecting Jason Drew's curiosity about what cool Mendocino sites can achieve with a range of grapes.

• Native yeast and whole cluster fermentation used across the portfolio
• Minimal fining and filtering to preserve site character and textural detail
• Portfolio includes Pinot Noir, Syrah, Chardonnay, Albarino, Gamay, Chenin Blanc, and a GSM field blend
• Style draws comparisons to early Littorai and Williams Selyem for elegance and restraint

Drew Family Cellars occupies a unique position in California wine: it is the defining estate of the Mendocino Ridge AVA, a genuinely remote and underappreciated appellation whose combination of Pacific proximity, elevation, and fog-driven cool temperatures creates conditions for Pinot Noir and Syrah that stand apart from anything in the Russian River Valley or the Santa Lucia Highlands. Jason Drew's dual expertise in agro-ecology and oenology, combined with Molly Drew's partnership in building this integrated farm model, makes the operation a serious reference point for students of terroir and sustainable viticulture. Wines are accessible in price relative to their critical standing, with most expressions available between $32 and $70. For anyone studying cool-climate California or the mechanics of AVA distinction beyond marketing, Drew Family Cellars is essential.

• Only estate winery in Mendocino Ridge AVA, making it the benchmark reference for the appellation
• Integrated farm model includes 10-acre apple orchard, truffle orchard, sheep, bees, and chickens alongside certified organic vines
• Price range of $28 to $105 places serious critical scores within reach; 2022 Faite De Mer rated 95/100
• Wines reviewed positively by Wine Advocate Senior Editor Virginie Boone and Jeb Dunnuck for 2023 vintage