Rhys Vineyards

Kevin Harvey, a venture capitalist and software entrepreneur, planted 35 Pinot Noir vines in his backyard in 1995. That early curiosity grew into a serious estate project, with vineyard establishment beginning in 2001 and the first commercial harvest from Home Vineyard arriving in 2004. Winemaker Jeff Brinkman joined in 2006, and the team completed construction of a 30,000-square-foot winery in 2010. All seven estate vineyards were established between 2001 and 2013.

• Origin story traces to 35 backyard Pinot Noir vines planted in 1995
• Commercial production launched with the 2004 harvest from Home Vineyard
• Jeff Brinkman joined as winemaker in 2006
• 30,000-square-foot winery completed in 2010

Rhys operates seven estate vineyards spanning dramatically different elevations and soil types. Six are located in the Santa Cruz Mountains: Home, Family Farm, Alpine, Horseshoe, Skyline, and Mt. Pajaro. The seventh, Bearwallow, sits in Anderson Valley. Soils across the estates are exceptionally varied, including Purisima formation chalk, Whiskey Hill sandstone, Monterey formation shale with limestone, San Lorenzo formation mudstone, sandstone, and limestone, and fractured shale with quartz. Elevations range from 450 to 2,360 feet. The cool mountain climate is shaped by Pacific Ocean fog to the west and San Francisco Bay marine influence to the east, producing significant diurnal temperature swings that preserve acidity and extend the growing season.

• Elevations span 450 to 2,360 feet across the seven estate sites
• Soils include chalk, sandstone, shale, limestone, mudstone, and quartz formations
• Cool climate shaped by Pacific fog and San Francisco Bay marine layers
• Bearwallow Vineyard in Anderson Valley is the only non-Santa Cruz Mountains site

Rhys farms all estate vineyards biodynamically and organically, using extreme high-density plantings of up to 17,000 vines per hectare. This approach, modeled on top Burgundy domaines, stresses vines and concentrates flavor through competition for resources. In the winery, whole-cluster fermentation with native yeasts is standard practice. French oak use is deliberately restrained, with only 35% new oak applied to Pinot Noir. The result is wines that consistently reach just 12-13.5% ABV, underscoring the estate's commitment to balance and site expression over richness.

• High-density plantings up to 17,000 vines per hectare across all estate sites
• Biodynamic and organic farming certified across all vineyards
• Whole-cluster fermentation with native yeasts preserves site character
• Only 35% new French oak used for Pinot Noir; low ABV of 12-13.5%

The core Rhys range focuses on Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, with single-vineyard bottlings from each estate site. Syrah also features in the lineup. The estate produces approximately 5,000 cases per year, making allocation through the mailing list the only reliable way to secure bottles. Under the Aeris label, the team produces wines from Italian varietals including Nebbiolo, Carricante, and Nerello Mascalese, sourced from Centennial Mountain Vineyard in northern Sonoma County. Rhys is consistently ranked among the best American wine producers and draws direct comparison to the great domaines of Burgundy.

• Single-vineyard Pinot Noir and Chardonnay are the flagship wines
• Only 5,000 cases produced annually; available exclusively via mailing list
• Aeris label covers Italian varietals from Centennial Mountain Vineyard
• Recognized among the finest American wine producers with Burgundy-level comparisons