Gainey Vineyard
A working family ranch turned four-generation winery, with estate vineyards spanning two climates, from the warm Santa Ynez Valley to the cold Sta. Rita Hills.
More than sixty years ago, the Gainey family bought 1,800 acres of open land in the Santa Ynez Valley and ran it as a true ranch, cattle and horses, fruit and flowers and hay. The grapevines came later, and they turned a ranch into one of the valley’s most enduring family wineries.
Four generations on the Home Ranch
The Gainey story begins with patriarch Dan J. Gainey, who acquired what the family still calls the Home Ranch. In 1984, he converted fifty acres of it to grapevines, and Gainey Vineyard was born, with his son joining a year later. He proved to be one of the region’s early winemaking visionaries. Over the decades the family expanded, planting two more estate vineyards, Evan’s Ranch and Rancho Esperanza, in the cold Sta. Rita Hills to the west. Today, with the fourth generation involved and winemaker Jeff LeBard guiding the cellar, Gainey is a genuine multi-generation family enterprise.
One family, two climates, four generations, and a ranch that has never stopped working.
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Start the quizTwo climates, one family
Gainey’s secret is its range. The warm Home Ranch in the eastern Santa Ynez Valley ripens Bordeaux varieties and crisp Sauvignon Blanc, while the cold, fog-swept Sta. Rita Hills ranches grow delicate Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Few estates can pour you both ends of the spectrum, all estate-grown, all from the same family’s land.
What to drink it with
The crisp Sauvignon Blanc is a classic with fresh goat cheese or oysters, where the wine and the cheese share the same green, grassy note. The Limited Selection Pinot Noir from the Sta. Rita Hills loves grilled salmon, duck, or mushrooms, and the Bordeaux reds, the Merlot and Cabernet Franc, are made for lamb or a peppercorn steak, their tannins softening against the fat. The Chardonnay wants Dungeness crab or a simple roast chicken.
Plan your visit
Gainey pours at its estate tasting room on Highway 246 in Santa Ynez, in a classic ranch setting with the vineyards and the San Rafael Mountains as a backdrop. It is one of the valley’s most welcoming family tasting rooms, and a frequent stop for events and weddings.
Taste two climates from one family
Book a tasting at the Gainey ranch and drink everything from crisp Sauvignon Blanc to cold-climate Pinot, all estate-grown.
Reserve a Tasting →Frequently asked questions
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