Lo-Fi is a quiet rebellion against everything heavy, expensive, and over-thought about California wine. Made by two lifelong friends, Mike and Craig, it stands for hand-crafted, honest wines meant to be opened on a Tuesday and enjoyed, not laid down and worshipped.

Nothing added, nothing taken away

The Lo-Fi philosophy is as much about what the wines are not as what they are. Not over-manipulated, not over-extracted, not over-ripe, and not over-priced. In the cellar that means neutral barrels, native yeasts, little to no added sulfur, no adjusting the chemistry, and a love of whole-cluster fermentation and carbonic maceration. The result is a set of young, vibrant, lower-alcohol wines that feel alive, the kind of low-intervention bottles that have made Santa Barbara a quiet hub of the natural wine movement.

The wines

Lo-Fi works grapes most California wineries overlook, which is exactly the point: bright, peppery Cabernet Franc, juicy Gamay, crisp Chenin Blanc, and chillable, carbonic-fermented reds, all made in a fresh, light, food-first style. These are wines of energy and drinkability rather than weight, and they are priced to actually drink.

What to drink it with

This is the whole point of the project. Pour the chillable carbonic reds and the Gamay with pizza, charcuterie, or a burger, where their bright, juicy fruit cuts the fat and asks nothing of you. The Cabernet Franc, savory and herbal, loves grilled vegetables or lamb, and the crisp Chenin Blanc is a natural with goat cheese, oysters, or, as the makers say, anything from pizza to pate.

Plan your visit

Lo-Fi is based in the hip little town of Los Alamos, a magnet for natural wine and good food just off Highway 101. Check the winery for current tasting options and where to find the wines.

Frequently asked questions