Weatherborne Wine Corp.
Get the Dirt from winemaker Cris Carter
“My family has been involved in aviation since World War I, and I believe that the particular microclimates have a huge impact on the finished wine. So Weatherborne: “to have carried the weather.””
Coming from a family of aviators, I originally wanted to be a commercial pilot, so I headed to UC Davis to study something fun - wine! I realized I couldn’t leave the good life behind and dove head first into winemaking. After slogging through the cellars of some of the best producers of Pinot noir in California, Oregon and New Zealand, I returned home to Santa Barbara. I finally had the opportunity to make wine the way I wanted - allowing the weather and soil to have the last say on the taste of the wine. 2012 was my first vintage, buying fruit from John Sebastiano and Melville Vineyards.
What was your first vintage year?
2012
How many cases do you make per vintage?
225 cases in 2012, 400 cases in 2013+
Do you have a Tasting Room?
No tasting room. No appointments at this time, but please email for questions.
How did you get your start in the winemaking business?
Studied Viticulture and Enology at UC Davis.
What wine made you want to become a winemaker/start your own winery?
In college, New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc, then later Pinot Noir from anywhere!
What varietals do you work with? Which varietal/wine is your favorite to make? Why?
Pinot noir because it is ethereal - sometimes light on the palate and sometimes brooding. And now Grenache, which can be just as compelling if sourced from the right spot.
What vineyards do you source from?
John Sebastiano Vineyard in the Santa Ynez Valley. In the past, I also got grapes from Melville Vineyard.
What type of oak treatment do you use? Why?
Around 10% new French oak, the rest neutral French and American. I want a boost in structure, but not enough to overwhelm the wine.
What do you love about your winemaking region?
The diversity of Santa Barbara Co., from hot Happy Canyon to cool Lompoc.
What's the story behind your name/label?
My family has been involved in aviation since World War I, and I believe that the particular microclimates have a huge impact on the finished wine. So Weatherborne: “to have carried the weather.”
What's the one thing you wish someone had told you about the wine business before you started your own winery?
Learn accounting.
We're curious…do you even get tired of drinking your own wine? Is it considered bad form to dip into your inventory?
Yes, I wouldn’t want to become too myopic by only drinking my own wine. I love how every wine can taste like the place its grown. Not bad form at all, and necessary to actually follow how one’s wine ages.
To learn more about Weatherborne Wine Corp., please visit their website or follow them on FACEBOOK.