Whitcraft Winery Elle's Vineyard, Los Olivos, California

Whitcraft Winery has long been a beacon of thoughtful, hands-on winemaking in Santa Barbara County, and this bottling from Elle’s Vineyard is no exception. A rare and compelling blend of 50% Trousseau and 50% Pinot Noir, this wine is a vibrant expression of coastal California’s cool-climate vineyards. Crafted by Drake Whitcraft, who has carried on his family’s tradition of meticulous, low-intervention winemaking, it offers a glimpse into the future of California reds—light, expressive, and deeply site-driven. With only 44 cases produced, this is as small-batch as it gets.

Wine Details:

• Winemaker: Drake Whitcraft
• Vineyard: Elle’s Vineyard
• Vintage: 2022
• Appellation: Santa Barbara County
• Grape Composition: 50% Trousseau, 50% Pinot Noir
• Alcohol: 13.75% ABV
• Harvest Date: September 21, 2021
• Bottling Date: June 11, 2023
• Production: 528 Bottles

Sensory Details:

Bright and lifted, this wine leaps from the glass with a medley of juicy red fruit—fresh cherry, cranberry, and wild strawberry—intertwined with a delicate savory edge of dried herbs and leather. The palate is light and energetic, brimming with crisp acidity and a refreshing, almost weightless quality that makes it dangerously easy to drink. A slight chill enhances its electric fruit character, while soft, barely-there tannins provide just enough structure to keep everything in perfect balance. Playful yet serious, this is a wine that thrives on purity and precision.

Winemaker’s Background:

Founded in 1985 by Chris and Kathleen Whitcraft, Whitcraft Winery began as a passion project and quickly grew into one of Santa Barbara County’s most respected boutique wineries. Chris, a fixture in the local wine scene, learned from legends like Joe Heitz, Dick Graff, and Burt Williams. Today, their son Drake carries on the legacy, crafting site-driven, minimal-intervention wines with a philosophy rooted in old-world traditions. He sources from some of California’s most coveted cool-climate vineyards—including Pence, La Rinconada, and Stolpman—and adheres to organic and biodynamic farming whenever possible. His winemaking approach is hands-off, utilizing whole-cluster fermentation, lees aging, and hand-bottling with minimal sulfur additions. The result? Clean, balanced wines that capture the essence of their vineyard origins.

Serving Suggestions:

Best served with a light chill at 52–55°F, this bright and juicy red is a fantastic pairing for roasted duck, seared tuna, or earthy vegetarian dishes like wild mushroom risotto. Its delicate tannins and high acidity also make it a perfect companion for charcuterie boards, soft-ripened cheeses, and grilled vegetables. A wine meant to be shared, savored, and enjoyed in its youthful exuberance.