Gainey Vineyard

Winemaking

The goal of Gainey Vineyard’s winemaking program is to create wines of uncompromising quality with optimum flavor and aromatic components that reflect the unique characteristics of the vineyards from which they come. Toward that end, the Gaineys have recently constructed a new gravity-flow winemaking facility. Grapes processed here are handled in the most gentle manner possible and then fermented and aged in one of five temperature- and humidity-controlled rooms. 

Gainey Vineyard makes wine from grapes grown in vineyards located in two distinct appellations. The Home Ranch Vineyard on the eastern edge of the valley is, on average, twenty degrees warmer during the growing season than the cooler climate Evan’s Ranch and Rancho Esperanza vineyards on the western end. Two contrasting world-class wine regions require a winemaking team with diverse winemaking experience. 

Dan Gainey, Vintner, Proprietor 

Dan has a connection to the land that few vintners share. The Gainey family has been farming in the Santa Ynez Valley of Santa Barbara County since 1962. Since the original vineyard planting in 1983, the Gaineys have continued to add to their Home Ranch and Evan’s Ranch vineyards, most recently with Rancho Esperanza in the Sta. Rita Hills AVA. Dan is committed to making world-class wines while preserving the environment of the Santa Ynez Valley through sustainable farming and viticulture and agricultural land preservation. 

John Falcone, General Manager, Director of Winemaking

John Falcone began making wine in Santa Barbara County nearly a decade ago, following a 13-year winemaking stint in Napa Valley. Having garnered consistent critical acclaim for his wines over the years, John remains focused on “making wine in the vineyard,” and spends most of his time away from the cellar in the vineyards, where, he says, “the core of winemaking actually takes place.” John oversees all operations at the winery as well as directs the winemaking programs.

Jeff LeBard, Winemaker

Anchoring day-to-day activities in the Gainey cellar is winemaker Jeff LeBard. A Central Coast native, Jeff has been on the cutting-edge of winemaking for years. He began his career at Fess Parker Winery. Since then, Jeff has been a production manager at Central Coast Wine Services, assistant winemaker at Rancho Sisquoc Winery, associate winemaker for Napa Valley’s Cosentino Winery and associate winemaker at Gainey for two years before his promotion to winemaker. Jeff enjoys shaping the Gainey family wines alongside consultants Kirby Anderson and Jon Engelskirger.

Jon Engelskirger, Consulting Winemaker, Bordeaux Program

Long considered one of Napa Valley’s finest winemakers, Jon has a distinguished resume including Turnbull Cellars, Silverado Vineyards and Robert Pepi, as well as Hanna Winery in Sonoma County. A master of Bordeaux varieties grown at Gainey’s Home Ranch, Jon oversees the Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and forthcoming Cabernet Sauvignon programs.