Thanks to Joey Tensley I was introduced to the world of wine when I was twenty-one years old. We met in 2003 at Mattei's Tavern in Los Olivos from separate sides of the bar; I was making drinks and he was drinking. We talked about his winery and the world of wine. I was hooked. I started working for him that harvest and never looked back.

Joey Started making wine in 1996 in the cellar of Fess Parker Winery and has since grown his Tensley Wine brand to a world renowned producer of Santa Barbara Syrah’s. Tensley’s Syrah has gained respect from the most acclaimed wine critics in the world, gaining scores commonly in the high 90’s from Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate and in 2021 achieving a 100 point review from Jeb Dunnuck. The wines that we will make in Joey’s winery are near and dear to my heart, being my hometown and the beginning of my love for Syrah. I purchased my first ton of grapes from Joey in 2004, one ton of clone 99 Syrah. Almost twenty years later, which feels like a lifetime ago, the same grape that captivated my lifelong passion for wine is back in my glass. There are a group of devoted Syrah producers in Santa Barbara County that have found Syrah to be their ride or die, AKA  Rhone Rangers. As Cabernet is to Napa and Pinot Noir is to the Willamette Valley, Joey and I think Syrah is the local hero in the Santa Ynez Valley.