Darling Wines began in 2017 with two barrels of Syrah. Up to this point, Tom had worked just one harvest and was beginning his second when he and Ashley came across a listing of certified organic, cool-climate Syrah in the Petaluma Gap. After visiting the site, they decided to take a chance and figured at the very least they would have some decent home wine to send to family and friends for the holidays. This first wine, the 2017 McEvoy Ranch Syrah, sold out in mere months and ended up on the One-Star Michelin restaurant, Bouchon Bistro, in the Napa Valley, owned by the famed Thomas Keller. The two were thrilled, to say the least, and dove head first into this new endeavor.
Today, Darling Wines produces Pinot Noir, Syrah, and Chardonnay sourced from coastal vineyards in western Sonoma County, Marin County, Anderson Valley, and Mendocino Ridge. The goal is to produce wines with character and energy that showcase purity and site through transparent winemaking. With this goal in mind there is minimal handling from grape to bottle, restrained use of sulphur; in most cases, no synthetic additives or perfecting agents, fining or filtration, in an attempt to produce the most honest wine possible.
All vineyard partners are small, family-owned, and are farmed with intention and with respect to the surrounding ecosystems. All vineyards are at minimum sustainable, but most are farmed organically, biodynamically or regeneratively.
