As for the people:
The winery was started by Stephanie Barmann & Jesse Nickerson when they purchased the land with established perennial plantings in 2021. Stephanie is a 4th generation farmer from Northern California who was formally trained in Neuroscience and has a deep connection to the earth. Jesse hails from New Hampshire, has formal training in Mathematics and has a lifelong interest in the ethereal realm of numbers. Stephanie & Jesse have a shared passion for fermentation science, and together they launched the winery. Stephanie runs the day to day operations of the business, and Jesse still works as an actuary and manages all of the reporting and spreadsheets! Together they ebb and flow with the calls of the seasons and enjoy growing, creating, crafting and raising their family on the farm.
As for the land
The vineyard & orchard are located on the southern slope of Sumas Mountain in the Puget Sound AVA. The farm is home to some of Whatcom County’s oldest grape vines and fruit trees. Farming practices are inspired by biodynamic and regenerative principles which aim to build soil and foster plant health in a sustainable and ecologically conscious manner. Estate grown and locally sourced fruit inputs are used for fermentation, and wines and ciders are blended and bottled with care, by hand.