Northern California’s popular winery has announced its closure after 14 years of producing cool-climate, single-vineyard wines from California’s rugged coastline.
Ernest Vineyards, located in Sonoma, announced it will close its operations with a three-week farewell event beginning in February.
The winery branded its farewell as “Final Call,” a three-week series of final cellar releases beginning February 3. The series includes a mix of rare library wines and more recent vintages available to the public.
The releases will roll out over three weeks, beginning with library reds on February 3, followed by library whites on February 10, and concluding on February 17 with recent vintages.
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Together, these releases provide the community with a final opportunity to access the winery’s collection.
Ernest Vineyards was founded by Todd Gottula and Erin Brooks, according to the winery’s website. The winery became known for its Pinot Noir and Chardonnay throughout the Bay Area.
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Founded in 2012, Ernest Vineyards grew from co-founder Erin Brooks’ interest in bringing a distinct character to wines produced along what is now recognized as the West Sonoma Coast AVA.
Working alongside her husband, Todd Gottula, Brooks sought to explore how marine influence, long growing seasons, and minimal intervention could shape wines rooted in place. From the beginning, Ernest focused on single-vineyard bottlings and restrained winemaking, allowing vineyard conditions to guide the final expression.
According to the winery’s website, Ernest entered a new phase in 2018 when Joseph Ryan joined as winemaker. His approach brought added precision to fermentation and aging while maintaining Ernest’s low-intervention philosophy.
In addition to Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, Ernest also produced wines such as Aligoté, Trousseau, and Petite Arvine. Each of them grows in cool conditions in coastal and northern California sites.
In 2024, Ernest Vineyards expanded its tasting lounge offerings with the introduction of a non-alcoholic sparkling flight. The program featured house-crafted syrups and shrubs from Land and Local, a woman-owned producer.
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According to the winery’s website, Ernest owns and leases five vineyard sites totaling approximately 34 to 35 acres in Freestone-Occidental, one of the coldest areas of the West Sonoma Coast.
All these vineyards are certified organic and farmed using regenerative practices.
Key vineyard locations include Cleary Ranch and Joyce Vineyard on the Sonoma Coast, Alder Springs Vineyard in Mendocino County, and Bennett Valley Vineyard in Sonoma County.
Sustainability has been a central pillar of the winery’s identity, shaped by the founders’ agricultural background.
According to the winery, these efforts were aimed at responsible land stewardship and long-term vineyard health.
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