Lavender Oak Vineyards

Lavender Oak Vineyards (LOV Wines) is a small family estate on Santa Rosa Road in the Santa Ynez Valley, founded by Christi Heck and her husband Dean as a shared second act. Christi, a retired professor of neurology with a PhD in cell biology, took over full winemaking responsibility in the 2022-2023 seasons after a decade of learning the craft, and today oversees roughly 800 to 1,000 cases a year of estate-grown wine.

The 16-acre property was planted in 2011 under the guidance of the late Michael Benedict, the legendary grower behind the Sanford and Benedict Vineyard, whose soil analysis steered the estate toward a Right Bank Bordeaux vision. The Chardonnay and Pinot Noir vines were propagated from Sanford and Benedict cuttings, and the flagship Estate Red Blend follows the Saint-Emilion model at roughly 60 percent Merlot, 30 percent Cabernet Franc, and 10 percent Cabernet Sauvignon, an intentional case for Merlot as a leading grape of the valley.

Farming is regenerative and dry-farmed, and the wines are deliberately lower in alcohol, built for the table rather than the tasting bar. Everything is grown, harvested, made, and bottled on the estate. Tastings are private and by appointment, hosted personally by the owners in a setting that reflects the project’s origins: a place for sharing food, wine, and conversation. Visit lovwines.com to arrange a visit.

Not Yet Reviewed

Melville Winery

California · Santa Barbara

Not Yet Reviewed

Montemar Wines

California · Santa Barbara

Not Yet Reviewed

Pali Wine Co.

California · Santa Barbara

Not Yet Reviewed

Pali Wine Company

California · Santa Barbara