Kessler-Haak Vineyards
Santa Ynez Valley AVA
Nestled in the Northwest corner of the Sta. Rita Hills, Kessler-Haak is crafting terroir-expressive wines that capture the uniqueness and beauty of their organically farmed 30-acre vineyard.
As the Sta. Rita Hills continues to rise in statue and prominence among great Pinot Noir growing areas in California, a number of small wineries have taken great advantage of the area's relatively sudden rise in popularity. Kessler-Haak Vineyard & Winery is a relatively small producer that owns a 30-acre vineyard in the AVA almost midway between Buellton and Lompoc on California's Central Coast.
Dan and Ellen (Haak) Kessler own and operate Kessler-Haak Vineyard & Winery, which began operations in 2005. Both were members of the high-tech semi-conductor industry before falling to the adamant stimuli of the amiable wine bug.
Their story is a familiar one in the wine industry: Dan Kessler started drinking wine, then learned about wine, became a home winemaker, and eventually planted 200 vines in his backyard. Ellen was a native Oregonian who shared his interest in wine. The couple fell in love with the Sta. Rita Hills AVA and decided to purchase a 40-acre parcel. In 2005, they planted Pinot Noir (7 different clones) and Chardonnay (3 clones) in the cool climate region and began life as vineyard owners.
Why the interest in Pinot Noir?
"We specialize in Pinot Noir and Chardonnay due to the location of our vineyard," informed Dan Kessler. "We chose our location because it was situated in the coolest microclimate in the coolest portion of the Sta. Rita Hills AVA. What I love about our AVA is its unique climate and small size. Mountains along the west coast of California face north-south and block ocean influence. Our AVA is the only spot along the west coast of North and South America (I think) where the mountains face east-west (as a result of a piece of the continent breaking away and spinning 90 degrees as it drifted). This east-west orientation allows marine influence and makes our AVA region 10 to 20 degrees cooler than nearby regions, while allowing us a long growing season that results in wines with fresh berry character and great acidity."
The vineyard is maintained with strict organic farming practices while striving to find the natural harmony and coexistence between the vines, plants, and animals. As a result, the vineyard consistently produces world-class, distinctive Pinot Noirs.
"Life is about the journey," Dan Kessler has stated. "For us, that journey involves wine and its incredible ability to capture the essence of its origin - the vineyard. We strive to express - through our fruit - the uniqueness and beauty of this place."
It is a pleasure to present this incredible wine to our Pinot Noir Wine Club members, from a top Pinot Noir producer. Please enjoy!
Map of the area
Dan Kessler - Winemaker
Dan Kessler was one of the first graduates of UC Davis’ distance learning program class that provided him a winemaker’s certificate in 2006. He has also worked at nearby (Buellton) Lafond Winery as assistant winemaker for Bruce McGuire to further enhance his role as winemaker. Kessler’s approach to winemaking is a minimalistic one and Kessler relies on traditional methods and techniques. He is on record as feeling the single most important decision that influences winemaking is when to harvest the fruit, a direct reference to winegrowing as opposed to winemaking. All estate fruit on the Kessler-Haak Vineyard is picked nocturnally and follows organic farming methods.
