Winemaking - Wilson Daniels

Winemaking
The goal of Gainey Vineyard’s winemaking program is to create wines of uncompromising
quality with optimum flavor and aromatic components that reflect the unique characteristics of
the vineyards from which they come. Toward that end, the Gaineys have recently constructed
a new gravity-flow winemaking facility. Grapes processed here are handled in the most gentle
manner possible and then fermented and aged in one of five temperature- and humiditycontrolled rooms.
Gainey Vineyard makes wine from grapes grown in vineyards located in two distinct
appellations. The Home Ranch Vineyard on the eastern edge of the valley is, on average,
twenty degrees warmer during the growing season than the cooler climate Evan’s Ranch and
Rancho Esperanza vineyards on the western end. Two contrasting world-class wine regions
require a winemaking team with diverse winemaking experience.
Dan Gainey
Vintner, Proprietor
Dan has a connection to the land that few vintners share. The Gainey family has been farming
in the Santa Ynez Valley of Santa Barbara County since 1962. Since the original vineyard
planting in 1983, the Gaineys have continued to add to their Home Ranch and Evan’s Ranch
vineyards, most recently with Rancho Esperanza in the Sta. Rita Hills AVA. Dan is committed
to making world-class wines while preserving the environment of the Santa Ynez Valley
through sustainable farming and viticulture and agricultural land preservation.
John Falcone
General Manager, Director of Winemaking
John Falcone began making wine in Santa Barbara County nearly a decade ago, following
a 13-year winemaking stint in Napa Valley. Having garnered consistent critical acclaim
for his wines over the years, John remains focused on “making wine in the vineyard,” and
spends most of his time away from the cellar in the vineyards, where, he says, “the core of
winemaking actually takes place.” John oversees all operations at the winery as well as directs
the winemaking programs.
Jeff LeBard
Winemaker
Anchoring day-to-day activities in the Gainey cellar is winemaker Jeff LeBard. A Central Coast
native, Jeff has been on the cutting-edge of winemaking for years. He began his career at
Fess Parker Winery. Since then, Jeff has been a production manager at Central Coast Wine
Services, assistant winemaker at Rancho Sisquoc Winery, associate winemaker for Napa Valley’s
Cosentino Winery and associate winemaker at Gainey for two years before his promotion to
winemaker.