Portraits
Todd’s grandmother was a professional artist and is the source of the original “Ernest” portrait that currently hangs in Todd and Erin’s house. We drew inspiration from her work and have crafted the following portraits of our own, which is the best way to experience the people and places behind our wines.
Erin Brooks
Founder & Principal
Co-founder Erin Brooks always has considered herself somewhat of a country girl. Sure, she’s had jobs in the software and communications industries, but she grew up on a farm in rural Texas, and knows how to run tractors and swing hay bales. She even speaks with a little twang.
Naturally, then, in 1999, after she moved to San Francisco, the first time Erin drove up to Sonoma County, she spotted rolling hills lined like corduroy with vines, and thought to herself, “You’re home.” From that point forward, getting involved with a winery was only a matter of time.
Today Erin oversees day-to-day sales and operations of Ernest and masterminds plans for all the label’s big adventures. She also spearheads storytelling for the Sonoma Coast region, painting a picture of where our grapes are grown and sharing that information with the world.
Sustainability
We have built Ernest Vineyards on a number of key concepts. Beyond our commitment to integrity, restraint, and beauty, we are most passionately committed to sourcing our varietals from carefully selected vineyards around Sonoma County. Picking and choosing our vineyard sites allows us to hold out for the very best grapes we can find. We then use those grapes to make the wine we want to make.
Ernest Vineyards’ sustainable and respectful approach to both organic farming and vinification of wines can be traced back to Erin’s agricultural childhood in Texas, and her husband Todd Gottula’s Central Valley farming roots. Today, under Joseph’s leadership, Ernest farms 35 acres in Freestone-Occidental using certified organic and regenerative methods and sustainably dry-farming where possible with 50% fully electric vehicles and equipment. Ernest is committed to positive stewardship of the land and crafting pure, honest wines that celebrate health for and in all.
Ernest Vineyards’ sustainable and respectful approach to both organic farming and vinification of wines can be traced back to Erin’s agricultural childhood in Texas, and her husband Todd Gottula’s Central Valley farming roots. Today, under Joseph’s leadership, Ernest farms 35 acres in Freestone-Occidental using certified organic and regenerative methods and sustainably dry-farming where possible with 50% fully electric vehicles and equipment. Ernest is committed to positive stewardship of the land and crafting pure, honest wines that celebrate health for and in all.
All told, we work with 12 different sites, representing about 24 acres of land. More than half of these vineyards sit in colder climates; we have learned that lower air temperatures during growing season create great tension in the wine. Our site-specific wines often reflect this diversity of climate and terroir.
But the Ernest approach is as much about style as it is about climate and terroir. We love the Burgundian style, so we strive to find sites with grapes that enable us to make those types of wines. Once we find them, we use them to craft wine that is high-acid and low alcohol. We also minimize the influence of oak. These three characteristics work in perfect balance—a much subtler approach to the overtly-ripe style that dominates the wine industry today. This means our wines lacks the rough edges others might have. Some call this elegance. We prefer the words, balanced and smooth.
Another one of our ideals: Value. We believe great wines should be something everyone can enjoy. Our mission is to provide you with the best possible bottle of wine that we can for what we would consider a fair price wherever you may be enjoying it. We also make sure our wines are accessible in the marketplace. We sell our wine through restaurants, both by the bottle and by the glass. We also sell direct to consumers, guaranteeing a certain allocation of bottles to our list members throughout every year.
All told, we work with 12 different sites, representing about 24 acres of land. More than half of these vineyards sit in colder climates; we have learned that lower air temperatures during growing season create great tension in the wine. Our site-specific wines often reflect this diversity of climate and terroir.
But the Ernest approach is as much about style as it is about climate and terroir. We love the Burgundian style, so we strive to find sites with grapes that enable us to make those types of wines. Once we find them, we use them to craft wine that is high-acid and low alcohol. We also minimize the influence of oak. These three characteristics work in perfect balance—a much subtler approach to the overtly-ripe style that dominates the wine industry today. This means our wines lacks the rough edges others might have. Some call this elegance. We prefer the words, balanced and smooth.
Another one of our ideals: Value. We believe great wines should be something everyone can enjoy. Our mission is to provide you with the best possible bottle of wine that we can for what we would consider a fair price wherever you may be enjoying it. We also make sure our wines are accessible in the marketplace. We sell our wine through restaurants, both by the bottle and by the glass. We also sell direct to consumers, guaranteeing a certain allocation of bottles to our list members throughout every year.
Team Portraits
Todd’s grandmother was a professional artist and is the source of the original “Ernest” portrait that currently hangs in Erin and Todd’s home. The team drew inspiration from her work and have crafted the following portraits of their own, which is the best way to experience the people behind the wines.
Todd’s grandmother was a professional artist and is the source of the original “Ernest” portrait that currently hangs in Erin and Todd’s home. The team drew inspiration from her work and have crafted the following portraits of their own, which is the best way to experience the people behind the wines.