California grown,
Midwestern rooted.
Our mission is to craft delicious wine. We source organically farmed grapes from California terroir to create small batch wines with minimal intervention and Midwest sensibilities — honoring the threads that connect home and calling.
Each bottle is a tribute to remarkable vineyards and the people who nurture them.
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In how little it's asked to change
Native yeast · Coastal · SustainableWe believe the beauty of a wine is in how little it's asked to change. Fates' Lieutenant focuses on cool-climate, coastal vineyards — sites shaped by ocean influence and tended sustainably. These growing conditions, paired with natural farming practices, allow for complexity, clarity, and authentic expression of place.
We harvest at optimal ripeness to preserve vibrancy and balance, aiming for moderate alcohol and bright acidity. In the cellar, we honor nature's chemistry. Our approach emphasizes native yeast fermentation, gentle maceration, minimal sulfites, and no additives.
Jeff Wooledge — Founder and Winemaker
A singular adventure, 2020 →We all have moments when the path forward becomes clear. For Jeff, a Midwest native working a corporate job, that moment came in 2020 when the world shifted and the possibility to join harvest emerged.
What started as a singular adventure became something more. Jeff discovered he had an intuitive understanding of the craft and a fascination for what cool climates and coastal breezes can create.
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From the field
Coastal · cool-climate
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