The quality of Windrun wine surpasses many selling for twice as much. They focus on selecting the finest wines made from grapes grown in the prime vineyards of coastal California, then carefully blend them to emphasize their aromatics and balanced flavours.

Our History

Windrun Wine was founded by Lance Mason in 2010. A lifelong interest in wines carried him to some of the most famous wine growing regions in the world, and that fed a desire to create his own brand using the wines of his home region on the central coast of California. When an opportunity presented itself to work with legendary California winemaker Ken Brown, a new venture was born.

In naming the company, a term from Mr Brown’s viticulture experience was selected. “Windrun” is a measure of the flow of cool breezes through a vineyard in the afternoon and evening, which is critical to the correct development of Burgundian grapes like Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. The brand was born, and the first two Santa Barbara County wines, a 2009 Santa Barbara County Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, went to market later in the year.

Windrun wines are nationally distributed and carried in better restaurants and hotels, fine wine and liquor shops, select grocery stores, and a few chain stores.

Distributors

Windrun Wine has a proud relationship with its distributors, and extend to supply the best wine value in California Pinot Noir to this network of partners, who range from Idaho to Florida. 

Our Wines

Windrun 2015 Pinot Noir

Santa Rita Hills

Composition: From one of the finest vintages in recent memory, Windrun’s 12th limited-production bottling is from fruit grown on a steep, north-facing slope above the Santa Ynez River. Located mid-appellation, this vineyard features well-drained, loam-and-gravel soils and plantings of four renowned Dijon Pinot Noir clones, including 667 and 115. It was barrel-aged for 20 months, 22% in new French oak.

Description: This wine is an excellent example of the complex character for which wines from this area of the Sta. Rita Hills is known, showing a dark garnet colour and robust, sumptuous mouthfeel. With traces of wild blackberry, earth, and allspice, punctuated by a luscious, long finish, this elegantly balanced wine will continue to reward with extended ageing.

Awards: 93 points Wine Enthusiast; 90 points Wine Spectator.

Windrun 2013 Pinot Noir

Santa Barbara County

Composition: This Pinot Noir is a blend of the grapes of 5 clones grown primarily in sandy loam in the Santa Maria Valley of Santa Barbara County. It was fermented in stainless steel and then aged in new and used French and American oak barrels for 6 months.

Nose & Palate: Our delightful Santa Barbara County Pinot Noir reflects the superb quality of the 2013 harvest. Rich, lively aromatics yield to flavours of dark cherries and notes of allspice. The soft, velvety texture lingers on the palate.

Description: Styled like classic Pinot Noir, rather than new-world versions, it does not try to overpower with raw muscle but instead captivates with a beautiful balance and nuanced flavours.

Awards: 90 points, 2015, Sommelier Capital Advisors; 90 points, 2015, Sommelier Challenge.

Santa Rita Hills

Composition: Our wine comes from one of the earliest planted north-facing vineyards overlooking the Santa Ynez River. The vineyard is planted on hard, siliceous chert-gravel with well-drained soils and exhibits the famed complex character of Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir. The wine is 100% clone 2A.

Nose & Palate: The near-perfect 2014 vintage is reflected in this Pinot Noir with its classic dark blackberry and cherry fruit core with hints of brown spice and earthiness. The full-bodied palate with a long finish makes the wine a wonderful companion for many full-flavoured meat or pasta recipes.

Description: Sta. Rita Hills is a coastal appellation at the western end of the Santa Ynez Valley. The appellation has earned acclaim for its Pinot Noir due to the warm days and cool, foggy nights that provide ideal growing conditions for this varietal.

Awards: Silver Award, Orange County Fair and New York International Wine Competition