Carlisle Winery & Vineyards

Mike and Kendall Officer founded Carlisle Winery & Vineyards in 1998 after several years of hobby winemaking. Mike Officer worked as a software developer in the San Francisco Bay Area and began making Zinfandel in his kitchen in 1987. After moving to Santa Rosa in 1991, the project grew into a commercial venture with an initial release of approximately 650 cases. Jay Maddox, a friend and viticulture graduate, joined the team in 2000 to assist with winemaking as production increased. In July 2024, the Officers announced their retirement and stated that the winery would close following the 2024 vintage because they found the regulatory and physical requirements of the business increasingly difficult to manage.

The winemaking philosophy focuses on historic old-vine vineyards located primarily within the Russian River Valley, Sonoma Valley, and Dry Creek Valley. Their flagship estate, Carlisle Vineyard, was planted in 1927 by the Pelletti family and contains a complex field blend of 43 different varieties, including Zinfandel, Petite Sirah, and Alicante Bouschet. They source additional fruit from sites such as Bedrock Vineyard, Pagani Ranch, and Old Hill Ranch, some of which date back to the late 19th century. In the cellar, the team employs uninoculated fermentations and uses a small percentage of new oak to preserve the distinct aromatics of each site. Most wines are bottled without fining or filtration.

The winery is best known for its vineyard designated Zinfandels and red Rhône varieties like Syrah, Mourvèdre, and Petite Sirah. Its portfolio also includes The Derivative, a white blend sourced from old-vine Muscadelle and Semillon, and the first Grüner Veltliner planted in Sonoma County. The brand has earned significant critical recognition, with multiple placements in the Wine Spectator Top 100 list. Mike Officer is also a founding member of the Historic Vineyard Society, a non-profit organization established in 2011 to document and preserve California’s heritage vineyards. This work has helped ensure that many of the old-vine sites the winery relies on remain in production.