Small Vines Wines

06/03/2026

This is what rain at bloom looks like on the vine.

A warm March pushed our pinot noir nearly three weeks ahead of schedule. Then came the rain - right at flowering. The result is what viticulturists call coulure. Poor fruit set. Uneven berries. Clusters left lighter than nature first intended. In the vineyard, it’s called shatter. You can clearly see it here.

For many wineries, this would simply be a yield issue. But at Small Vines, where Paul and Kathryn Sloan planted every vine by hand and already farm for naturally low yields, it means something rarer: 2026 will be one of the smallest crops in recent memory. Less fruit per vine. Smaller clusters. Earlier ripening. Greater concern. The vineyard is speaking early and clearly this season. We’re listening closely.

Some vintages are made by intention. Others by restraint.

Follow along for harvest updates and behind-the-scenes moments from the 2026 growing season. Link in bio.

#2026

05/31/2026

Come on in! Make the most of summer in Sonoma County with a visit to our estate tasting room ☀️🍷

Sip your way through the season with vineyard views, laid-back afternoons, and wines worth lingering over. Come taste what summer in wine country is all about.

Visits are by appointment only. Link in bio to inquire.

05/28/2026

Let’s rewind ⏮️

These were the most anxious two weeks of our year.

Pinot Noir in bloom.

What you’re looking at isn’t a flower in any way you’d recognize it. No petals. No color. Just a tiny cap of fused tissue - called calyptra - that the vine pushes off from the base upward when conditions are right.

Every one of these micro-flowers is a decision point. If the weather holds - dry, calm, 68-75°F - the flower fertilizes itself and a berry begins. If it doesn’t, we get coulure. Poor fruit set. A vintage shaped by the quiet, invisible moment that almost no one sees.

Pinot Noir is more susceptible to coulure than almost any other variety. We’ve watched this moment 25 times. It still makes us hold our breath.

Follow along. Link in bio to join the mailing list.

05/21/2026

There’s something special about seeing Small Vines shared around tables we’ll never sit at - moments of connection, celebration, and quiet joy carried far beyond the Sonoma Coast.

Thank you, Haley, for bringing us to your table and sharing “the beauty of our creations” with friends, cast, and crew.

05/19/2026

Officially entering our “one more glass outside” season! ☀️🍷
Picnic boards. Patio pours. Chilled Rosé and Chardonnay catching the afternoon light.
This is your sign to trade your plans for sunshine and a glass at Small Vines!

05/11/2026

There are a few experiences we don’t list. Afternoons that unfold slowly, beneath the vines. A table set with intention. Wines poured where they’re grown. These are for those who feel drawn to something more personal. We’re always open to a conversation.

05/10/2026

This Mothers’s Day, we’re honoring the women who shape not just our lives, but the way we farm, the way we work, and the way we see the world. From a new mother finding her rhythm to the mothers who raised us, to those who taught us what true care looks like - Thank you. For everything you’ve given and everything you continue to nurture. We raise a glass to you today!

❤️

05/09/2026

Today we pulled barrel samples from 5 different lots across 4 vineyards for the 2025 Estate Cuvée. This is the part no one talks about. The Cuvée isn’t a vineyard decision - it’s a blending decision.

The majority comes from Fassler Vinyard, which we planted in 2000. At 85% whole cluster and three different Dijon clones, Fassler brings the spine - the structure that lets everything else rest against it. Old Mill Vineyard - also planted by us, in 2001 - brings prettiness and aromatics that walk into the room before the wine does. Clones 459 and Pommard add vibrancy, freshness, and floral lift.

Getting these vineyards to speak the same language is a year-long process. We’re still deciding. That’s the honest answer. That’s why we taste again, and again, and again.

05/06/2026

We are excited to share that Small Vines has been recognized as a “Hot Wine Brand” in the inaugural 2026 Hot 100 Brands on the Rise by Bonfort’s Wine & Spirits Journal!

A huge thank you to our amazing team and loyal customers for making this possible. Check out the full article, link in bio.

Join us in celebrating this honor and stay tuned for more exciting updates as we continue our journey in the world of wine. Cheers to great wines and even greater adventures ahead!

🍷❤️

05/04/2026