Story

Ancien is the quest of a winemaker in pursuit of his art,
and a celebration of the traditions in wine that have inspired him.

In 1992, we harvested our first two tons of Pinot Noir from four rows atop a knoll in the southwest corner of Carneros. Producing but five barrels, this marked the beginning of Ancien Wines. In the years since, we have continued our pursuit of those rare and special plots where Pinot Noir can rise from great to sublime.

We have added to our pursuit of Pinot Noir, the production of its close relative, Pinot Gris, as well as its Burgundian sibling, Chardonnay. For both of these white wines, we closely follow the French artisanal tradition of in-barrel fermentation and aging.