Herrmann York set out to prove something many doubted: that delicate, interesting and delicious wines can be made in the deserts and inland valleys of Southern California.
Backstory
The project is a partnership of three friends. Dustin Herrmann, who restores classic BMWs, and Garrett York, a writer and educator drawn into wine by his wife Kendall, met in Florence. Taylor York, a longtime brewer, rounds out the trio. Together they began making wine from vineyards across Southern California in 2020, producing around 700 cases by 2022.
The Region
The winery and wine bar are based in Redlands, California, in the inland valleys east of Los Angeles. The team pays special attention to historically significant vineyards in the once-booming Cucamonga Valley and taps little-known plantings in the high desert of the Antelope Valley.
Vineyards & Farming
Herrmann York works with farmers who improve the soil they tend, and partners with naturally occurring microbiology to raise the wines. Their grapes range widely, from Zinfandel, Cabernet, Muscat and Grenache to Palomino, Mission, Salvador and Alicante Bouschet.
Winemaking
The wines are made naturally in Redlands with low sulfite additions, using creative techniques aimed at coaxing freshness and detail out of warm-climate fruit. The goal, in their words, is to make wines that are essentially Southern Californian.
The Wines
Bottlings such as the Rock Farm Red, Rock Farm Pink and Los Empleados showcase the trio's range across the region's old and overlooked vineyards.
