Las Vivas Merlot 2023

David Rothschild grew up in Sonoma but initially steered away from the wine industry. His path to winemaking wound through UC Santa Cruz, where he pursued an Environmental Studies degree with an emphasis in sustainable agriculture. After years growing organic produce, Rothschild eventually returned to his hometown with a farming-first philosophy that would shape everything Las Vivas produces.

Training under Phil Coturri at Enterprise Vineyards introduced Rothschild to biodynamic and organic viticulture at the highest level. In 2019, he partnered with Dan Marioni of Sonoma Mountain Winery and began farming five acres of grapes. That initial plot grew into Los Paisanos Vineyard Management, the farming operation behind Las Vivas that now cultivates 65 acres of vines and five acres of olives across Sonoma County, harvesting for approximately 15 different wineries.

Rothschild launched Las Vivas in 2022 to showcase wines and olive oil from sites farmed with intention. The project operates on a core principle: soil functions as an ecosystem, not simply a growing medium. Los Paisanos minimizes cultivation, irrigation, and sprays to preserve soil integrity and work in harmony with natural cycles. This regenerative approach defines every Las Vivas product.

The portfolio draws from distinctive Sonoma Mountain sites. Chardonnay comes from Minnes Vineyard, planted on a steep east-facing slope. The Mountain Cuvée blends Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Pinot Gris from small hobby vineyards along Sobre Vista Road. Winemaking remains minimal—direct pressing, native yeast fermentation, neutral oak aging—allowing the farming to speak through the finished wines.

Las Vivas wines are available at Dos' Bar in downtown Sonoma, a collective tasting room featuring natural wine producers from the region. Rothschild represents the new generation of California winemakers prioritizing ecological stewardship alongside quality, proving that regenerative farming and compelling wine production work hand in hand.

Rising between Sonoma Valley and Petaluma Gap, Sonoma Mountain earned AVA designation in 1985 as one of California's distinctive mountain appellations. The region occupies the western slopes of the Sonoma Mountains, with vineyards planted at elevations ranging from 400 to 2,000 feet above sea level. This positioning places many sites above the fog line that blankets the valley floor, resulting in more direct sunlight and warmer daytime temperatures balanced by cool mountain air at night.

The AVA encompasses approximately 5,000 acres, though only a fraction is planted to vines. Steep terrain and rocky soils limit viable vineyard sites, contributing to the small-production character of wines from this area. Volcanic soils predominate, mixed with sedimentary deposits that provide good drainage on the hillsides. Many vineyards occupy east-facing slopes that receive morning sun while gaining relief from afternoon heat as the sun passes over the ridge.

Chardonnay and Pinot Noir thrive in Sonoma Mountain's cooler exposures, where the elevation moderates temperatures and preserves natural acidity in the grapes. Cabernet Sauvignon also performs well on warmer sites with volcanic soils. The combination of elevation, slope orientation, and soil diversity allows producers to craft wines with notable structure and freshness.

The natural wine movement has found committed practitioners on Sonoma Mountain, where small-scale growers farm with regenerative and organic methods. Several producers source fruit from hobby vineyards and family plots scattered across roads like Sobre Vista, creating field blends and single-vineyard wines that reflect specific microclimates within the appellation.

Sonoma Mountain wines typically show more restraint than their valley-floor counterparts. The elevation-driven acidity and mountain tannin structure give both white wines and red wines from this AVA a distinct personality—leaner, more angular, and often age-worthy.