Justin Warnelius-Miller grew up at Garden Creek Ranch in the Alexander Valley, learning viticulture from his father, a cabernet sauvignon pioneer, who planted the first vines in 1969.
At 19, Warnelius-Miller left UC Davis to lead the family vineyard, implementing sustainable and regenerative farming practices. His meticulous farming has maintained this special hillside estate as a premier fruit source. In 2001, he and his wife, Karin, began producing their own wine under the Garden Creek name and redesigned the estate’s old cattle barn as a winery.
Amber Turpin: How did you get into this work?…