Alto 2016

Hank Beckmeyer and Caroline Hoel's love story intertwines with their passion for winemaking. Meeting in the 80s during Hank's European tour with Half Japanese, he chose to forsake the band and the tour to be with Caroline. Their shared appreciation for the wines of smaller producers in the south of France ignited their desire to craft their own. Settling in Somerset, California in 2001, they established a vineyard 2600 feet high in the Sierra Foothills, cultivating varietals like Tempranillo, Syrah, Tannat, and others, including mysterious strains sprouted from compost heap seeds. Initially embracing biodynamic farming, they transitioned to Masanobu Fukuoka's 'do nothing' approach, fostering a thriving ecosystem amidst the vines.