Big Dogs, Little Grapes
Kim and Steve McIntyre
When they’re not relaxing on a California beach with their gigantic dogs, Steve and Kim McIntyre are growing grapes and making wines sustainably. For more than a decade, the McIntyres have been active members of SIP Certified.
They own two SIP Certified estate vineyards totaling 161 acres in the “sweet spot” of Monterey County’s Santa Lucia Highlands AVA, a 12-mile stretch of benchland renowned for producing wines of character and complexity, and the 81-acre Kimberly Vineyard in Arroyo Seco. Originally planted in 1973, the 80-acre site (60 acres planted) boasts some of the Highlands’ oldest Pinot Noir and Chardonnay vines building an international reputation over the years. The McIntyres also farm 1,355 acres of SIP Certified vineyards for their vineyard management company, Monterey Pacific Inc.
Having planted more than 20% of the entire AVA, farmed nearly a third of its vineyards, and vinified hundreds of wines from its grapes, Steve McIntyre understands what makes the Santa Lucia Highlands so unique. With degrees in viticulture and enology and history in SLH that stretches nearly four decades, Steve has a unique perspective on the terroir and wines of this great appellation making him one of the most knowledgeable viticulturists in California
“I always wanted to be a rock star, but it didn’t work out. So, I became the next best thing: a grape grower. While the idea of playing ‘Margaritaville’ seven nights a week at a tiki bar in Lahaina has a certain appeal, I think overall I made the right choice.”