The Rascal News
47 stories on farming, winemaking, the ranch and the valley — every article from the winery’s blog, archived in full.
Tasting Room FAQ: Planning Your Visit to Carhartt
Planning a visit? Good. We’re a small family winery in Los Olivos, and our tasting room, the Carhartt Cabin, sits on Grand Avenue. The Carhartts made their first wines back in 1998…
Oct 14, 2026 · Evan InemanRebel Roan: What a Cool Vintage Gave Us
I have been making Rebel Roan for more than half our life as a brand. It is one of the longest-running wines we make here at Carhartt Family Wines, and after all these years I can …
Oct 14, 2026 · Evan InemanQuello Grande: Our Estate Super Tuscan, Sangiovese on Steroids
I make a lot of wines here at Carhartt Family Wines, but Quello Grande is one of the few that makes people stop and ask questions. It is our Super Tuscan, a big Italian red built o…
Oct 13, 2026 · Evan InemanWhat Makes a Good Santa Ynez Wine Country Day Trip
Here’s the day you’re actually after: two tasting rooms you took your time in, a real lunch somewhere in the middle, and a last glass somewhere good before you point the car home. …
Oct 6, 2026 · Evan InemanThe Best Time of Year to Visit Santa Ynez Wine Country
Everyone wants to be told the right month. Google “best time to visit Santa Ynez” and you’ll get the same answer on a dozen sites: spring and fall are lovely, summer gets crowded, …
Jul 29, 2026 · Evan InemanThe LA-to-Los-Olivos Weekend: A Wine Country Itinerary That Actually Holds Up
The drive is two and a half hours up the 101, or three if you leave LA on a Friday afternoon, which almost everyone does. That’s the worst version of a Los Olivos weekend trip. You…
Jun 30, 2026 · Evan InemanWhy Visit Los Olivos: One Family’s Case for the Smallest Wine Town in California
Los Olivos is half a mile of Grand Avenue, a stop sign with a flagpole at the center of town instead of a traffic light, and a post office with a hitching post still standing out f…
Jun 12, 2026 · Evan InemanSpend a Day in Los Olivos
Los Olivos is one of those small towns where the best plan is usually no plan at all. Most of it is one walkable stretch of Grand Avenue, which means you park once and spend the re…
May 14, 2026 · Evan InemanThings to Do in Los Olivos: A Winemaker’s Guide to Wine, Food & Local Spots
Where to eat in Los Olivos is one of the first things people need to figure out once they have locked in their tasting room reservations. The village is small, the options are focu…
Apr 14, 2026 · Evan InemanLos Olivos Wine Tasting: What to Expect and How to Plan Your Visit
Los Olivos wine tasting is worth doing right, and doing it right starts before you leave home. The village is small, walkable, and home to some of California’s best small-productio…
Sep 17, 2025 · Evan InemanIntroducing the 2023 Carhartt Venture ‘Entergalaktik 2’ – A Fresh Take on Co-Fermentation
We’re excited to share our latest release, the 2023 Carhartt Venture ‘Entergalaktik 2’—our second white/red co-fermentation project, made right here in the Santa Ynez Valley. As a …
Aug 11, 2025 · Evan InemanAging White Wine: How It Changes Over Time
When it comes to wine, the conversation around aging often centers on reds—but white wines have their own story to tell as they mature. Whether you’re a seasoned collector or a cur…
May 22, 2025 · Evan Ineman5 Wine Tasting Tips for Visiting Los Olivos
Planning a trip to wine country? Nestled in the heart of Santa Barbara County, Los Olivos is one of California’s most charming and approachable wine destinations. With its walkable…
May 8, 2025 · Evan InemanCarpe Diem! Carpe Carhartt! – Seize Your Summer With Carhartt Family Wines
Summer’s almost here, and it’s calling for adventure. Whether it’s a detour down a dusty road, a backyard gathering, or something grander, the best moments come to us via our own i…
Aug 21, 2024 · Evan InemanIntroducing an Exciting New “Venture”! Our first ever Apple Rosé
Maybe you’ve had a co-fermentation before, but have you ever had a multi-fruit co-fermentation? You may be asking yourself: Chase, what is a co-fermentation? Well, it’s when two th…
Jul 24, 2024 · Evan InemanThe Mission Grape: A Historical Gem with Modern Significance
Yes! Mission is a grape variety (also known as Listán Prieto in Spain) and has a fascinating history in the Americas. Originally introduced to California by Spanish missionaries in…
Jun 26, 2024 · Evan InemanCloning: From Cutting to Vine
At Carhartt Family Wines, our dedication to quality and hands-on approach extends from our winemaking process to the very vines themselves. As we welcome our new Merlot plantings t…
Apr 25, 2024 · Evan InemanFrom Tank to Bottle: The Art of Bottling at Carhartt Family Wines
At Carhartt Family Wines, every step from our ground to glass process is infused with our commitment to quality and a hands-on approach to winemaking. Take a glimpse behind the sce…
Mar 28, 2024 · Evan InemanBud Break at Carhartt Family Wines’ 11 Oaks Vineyard
As the sun climbs higher in the sky and temperatures begin to warm, there’s a palpable sense of anticipation in the air at Carhartt Family Wines 11 Oaks Vineyard. It’s the time of …
Mar 8, 2024 · Evan InemanEmbrace the Bold: CFW’s Inaugural 2019 Estate Graciano
At Carhartt Family Wines, we’ve always prided ourselves on crafting exceptional wines that reflect the unique terroir of our estate. But today, we’re thrilled to unveil something t…
Jan 10, 2024 · Evan InemanChili Cook Off: Chili, Wine, and Everything Fine
The sprawling Rancho Santa Ynez played host to the much-anticipated annual event, The 2023 Carhartt Family Wines Chili Cook-Off. Celebrating wine, music, and mouthwatering chilis, …
Dec 20, 2023 · Evan InemanCultivating a Sustainable Legacy Through Regenerative Farming
Before delving into our practices, it’s essential to understand what sustainability means to us. Scholars describe it as “meeting the needs of the present generation without compro…
Oct 17, 2023 · Evan InemanDirect to Consumer, Direct Quality
In the expansive world of wine, where choices can feel endless, it can be hard to pinpoint the differences amongst the ever-growing number of brands out there. One thing that makes…
Sep 7, 2023 · Evan InemanPiquette: From Pomace to Can
From pomace to can, “the moment I tried my first Piquette, I was hooked— To be honest, my thought was ‘this is amazing,’ but I think I can do better” – Chase Carhartt. What exactly…
Aug 24, 2023 · Evan InemanVeraison is Here & Harvest is Near!
The mesmerizing stage of grape growth known as veraison is here and harvest is near unfolding at Carhartt Family Wines. As summer wanes, the once green grape clusters now transform…
May 30, 2023 · Evan InemanHow We Make Our Estate Sauvignon Blanc
Most Sauvignon Blanc falls into one of two camps. There’s the green, grassy style — sharp acidity, aggressively herbaceous, sometimes almost vegetal. And there’s the tropical style…
Apr 26, 2023 · Evan InemanRosé at the Ranch
Spring has certainly sprung here among our vineyards and around Rancho Santa Ynez™. With all the recent rains in California this winter, bud break is in full swing and wildflowers …
Mar 8, 2023 · Evan InemanCarhartt Ranch Update Spring 2023
Gotta love the saying “when it rains, it pours.” Certainly, 2023 has started with some much needed rain! In the month of January alone, we have received almost 10 inches, with the …
Nov 18, 2022 · Evan InemanCarhartt Harvest Recap 2022
I have to imagine I am not the only one, at least here in the Santa Ynez Valley, that feels like Winter came into town with full force this year, no messing around. It’s already fr…
Oct 12, 2022 · Evan InemanOur Favorite Lunch Spots for Los Olivos Wine Tasting
One of the great perks of having the Carhartt Cabin nestled in the heart of Los Olivos wine country is that we have a number of great lunch options to grab food to go and enjoy whi…
Sep 12, 2022 · Evan Ineman2022 Fall Harvest Update
CFW Rascal Family what is up?! In a literal sense, the temperature! As I sit here on the first day of September, just three days after our first pick of the season, we already have…
Sep 12, 2022 · Evan InemanViogner: Wait… How Do you Pronounce That?!
Viognier is a beautiful white wine grape variety that, understandably, is often mis-pronounced. In simple terms, think “vee-own-yay”. For reference, if you have ever tasted a Condr…
Apr 28, 2022 · Evan InemanAll About Rosé
With its blush-toned hue and fruit-forward flavors, rosé has surged in popularity worldwide in the past few years, making its mark as a spring and summertime staple. At Carhartt Fa…
Apr 25, 2022 · Evan InemanSummer 2022 Ranch Update: Remembering to be Thankful
The second quarter of every year is a time of great juxtaposition. The uncertainty of the weather is paralleled by beautiful landscapes of green, filled with blooming flowers and a…
Feb 16, 2022 · Evan InemanRanch Update: State of the Estate
Call me crazy, but I’m a Farmer’s Almanac fan. In November of 2021, as I read the 2022 “very dry and very cold” forecast for the West coast, I was both disappointed and concerned, …
Feb 16, 2022 · Evan InemanSauvignon Blanc Goes Estate
When you hear the word “estate”, what comes to mind? Perhaps a beautiful house nestled in a grove of trees on a large piece of property with fenced green pastures and lazily grazin…
Nov 15, 2021 · Evan InemanWhat is sustainability?
One of the “buzzwords” in the world of wine over the last few years is “sustainable.” It’s most often referenced in relation to the farming of grapes and the subsequent production …
Nov 15, 2021 · Evan InemanOur 2021 Harvest Recap
I am writing this letter on Friday, November 12th, 2021. Not 45 minutes ago, we put our final lot of grapes (2021 Mission), through the press, extracting the most electric and vibr…
Sep 2, 2021 · Evan InemanFall 2021 Ranch Update
Hello Rascals! It’s hard to believe that we are once again on the doorstep of harvest! In fact, we have already brought in our first grapes – about 2 tons of Albariño. Because we e…
May 4, 2021 · Evan InemanAll About Yield
A popular subject during harvest for both farmers and winemakers is “yield” – or how much we are getting in fruit from our vineyard, or liquid in our cellar. We generally refer to …
Apr 25, 2021 · Wine WorksHow to Read a Wine Label
The information found on wine labels can be both very informative and enjoyable. Since different countries (or states) have different standards, we’ll focus on California for now.
Apr 25, 2021 · Wine WorksIntroducing Carhartt Family Wines
It is my absolute pleasure to formally introduce to you Carhartt Family Wines. This is a project my family and I have been working on for three years now. I cannot begin to describ…
Apr 22, 2021 · Evan InemanBlending Winter Into Spring
We begin putting together our blends during the first few weeks of the year. As of now, we have six blends: Rebel Roan, Quello Grande, Le F.P (Fourplay), Northerly, Southerly, and …
Apr 29, 2020 · Evan InemanWhat is a “Lot” of Wine?
Well, for us dedicated wine-drinkers, the obvious answer is “more than I can drink at one time!” Yet, there is another definition commonly used in the wine business that simply ref…
Apr 29, 2020 · Evan InemanWhat’s in a Library?
When I was younger, I imagined myself locked inside of the library for the weekend. Surrounding myself with all of those books, words, knowledge, and history was both thrilling and…
Apr 29, 2020 · Evan InemanWhat We Learned in 2020 is Shaping our 2021
It’s no surprise, 2020 threw a curveball at us. Tasting room closures, event cancelations, and more impacted the way we were able to conduct our business. And for a while, it seeme…
Apr 22, 2020 · Evan InemanSparkles Like Diamonds: Types + Methods of Sparkling Wine
Sparkling wines come from all over the world but they have different names (and follow their own rules) depending on their region.