Journal

Summer in Anderson Valley is defined by contrast. Mornings arrive cool, often under a veil of fog, while afternoons bring bright sunshine and warmth to the vineyards before marine air returns from the Mendocino Coast as evening settles in.  That daily rhythm shapes the experience of being here and influences the wines grown throughout the valley. At Brashley, we call it Cool by Nature , the connection between coastal air, redwoods, a slower pace of life and wines that reflect the place where they are grown. Summer is an especially beautiful time to experience that connection in person. The days are long, the vineyards are full of life and the valley’s natural rhythm invites you to slow down and take in the landscape around you. Feel the coast in the valley Anderson Valley follows the Navarro River west toward the Mendocino Coast, creating a natural pathway for fog and marine air to move inland. This coastal influence cools the valley in the morning and again as evening approaches, creating the conditions that make the region so distinctive. You can feel that transition as you travel through the valley. A morning in Philo may begin with a jacket and a layer of fog, while midday brings warm sunshine perfect for sitting outside. Continue west toward Navarro, and the air begins to cool again as Highway 128 approaches the coast. That change is part of what makes Anderson Valley so enjoyable in summer. The days are long and bright, but the valley retains the cool edge that separates it from warmer wine regions. It is also one of the reasons Pinot Noir thrives here. The combination of coastal influence, warm afternoons and cool evenings creates an environment where grapes can develop complexity while maintaining the freshness and acidity that define the region’s wines. Taste what “Cool by Nature” means Pinot Noir responds closely to its surroundings. In Anderson Valley, cool mornings, warm afternoons and colder nights allow the fruit to ripen slowly, developing flavor and texture while retaining the natural acidity and aromatic detail that give the wines their energy. That balance is one of the defining signatures of Anderson Valley Pinot Noir. The wines can be generous without feeling heavy, with fruit complemented by earth, spice, herbs, flowers or more savory notes depending on the vineyard and vintage. They also reveal the differences between individual sites. One Pinot Noir may feel bright and lifted, while another may offer more depth, structure or darker fruit, but both can carry the character of the region while expressing the specific place where they were grown. Our relationship with Anderson Valley began at Hacienda Sequoia , a small vineyard surrounded by towering redwoods and cooled by marine air moving inland from the coast. It was our first vineyard and the place that shaped our belief in what Pinot Noir from this region could become. Today, Hacienda Sequoia remains one of the clearest expressions of what drew us to Anderson Valley. The vineyard’s cool climate, thoughtful farming and natural surroundings continue to influence the wines we create. For Ashley Holland, our winemaker , the work begins with preserving what is already present in the site. Her approach brings together precision and instinct, allowing the fruit, season and vineyard to remain visible in the finished wine. That is what Cool by Nature tastes like to us: freshness, balance and a clear connection to place. It is a reflection of the landscape rather than a style imposed upon it. Explore more of the wines shaped by this approach in our Brashley wine collection . Move at the pace of the valley Anderson Valley is quieter and more rural than many of California’s better-known wine destinations. Tasting rooms are spread along Highway 128 through Boonville, Philo and Navarro, and the scenic drive between stops is an important part of the experience. There is no need to fill every hour. A good summer day might begin with a late-morning tasting, followed by lunch or a picnic beneath the redwoods before continuing west through the Navarro River corridor toward the Pacific. Just outside Philo, Hendy Woods State Park offers shaded trails through groves of old-growth redwoods. Farther west, Highway 128 passes through Navarro River Redwoods State Park as the valley gives way to forest and eventually the coast. Within a single day, you can move from vineyard to redwoods to ocean. That sequence tells the story of Anderson Valley better than any climate map could because the coast may be miles away, but its influence is present in the air, the landscape and the wines. For those planning a wine country getaway, a visit to Brashley Vineyards in Philo offers a chance to experience the valley through the wines, the vineyard stories and the landscape that surrounds them. What to know before you visit Summer is an active time in Anderson Valley, but it rarely feels rushed. The vines are green and full, afternoons are often sunny and the longer days leave plenty of time to explore at your own pace. Weekends can be busy, so advance reservations for tastings, meals and lodging are helpful. Bringing layers is also a good idea, as temperatures can shift considerably between morning, afternoon and evening, especially if your plans include the coast. It is worth leaving room in the day for unexpected stops and slower moments. Cell service can be inconsistent, the road takes its time and an unplanned viewpoint, conversation or vineyard stop often becomes part of the trip. Before you arrive, explore Brashley’s tasting experience and plan your route through Anderson Valley with resources from the Anderson Valley Winegrowers Association and Visit Mendocino County . Experience Brashley in Philo Our Brashley tasting room sits along Highway 128 in Philo, surrounded by the landscape that shapes the wines we pour. Here, guests can explore several expressions of Anderson Valley, including Pinot Noir from distinct vineyard sites and wines that reveal other sides of the region’s cool-climate character. The experience is thoughtful but relaxed. We want guests to have time to taste, ask questions and notice the differences between vineyards without feeling like they need to arrive with extensive wine knowledge. Curiosity is more than enough. Whether you are discovering Anderson Valley for the first time or returning to experience another vintage, the tasting room is a place to slow down and connect with the story behind each bottle. For us, the idea of Cool by Nature comes together here. It is in the cool morning air, the redwoods beyond the vineyards and the freshness of the wine in the glass. It is the feeling of being somewhere that still moves according to the landscape rather than around it. This summer, we invite you to experience Anderson Valley and Brashley for yourself. And if you fall in love with the wines and want to stay connected to the valley, join the Brashley Wine Club and continue discovering seasonal releases and small-lot wines from Anderson Valley at home. Plan Your Visit Explore Brashley Wines

Some vineyards become part of a winery’s story, but a rare few become the reason the story begins. Hacienda Sequoia is that place for Brashley Vineyards. It is where our connection to Anderson Valley first took root and where our belief in the potential of this special region began. Our 2023 Hacienda Sequoia Pinot Noir earned 97 points and a Platinum medal at the 2026 Decanter World Wine Awards , placing it among the highest-rated wines in this year’s competition. Out of nearly 17,000 wines tasted, only a small percentage received this distinction, making the recognition an incredible honor for our team and a meaningful milestone for this vineyard. While the award itself is something we are deeply proud of, what makes this recognition especially meaningful is the story behind the bottle. Hacienda Sequoia was our first vineyard, the place where Brashley Vineyards truly began and the foundation for our commitment to creating wines that reflect the character of Anderson Valley. A milestone for Hacienda Sequoia The Decanter World Wine Awards are among the most respected wine competitions in the world. Wines are evaluated blind, meaning judges taste each entry without knowing the producer or label, and Gold medal wines then receive additional evaluation from senior judges before Platinum awards are selected. Only 196 wines received Platinum recognition in 2026. For Hacienda Sequoia to stand out through that level of judging reflects the quality of the vineyard, the conditions of the 2023 growing season and the thoughtful decisions made throughout the winemaking process. For us, this award represents more than a score or medal. It celebrates the connection between the land, the vintage and the people who care for this vineyard year after year, allowing its character to come through clearly in every bottle. The vineyard where Brashley began Hacienda Sequoia was not part of a long-term plan when Bram and Ashley Palm first discovered the property. After moving west from New York and spending time exploring wine country, they fell in love with Anderson Valley and began imagining a new chapter surrounded by the landscape and community that make this region so unique. When they found Hacienda Sequoia, they discovered something unexpected. The property came with two acres of Pinot Noir vines, and what began as a beautiful home and hospitality opportunity quickly became the foundation of Brashley Vineyards. Those first vines shaped everything that followed. Today, Hacienda Sequoia remains one of the clearest expressions of what first drew us to Anderson Valley: a sense of place defined by quiet beauty, cool coastal influence and the ability to create Pinot Noir with remarkable depth and elegance. Surrounded by towering redwoods and influenced by marine air moving inland from the Mendocino Coast, Hacienda Sequoia provides the conditions Pinot Noir thrives in. The long growing season, gradual ripening and cool evenings allow the grapes to develop complexity while maintaining the freshness and natural acidity that make Anderson Valley Pinot Noir so distinctive. Why Anderson Valley Pinot Noir is so unique Anderson Valley has earned a reputation as one of California’s most compelling regions for Pinot Noir because of its cool climate and close relationship with the Pacific Ocean. The valley’s geography allows fog and marine air to travel inland through the Navarro River corridor, creating the temperature shifts that help grapes ripen slowly and evenly. That slower pace is essential for Pinot Noir, a variety known for its sensitivity and its ability to reflect where it is grown. In Anderson Valley, Pinot Noir often shows bright acidity, aromatic detail and a balance between fruit, earth and texture that gives each wine a distinct sense of identity. Those qualities are central to the wines we make at Brashley. We are drawn to Pinot Noir because it does not need to be shaped into something it is not; the best examples allow the vineyard, the vintage and the growing conditions to speak for themselves. Hacienda Sequoia has always provided us with an extraordinary sense of place to work with. The recognition from the 2026 Decanter World Wine Awards further highlights the strength of Anderson Valley Pinot Noir and the ability of this region to produce wines with both elegance and character. A winemaking approach focused on place Winemaker Ashley Holland approaches Hacienda Sequoia with the goal of preserving what the vineyard naturally provides. Her philosophy is centered on balance, precision and allowing the fruit to express the qualities that make the site unique. Rather than imposing a predetermined style, Ashley works with each vintage as it develops, making thoughtful decisions that support the vineyard’s natural character. Her approach allows the wine to maintain its elegance and complexity while staying connected to the place where it began. This philosophy is especially important with Pinot Noir, where small choices in farming and winemaking can have a significant impact on the finished wine. With Hacienda Sequoia, the goal is always to highlight the vineyard first and allow its personality to remain visible from the first aroma to the final sip. A defining recognition for Brashley The Platinum medal adds to the growing recognition for the 2023 Hacienda Sequoia Pinot Noir, including 94 points from James Suckling and 92 points from Jeb Dunnuck. These honors reflect the quality of the vintage and the continued recognition of the vineyard’s ability to produce exceptional Pinot Noir. Awards and scores offer one perspective on a wine, but they represent only one part of the story. They cannot fully capture the years of care behind a vineyard, the changing seasons, the work of the people who tend the vines or the moments shared when a bottle is opened. What they can do is introduce more people to a place worth knowing. Hacienda Sequoia represents so much of what we love about Anderson Valley: its redwood forests, its cool coastal influence, its peaceful landscape and its ability to create wines with depth, freshness and a true connection to place. We are proud of the 2023 vintage and grateful to everyone who helped bring this wine from vineyard to bottle. This recognition is a meaningful milestone for Brashley Vineyards and a reminder of why Hacienda Sequoia inspired us from the very beginning. Discover Hacienda Sequoia The story of Hacienda Sequoia is the story of where Brashley began. We invite you to explore the 2023 Hacienda Sequoia Pinot Noir , learn more about our Anderson Valley vineyards and experience the wines shaped by this remarkable place. Located along Highway 128 in Philo, our Brashley tasting room offers the opportunity to taste our wines, hear the stories behind the vineyards and experience the landscape that continues to inspire every vintage. Plan Your Visit

If you are searching for the next bottle of cool climate Pinot Noir to fall in love with, Anderson Valley Pinot Noir should be high on your list.