Tyler Winery

About this place

A son of Santa Barbara, Justin Tyler Willett began Tyler in 2005 at age 24 with a few barrels in the corner of the Sta. Rita Hills cellar where he worked as assistant winemaker. A champion of old vines, he has since worked with the famed historic vineyards of Santa Barbara County, including the region-defining Sanford & Benedict. Grapes are farmed organically, handpicked at night, fermented with native yeast in large oak vats, and typically bottled unfined and unfiltered. More recently, Justin and his wife Amanda developed Tyler's Mae Estate: a 41-acre property on Highway 246 in the heart of the Sta. Rita Hills near Lompoc, planted since 2015 with 28 acres of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Syrah. The 2019 vintage was the first from the Mae Estate Vineyard. The Mae Estate Vineyard House hosts intimate, appointment-only seated tastings overlooking the organically farmed vineyard, starting at $50 per person; larger groups can inquire by email.