The Santa Lucia Highlands AVA is presently producing some of the best Pinot Noir and Chardonnay on the Global wine market. Since 1987 Steve McIntyre has continued to raise the bar for farming this ancient alluvium soil to grow the finest grapes the Highlands can produce.
Tasting Studio: 831-649-WINE (9463) or MAP us here
Steve McIntyre, Owner
Steve McIntyre stands out, even among the unique personalities of the Santa Lucia Highlands. He is a rare combination of grower and winemaker, having earned degrees in both viticulture and enology. After years as a winemaker at Smith & Hook, he purchased a neighboring estate in 1987 that was to become McIntyre Vineyards. With his own McIntyre label, along with consulting winemaker Byron Kosuge, Steve has been able to bridge the traditional disconnect between grower and vintner. McIntyre employs a minimalist approach, allowing the vineyards’ true character and terroir to shine through in the finished wine.
Through three decades, the McIntyre family has been setting the standard for winegrowing on the Central Coast and in Monterey County. Steve McIntyre graduated with a Masters Degree in Enology from CSU Fresno "Initially I studied music, but I found out I didn’t have any talent!" He has planted and managed vineyards for numerous wineries including Galante, Smith & Hook, Mondavi, Joseph Phelps and Bonny Doon.
Steve met his future wife and partner Kim in high school and their vineyard management company, Monterey Pacific, has grown grapes for such prestigious wineries as Williams Selyem, Morgan, Artesa, Jordan, Bernardus, MacRostie, and Marilyn Remark to name a few. As managing partners in the Monterey Wine Company, they have produced wines for Bonny Doon, Caymus, Hess Collection, Hahn Estates, and many others.
Their own McIntyre Vineyards was founded in 1987, with Steve’s purchase of eighty acres in the Santa Lucia Highlands. With all of his acquired experience, it was only natural that he should begin making wines under the family name and label. The first limited McIntyre wines debuted with the 2005 vintage, combining Steve’s dedication to his craft, his passion for the land, and his love of art and music. As Steve puts it: “Musicians are servants to other people’s emotions, giving folks pleasure. With our family of wines, we strive to create something sensual, like music, which brings joy and inspiration and is an artistic statement of our vineyard.”
Steve and Kim McIntyre, daughters Kristen and Kassandra and son Matthew reside in Monterey County, along with Petrus, Jura, and Quintessa, their Bernese Mountain Dogs.
Byron Kosuge, Wine Maker
Byron Kosuge is a native Californian born and raised in the Central Valley of California, the son of a UC Davis professor. Byron attended UC Davis, where he studied English Literature as well as Viticulture and Enology. He began his winemaking career in 1985 in Carneros as a Pinot Noir and Chardonnay specialist at Saintsbury Winery. After 15 years at Saintsbury, he departed in 2001 to pursue other endeavors. They included his own label, B. Kosuge Wines, as well as Miura Vineyards, Foghorn, and Kingston Family Vineyards in Chile. All of these projects focus on Pinot Noir. He has also served as consultant to several Napa and Sonoma- based wineries.
Byron began working with Steve McIntyre in 2004. The object was to apply the A-Vine treatment to various small blocks from several different promising Monterey County vineyards that Steve farmed in order to explore their ultimate potential. In 2005, they decided to make a small amount of wine from these trial blocks and the McIntyre label was off and running. In 2006, the focus shifted to the McIntyre Family Estate in the Santa Lucia Highlands.
Byron lives in Napa with his wife Mary and daughter Audrey.
