About McIntyre Family Wines

Originally planted in 1973, the 80-acre site (60 acres planted) boasts some of the Highlands’ oldest Pinot Noir and Chardonnay vines. The winery’s other estate property is the 81-acre Kimberly Vineyard in Arroyo Seco. Proprietor Steve McIntyre is one of the most knowledgeable viticulturists in California. As founder of Monterey Pacific, Inc he & his expansive teams farm 17,000 acres in Monterey County & beyond. The McIntyre Estate Vineyard was among the first properties in the Santa Lucia Highlands to be SIP (Sustainability In Practice) Certified.

Our family has been cultivating grapes sustainably in the Santa Lucia Highlands AVA since 1987. What began as a passion for viticulture has grown into a second-generation family tradition rooted in patience, regenerative farming, and thoughtful stewardship of the land. We believe exceptional wines begin in the vineyard, where a deep understanding of each site allows its unique character to emerge. Guided by this connection to the land, we continue to learn, refine our craft, and produce wines that express the true character of the Santa Lucia Highlands.

Our Vineyards

In a relatively short span of time the Santa Lucia Highlands AVA has achieved superstar status. The region boasts 6,000 acres of vines ‑ primarily Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Syrah ‑ planted on terraces below the Santa Lucia mountain range. The region’s climate is shaped by the morning fog and strong winds funneled daily down the Salinas Valley from Monterey Bay to the northwest. SLH enjoys one of the longest and coolest growing seasons in California.

McIntyre Estate Vineyard – Santa Lucia Highlands

Our McIntyre Estate Vineyard lies in the “sweet spot” of Monterey County’s Santa Lucia Highlands AVA, a 12-mile stretch of northeast-facing benchland renowned for producing wines with great character and complexity. Originally planted in 1973, this 80-acre site boasts some of the Highlands’ oldest Pinot Noir and Chardonnay vines. Since purchasing the property in 1987, we have systematically upgraded the vineyard to luxury-class standards. Our estate was among the first properties in the Santa Lucia Highlands to be SIP Certified (Sustainability In Practice). Nestled among the vines of the Santa Lucia Highlands, our estate offers a private setting for intimate weddings, celebrations, and thoughtfully curated events. While our vineyard remains a working family farm, we welcome guests to experience its beauty, serenity, and timeless character for life’s most meaningful occasions. We invite you to gather, celebrate, and create lasting memories surrounded by the landscape that inspires our wines.

Kimberly Vineyard- Arroyo Seco

Named after Steve’s wife, Kimberly Vineyard is an 81-acre estate nestled near the confluence of the Arroyo Seco and Salinas Rivers, on an alluvial fan at the base of the Santa Lucia Mountains. Protected from the strongest Salinas Valley winds, the vineyard enjoys a naturally warmer microclimate than the surrounding region. These ideal growing conditions allow the fruit to ripen fully, producing deeply colored, richly textured red wines with exceptional depth, concentration, and balance.

Our Team

MEET THE PEOPLE BEHIND THE WINE!

Steve McIntyre

Proprietor

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 a history in SLH that stretches nearly four decades, Steve has a unique perspective on the terroir and wines of this great appellation. Outside of McIntyre Vineyards, Steve was a founding member of Monterey Wine Company and for the past three decades, he and his wife, Kim, have owned and operated Monterey Pacific. Today, they farm 12,000 acres in Santa Lucia Highlands, Arroyo Seco, San Bernabe and Hames Valley.

Monterey Pacific currently grows or manages grapes for such notable wineries as Le Mistral, Morgan, Bernardus, Testarosa, Muira, Ventana, La Rochelle, Hahn, J.Lohr, Diagio and Constellation to name a few.

Byron Kosuge

Winemaker

Byron launched his winemaking career in 1985 in Carneros as a Pinot Noir and Chardonnay specialist at Saintsbury Winery. In 2001 he left to develop his own brand and consult for wineries in Napa, Sonoma, Monterey and Chile. His understanding of cool-climate viticulture and low-impact winemaking coupled with his intellectual curiosity and keen palate make Byron one of California’s most sought-after wine consultants. ​

Kristen McIntyre

General Manager

Wine has always been a running theme in Kristen’s life. During her youth she learned about planting and growing Chardonnay at her family’s half-acre “home” vineyard in Monterey County. In high school she worked as an office assistant for Monterey Pacific and a vineyard aide to her father during harvests. Kristen’s other passion ‑  animals ‑ inspired her to earn a BS in Animal Science, Livestock Business Management from California State University, Fresno. She officially joined McIntyre Vineyards in December of 2012. Today, as the General Manager, Kristen oversees all direct-to-consumer sales, wine club and communications.

SIP Certified

Better Wines Responsibly

As a founding member of the Central Coast Vineyard Team, Steve McIntyre was one of the originators of SIP Certification program. Sustainable winegrowing is a “Big Picture” philosophy taking into account the cumulative impact of every decision related to the three pillars of sustainability: Fiscal, Social and Environmental. To become SIP Certified, winegrowers are assessed by the Positive Points System for the many interrelated elements of the farm system including habitat conservation, energy efficiency, pest management, water conservation, economic stability and human resources. To date, over 1,000 SIP certification evaluations have been collected and the guiding principles of the program are permanently altering the way winegrowers think about farming.

Certifying Our Commitment

Sustainability in Practice (SIP) Certified is the gold standard for sustainable vineyard and wine certification, challenging growers and wine producers to review, implement and amend practices that impact the earth, its people, and future generations while offering buyers and consumers a trustworthy seal that guarantees conscientious quality.

Caring for People, Farms, & the Environment

Being SIP Certified shows our dedicated to the 3 P’s of Sustainability – People, Planet, Prosperity. We are committed to our ‘3 P’ approach, ensuring that both natural and human resources are protected. Here are a few of our sustainability efforts:

  • Social Responsibility – We offer competitive wages, medical insurance, training, and education because each worker is a valuable resource
  • Water Conservation – We regularly monitor soils, plants, and weather, irrigating vines only when needed and we measure water used in the winery to prevent waste
  • Clean Water – We keep water clean by growing grasses to reduce erosion and filter storm runoff and filter winery water for reuse
  • Safe Pest Management – We introduce beneficial insects, attract raptors, and plant enriching cover crops to keep vineyards healthy
  • Energy Efficiency – We use alternative fuels and energy sources like solar and wind, minimize tractor use reduce our carbon footprint, and use insulation to increase energy efficiency
  • Habitat – We create wildlife corridors to give animals access to traditional watering holes and food, helping to maintain biodiversity
  • Business – We have sound business practices with a long term view to treat our employees and community with care for generations
  • Third Party Audit – We adhere to SIP’s strict Standards through third-party documentation and onsite inspections
  • Improvement – We annually update our farming and wine processing Standards as Best Management Practices evolve with new science, technology and research

More information can be found at the Sustainability in Practice website.

The McIntrye Vineyards Covenant

1) Relationships Matter!

We will strive to treat everyone fairly, provide a sense of well-being and shared happiness as we enjoy the work of human hands.

2) Commitment to Continuous Improvement

Our goal is not to produce more quantity but to produce higher quality!

3) Legacy of Place

Winemakers and wineries will come and go but this vineyard in the Santa Lucia Highlands Appellation and its highest potential will live on to continue our viticulture legacy.

4) Stewards of the Land

We will leave this vignoble ecology better than when we found it. We will increase and sequester permanent organic soil carbon, use fewer inputs and holistically manage this vineyard, considering the cumulative impact of our everyday decisions as we lower our carbon footprint and achieve carbon neutrality. 

After all, our wines are locally sourced, plant based, gluten free, low carb, have no added sugar and naturally fermented…authentic!