wine Country: storM wines

Wine as a lifestyle

Storm Wines melds wine with family

by hana-lee sedgWICK

For nearly two decades, South African winemaker Ernst Storm has built a reputation for producing elegant wines that express the diversity of Santa Barbara County — both for his eponymous label and for the various wine projects he’s involved in . Leading with his authentic, conscientious approach, Storm has established a career that goes beyond what’s on his resume; rather, it’s a lifestyle that melds his passions for wine and winemaking with family and community .

Storm first studied winemaking at South Africa’s revered Elsenburg Agricultural School . After graduating, he worked at wineries in South Africa’s Stellenbosch and Walker Bay regions before moving to California to pursue an opportunity in the Sierra Foothills . In 2005, longing to work with cool-climate grapes like he had in South Africa’s Western Cape, Storm made his way to Santa Barbara, taking an assistant winemaking job at Firestone Winery, and later Curtis Winery . “I didn’t know much about the area, but I wanted to experience a harvest somewhere new,” said Storm . “Santa Barbara County seemed to have similar climatic conditions to parts of South Africa .”

In 2006, inspired by the diversity of the vineyards in the Santa Ynez Valley, Storm launched his own label on the side, starting with just six barrels of pinot noir . Seven years later, while working at Curtis Winery, he decided to venture out on his own so he could put all his efforts into Storm Wines .

From the start, Storm’s goal has been to work with vineyards that show a lot of diversity and personality in order to craft classically styled wines that speak to a specific place and region . “I set out to make wines that showcased a certain style, favoring elegance and pure varietal character over power and punch,” he said . “Sourcing from quality vineyards is an essential part of that philosophy . If you start with good fruit, then you shouldn’t have to manipulate it .”

Finding his sweet spot with sauvignon blanc, pinot noir, and syrah from great sites, Storm slowly grew production to the 3,000 cases annually he makes today — a number he was careful not to reach too quickly . “Storm has grown significantly but organically over the years,” he explains . “Keeping my production smaller has allowed me to stay hands-on in every part of the process, which is impossible to do if you get too big .”

Staying small in size has also provided the opportunity for Storm’s family to get involved in the brand . His wife, Brooke, now focuses on running the Storm Wines tasting room, which they opened in Los Olivos at the start of the pandemic . Their children, Elsa and Owen, not only occasionally accompany Dad in the vineyard and cellar, but create artwork that adorns some of the labels . “We are a family-run business in every sense of the word,” Storm said, adding: “Opening a tasting room in the early days of the pandemic was challenging, as you can imagine, but we got through it by staying authentic to who we are and what we want to create as a family . Every person who tastes with us, every person who buys a bottle is sharing a piece of us . We are very fortunate to be making wine in Santa Barbara County, and thrilled to be part of the Los Olivos community .”

In addition to making the wines he and his family pour at their two-year-old tasting room — where the Storms host regular burger nights, wine dinners, and other fun events not just for club members but for the community-at-large—Storm keeps busy as the winemaker for the family-owned Donnachadh and Grimm’s Bluff wineries . He’s also the winemaker for Notary Public, a wine partnership with Acme Hospitality’s Sherry Villanueva; winemaker for Cape D’Or, a South African wine label he started with two friends; and consulting winemaker on a few smaller projects . “Being able to create a career you enjoy, that keeps you on your toes, allows you to grow as a person, and work alongside friends and family . There’s truly nothing better . ”