Ranch Wine: Bonterra Reimagines California Wine for Casual Sipping #WinePW

This month the combined wine writers are posting for Wine Pairing Weekend - hosted by the group's founder - and sharing about green wines. No, not the color. You can read David's preview: here.

The Line-Up

• Algerian Chicken paired with Organic Wines from South Africa by A Day in the Life on the Farm

• Dinner Pairings with Wines that Can Help Save the Planet by Crushed Grape Chronicles

• Planning a Wine Dinner and Exploring Green Wine Pairings by Cooking Chat

• Ranch Wine: Bonterra Reimagines California Wine for Casual Sipping by Culinary Cam (you're here)

• Vale do Bomfim Wines: Sustainable Pairings for the Spring Table by ENOFYLZ Wine Blog

Meeting Bonterra

A couple of years ago I scored an invitation to a private event at a home in Pebble Beach during the annual Pebble Beach Food & Wine event. It was far removed from the chaos of the Grand Tasting tent and was a lovely introduction to this California winery. I am still not certain who put me on the list, but I was tickled to get the invite.

We sipped, learned, and, then, after the wine tasting, we were delighted with creations by the winery chef, Chef Olan Cox. I dreamt about those flavors for days!

After that, I picked up bottles of Bonterra whenever I saw them. I poured and paired...

One of the Oldest Foods on Earth + 2019 Bonterra Organic Merlot; Rock Crab Claw Crêpes with Bonterra's 2020 Chardonnay; and Seafood risotto with the 2023 Sauvignon Blanc.

Green Wines

Click to read more from David, our event host, about 'green wines', including definitions of organic, sustainable, regenerative, biodynamic, and natural. They are varying levels of commitment from a business to better steward our planet and its limited resources.

Back in December 2024, for our World Wine Travel group, I posted Regenerative Organic: Farmed Like the World Depends on It + the Feral Wines of Tablas Creek.

If you follow my blog, you'll know that I belong to a local organic farm's CSA program. And I do appreciate learning how producers are employing processes that are better for our bodies, our community, and the planet. But I'll be honest: while I appreciate learning about organic and biodynamic practices and I truly respect growers that are following those practices - whether they get the certifications or not - those designations are not a guarantee of a "good" wine, in my mind.

Delicious Wines Grown with Care

It turns out that Bonterra falls into that category. When I reached out to my contacts about this event, they are share they are no longer certified regenerative organic though they do still implement many of those practices. Kate Herbert, Senior Director of Marketing, shared:

The green economy is about everyday choices that are better for the earth and the people who depend on it. For Bonterra, one of our greatest focus areas is investing in organic farming practices. Grazing our vineyards with sheep, being as low-till as possible, and growing native and pollinator-friendly species are just a few examples of how we work to build healthy soil and support biodiversity. The final output is delicious wine grown with care.

Two other ways Bonterra Organic Estates is committed to reducing the environmental impact is through packaging. Beatrix Scolari, Sustainability Manager, commented: "For wine, a large share of the carbon footprint comes from making and transporting glass bottles, so lighter bottles make a meaningful difference. That’s why we’ve aligned our packaging with the Sustainable Wine Roundtable’s Bottle Weight Accord, an international commitment to reduce the average weight of standard 750 mL still wine bottles to under 420 grams." As of 2025, Bonterra bottles weigh an average of 409 grams. Scolari also shared: "Beyond packaging, we’re also focused on reducing waste throughout our winery operations. Our winery is TRUE Zero Waste Certified, meaning we divert more than 95% of our waste away from the landfill. Composting plays a central role in this effort. We collect all grape pomace (the stems and skins left over during winemaking) and compost it on site. The finished compost is then returned to our vineyards the following season, adding nutrients to the soil and closing the loop from vine to bottle."

We discussed what might be new and interesting to try and share; we landed on their new line of Ranch Wines.

Ranch Wine by Bonterra

Ranch Wine launched in the summer of 2025 as a lower-ABV offering. The name is a nod to Bonterra's home ranch in Mendocino County, California. The idea was a wine made from sustainably-grown California grapes blended into bold but breezy blends that were crafted for pouring over ice, dressing with fruit, or sipping chilled. They have a Pineapple Key Lime, Strawberry Hibiscus, and Chillable Cherry Wild Raspberry, and a Fresh Peach Nectarine.

Kate Herbert, again, talks about this line being a way to reimagine the role wine can play in the same cooler as a seltzer or a soda. Meant for casual sipping, these are relaxed, no-fuss libations.

Okay, I'll be honest: when I first received the package, I was on my way out of town for Spring Break and just packed them in the cooler to take with me. I was perplexed by the labels - unsure if these were drinks in the style of a wine cooler with added fruits and more. It turns out I was completely mistaken. These are real wine but seem more accessible to non-wine drinkers by listing them by flavor profile and not varietals.

I have talked about making wine drinkers out of my Gen Z kids and their friends. This generation is the first to focus less on grape varieties and more on what flavors are in the wine. Bonterra's Ranch Wines seek to meet that generation where they are in their wine journey and not focus too much on traditional ways to market and sell.

Ranch Wines in Tahoe

I already mentioned that I packed these bottles for Spring Break. The Strawberry Hibiscus I hauled down to the lake with some hibiscus blooms in syrup and fresh strawberries. We were quite a spectacle as I poured and garnished right on the shore.

This wine was juicy and bright with layers of strawberry, hibiscus, and a hint of spice. It was a perfect sip as we lounged by the lake and stuck our tired feet in the chilly water.

I packed the Chillable Cherry Wild Raspberry into the forest for an afternoon hike just outside of our cabin.

I garnished this with three candied cherries. The wine was bold with lots of red fruit - think cherry and raspberry - along with a layer of citrus to brighten up what might have otherwise been too fruit heavy. And as night settled in, I tried this as a mulled cocktail by the fire place.

I have yet to pour the other two Ranch Wines I received. Soon. But, I will say: as fun as these wines are, I am not their target audience. I am solidly Gen X and love my grape varietals front and center. My son did say that his roommates would buy the Pineapple Key Lime bottle on the sheer fact that it reads 'pineapple' on the bottle despite there not being a speck of pineapple in the wine. Okay. So, again, this might be doing its job and getting wines into the hands of Gen Z who might not otherwise buy wine. And the price point it right. So, success? I won't begrudge any company who aims to make wine drinkers out of the younger generations. Whatever works!

I will be sharing some more Bonterra pairings with their estate wines. I poured their 2021 The Butler with lamb kebobs and our Easter Osso Buco. Stay tuned for those recipes and tasting notes. And - for next month's combined wine writers, the Italian Food Wine Travel writers will focus on Italian Sparkling wines for Spring. Cin cin!