We wanted a fresh and bright wine suitable for a roasted chicken or a round of golf, and we were fortunate to find a great vineyard in Monterey for this project. High acid is the theme here. Monterey County.

Born out of a scenario where there’s just too much of a good thing, Cartello came to fruition following the generous harvest of 2018. Mike Laszlo and Craig Lewis had spent several years working harvest for their friend Michael Oravecz at his property Mila Family Vineyards in Alexander Valley, CA. When the 2018 crop hit the surplus of fruit provided an opportunity. So much had gone into the Mila Estate since its inception in 2003, from the 3-year land grant partnership with the US Davis School of Oenology, to the five years they spent on planting the perfect clones of each variety in the ideal spot with just the right exposure. Then to take the major risk of farming biodynamically in a region where that seems foreign…to not pull in all of the fruit from such a great year seemed to go against their core beliefs, it seemed wasteful. Given that it was too much for Mila to absorb, Cartello™ wines focus on the quality of the property at an everyday price point.

The property itself is a stunning 54 acres, with 10 of those planted, situated in the foothills of Geyser Peak itself. Being up off of the valley floor the grapes escape the extreme heat that builds below and are able to retain a great amount of freshness and acidity. The steep and rocky soils provide enough inconvenience to test the character of the vines. The end goal is achieved with honoring the site and soils so the wines are each varietally correct.

We strive to do things right.