We at Rominger West Winery are dedicated to producing the finest hand crafted wines with the least amount of environmental degradation. Established in 2004, we have spent the last 6 years dedicating ourselves to the production and perfection of sustainable Yolo County wines. We pride ourselves in our sustainability efforts and employ a variety of methods in order to benefit the environment and the quality of our product. We hope you enjoy the fruit of our labor!
The Rominger Brothers, who operate the farming side of the Rominger West collaboration, have been dedicated to the concept of sustainability for many years. They have built their entire operation around that very word.
The first component of RW’s sustainability is our “no tillage” policy; we only mow the cover crop residue. By not tilling our ground we reduce the amount of soil erosion and promote greater biodiversity. The cover crops are a natural way to add nutrients to the soil, thereby increasing the longevity and fertility of the soil. Compost from other facets of the Rominger Farm is also used to increase soil fertility and crop yield.
We never use more than the absolute minimum when applying any type of chemical, and we only use organic and soft chemicals. In an effort to avoid any possible chemical use, we have planted shrubs around our vineyards as a part of our Integrated Pest Management Program. These shrubs also attract natural pollinators and native bugs, encouraging greater biodiversity.
We use sheep as an integral part of our farming process. Sheep can be trained to eat predator plant life within the vineyard and will help us to eliminate certain chemical usage. We are always looking for new, more effective ways to farm sustainably and are in continuous communication and participation with the government and UC Davis regarding new studies and sustainable techniques.
Our Vineyards
The grapes used to make Rominger West wines are all grown in Yolo County in vineyards farmed by Bruce and Rick Rominger. Our vineyards are located in the western part of the county, north of the town of Winters, in the lower hills of the Coast Range. The long growing season in this region is characterized by warm to hot daytime temperatures, and very cool nighttime temperatures. This environment allows us to develop fully ripe flavors in all of our varieties. Careful farming and a close collaboration with the winery maintains the acid balance in the grapes and maximizes wine quality.
Arnold Vineyard
The Arnold vineyard was originally planted in 1998 as a certified nursery expansion block, to propagate new vines. The planting material was imported from France and represents some of the best material certified by L’Etablissement National Technique pour l’Amélioration de la Viticulture (ENTAV), the French government funded program established in 1962 to characterize and improve the vineyards of France. The Arnold vineyard, located about 7 miles north of Winters, is planted on deep, nutrient-rich soils and has 29 clones of 14 different varieties, on a total of 16 acres. We harvest Chardonnay, Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc, Grenache Blanc, Grenache Noir, Mourvedre, Syrah, Petit Verdot and Malbec from this vineyard.
UPDATE: Arnold Vineyard is currently scheduled to be de-vined due to well water issues. Most of the vines currently growing in the vineyard will be transplanted to our Chapman Vineyard, just a few miles away. This will allow us to consolidate our grapes and focus our efforts on the ones that grow best in the region.
Chapman Hill Vineyard
Located about five miles northwest of Winters, Chapman Vineyard was planted in 2001. It is divided into two adjacent blocks, the western ‘Hill’ block on the low foothills of the Coast Range and the eastern ‘Flat’ block on an alluvial plateau between two seasonal creeks. The Chapman Hill vineyard represents the first collaboration, from site selection through vineyard development, between our founding partners, Mark West and Charlie Rominger. The vines are planted on a southwest to northeast orientation to create even sun exposure on the canopy, while protecting the grapes from direct sunlight during the hottest time of the day. This ten acre, rocky, low-fertility site is located south of Chickahominy Creek, and is the source of our most intense red grapes, including Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Malbec, Merlot and Lagrein.
Chapman Flat Vineyard
An additional nursery block for ENTAV, Chapman Flat is situated just east of the Chapman Hill block, and contains 14 clones of 11 different varieties. The first four acres in this vineyard were planted in 2000 and we select Grenache, Cabernet Franc and Tannat grapes from this section. In 2007 we expanded this block by adding four acres of Grenache Blanc vines, which increased our production of this wine in the 2008 season and beyond. The wild turkeys prefer this vineyard and we see dozens of them here almost every day in the summer and fall.
Herren Vineyard
Located in the beautiful Capay Valley, the Herren Vineyard is an organically farmed vineyard planted to Syrah, Mourvedre, and Grenache. This 1.3 acre vineyard was designed to produce a Rhone style “vineyard blend” with all the fruit from the vineyard co-fermented to create a unique wine. The vineyard was planted in 2001 with the first commercial harvest in 2004. All of the grapes grown on this vineyard are incorporated into the Herren Vineyard Red Blend.
OUR TEAM:
Mark West - Winemaker
Mark is a vital component of the Rominger West collaboration. His background includes a BS from UC Berkeley, a PhD from John Hopkins School of Medicine and more than 14 years of winemaking experience. Mark grew up in Davis and has returned with a passion for handcrafted artisan wine and a dedication to the local community. He has a love for music and spent 4 years as a percussionist in the University of California Marching Band (yes, he was one of those crazy Cal Band kids). Mark can be found all over the winery doing a variety of tasks, but one of his favorite duties (besides making the wine, of course) is leading tours and tastings. He loves interacting with customers and having the opportunity to share his connection with each of our Rominger West wines, especially our Rose, which he claims to make solely for his own personal enjoyment. He can be found sipping on a cool glass of Rose almost every day during the lunch hour. Mark and his family reside in Davis.
Bruce Rominger – Grape Grower
Bruce brings fruit to the Rominger West table…literally! Bruce, his wife Robyn and their 3 children reside in Winters, CA where Bruce oversees the production and harvest of our delicious grapes. With many different types of grapes to watch over (Syrah, Malbec, Tannat, Grenache, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Semillon, the list goes on…) as well as the Rominger Brother’s Farm operations, Bruce keeps himself very busy. His B.S. in Plant Science from UC Davis has proved quite helpful as he and his brother Rick have continued to implement more sustainable growing and production practices on the farm. On the rare occasion that he has some time to relax, Bruce enjoys hiking with his family, cheering on the SF Giants and listening to some good ole 70’s rock n’ roll!
Rick Rominger- Grape Grower
Rick is a fifth generation Yolo County Farmer and a graduate of UC Davis with a BS in Ag Economics and Business Management. After school, he volunteered with the Peace Corps in the Dominican Republic for two years before returning to the family farm. Along with wine grapes, Rick farms rice, wheat, sunflowers, alfalfa, corn and tomatoes. He lives on a ranch just north of Winters with his wife and their two daughter.
Zaryna Gossell - Tasting Room Manager
If you have ever visited Rominger West Winery for a taste of Yolo County’s finest wine, you have undoubtedly experienced the cheer of Ms. Zaryna Gossell, our tasting room manager. Zaryna began her experience with the Rominger West crew as a curious newbie to the wine making process. She saw the job opening and thought it was the perfect opportunity to learn more about the delicious beverage that she had grown to love. As our tasting room manager, Zaryna has the opportunity to meet all of our new friends as they enter the winery. She says that she loves her job because what other job pays you to talk to people and drink wine all day!? On her days off, Zaryna likes to relax, order some pizza and watch a few movies or an SF Giants game with her best bud Cody, a 1 year old golden retriever (who can frequently be found hanging out in the winery’s office). A little secret she divulged is her habit of changing her name when making reservations or talking on the phone! She claims that her real name, Zaryna, is too unusual…we all think she is an undercover secret agent with duel identities. When asked if she has a favorite Rominger West wine, her response was “Every time of the day demands a different wine: Breakfast with Rose, Lunch with Rominger Ranch White, and Dinner with Yolo County Syrah.” Join Zaryna in the tasting room and she will help you create your perfect meal pairings!
Elizabeth Caravati - Wine Club Manager, Office Manager
“What better way to experience California than wine?” explains Elizabeth. Hailing from Salt Lake City, Utah, she wound her way to Washington University in St. Louis where she received her bachelor’s degree in English. With her expertise in languages and organization, Liz has made our lives here at Rominger West Winery a whole lot easier. Liz enjoys reading, writing, cooking, and various outdoor activities and absolutely loves peanut butter and pickle sandwiches. Don’t be fooled by her calm and serene persona however, this one has many hidden talents. In college, Elizabeth was a beast in the pool: she swam at Nationals and won an “All-American” award in butterfly (which is ridiculously difficult if you ask me). When she wasn’t dominating in the pool, Liz spent her free time writing and publishing poems. As children, most of us want to be doctors, princesses or dolphin trainers, but not our Liz; she had grand dreams of becoming a plumber. Her ambitions have definitely changed since she was a kid. She wants to travel the world and would love to visit Australia or Thailand someday. Elizabeth is excited to be here in Davis and is enjoying the small college town atmosphere. She really likes that Rominger West Winery is dedicated to being an integral part of this community and we really enjoy having her on board. Next time you’re at the winery, say hi to Elizabeth; she’d love to meet you!
Stephanie Towne- Event Coordinator
The first time that Stephanie tried wine, she was 12 years old and took a gulp of water from her mom’s glass, which turned out to be wine! She’s gotten over the shock by now, and enjoys wine so much that she is our new event coordinator here at the winery! Stephanie hails from Fair Oaks, California, and has come to us after earning a B.A. in English with a minor in writing at UC Davis. Stephanie loves her cat Tigger, sticky toffee pudding ice cream from Haagen-Dazs (sadly now discontinued), Nutella (which she eats almost every day!), hip hop and R&B music, and anything athletic. She grew up English horseback riding, loves to run, play soccer and ultimate Frisbee, and she absolutely loves skiing. She has admitted that she would drop everything to be a pro skier if she could. Stephanie studied abroad in Paris one summer during college, and would love to go back, so ask her for a glass de vin, and she’ll be happy to oblige! We also have another Giants fan on our hands, so watch out Dodgers fans! Stephanie is excited to be working at Rominger West, where she can plan and coordinate events in a warm, friendly atmosphere. She loves how wine brings together people from all different backgrounds. The next time you’re in, say hello to Stephanie!
Brittany Dibb - Enologist
It’s funny what UC Davis, one of the most prestigious viticulture and enology schools in the world, can do to a person. In Brittany’s case, it can make you completely change your area of study! Originally Brittany had big dreams of graduating with a degree in neurobiology (yikes!) from UC Davis, but she soon developed a love for wine and its surrounding culture, so she made the change to Viticulture and Enology and hasn’t looked back since. Brittany hails from Southern California and brings with her a nautical, beachy flair, as well as a love for southern CA sports teams (Yup, we have some conflict in the office). Brittany has recently been made enologist, so she spends a lot of time in the cellar making sure that everything from fermentation to blending goes smoothly. Stop by to meet Brittany, and she’ll be able to answer any questions you have about winemaking!
Melissa Apter – Cellar Intern
Melissa grew up in Benicia, California as the middle sister of three girls, and after graduating from high school she found herself at UC Davis as an undergrad in Neurobiology, Physiology and Behavior. After much soul searching, a trip to Italy, and a few introductory wine making classes at the university, Melissa made the switch to the wonderful world of viticulture and vnology (sound similar to another member of our team?). Melissa is now a senior in the V&E Department and has started working at Rominger West Winery to achieve a more practical application of the things she learns in her classes. Melissa enjoys anything and everything vegetarian and absolutely loves sushi. Since becoming a vegetarian, food has become a very important part of her life. She lives to cook and constantly dreams about the next meal she is going to prepare. Her secret talents include being ridiculously good at scrabble and being able to do excellent impersonations. Music is an integral part of her life and goes to concerts with friends as often as she can. With her love for music, she finds herself singing embarrassingly loud in the car wherever she goes. Melissa loves hiking and yoga and whenever presented with the opportunity to go skydiving, she takes it. Although you will frequently find Melissa in the tasting room, she will also be doing cellar work to increase her knowledge of the wine making process. Stop in and have a glass of Yolo County Syrah with Melissa!
Kelsey Miller – Special Projects
Kelsey comes to us with a fresh degree in Neurology, Physiology and Behavior from UC Davis, and is ready to learn all she can about wine and winemaking during the one year it will take to apply to medical schools. Originally from Bethesda, Maryland, Kelsey is now going on her fifth year living in Davis, and loves the small town atmosphere and the proximity to agriculture. During her student days she used to visit the cows on campus, and once even witnessed a cow giving birth! She loves margarita pizza, the bands Queen and Modest Mouse, her “evil” cat Bruce, waking up early, playing cards, and our Chapman Vineyard Red and Grenache Blanc. Her hidden talent is a creepily good memory (so watch what you say!) and she says she is very klutzy, which doesn’t stop her from cooking up a storm in the kitchen (she has the burn and cut scars to prove it). Her dream vacation is Hawaii because of the beautiful nature and great hiking. Kelsey is very excited to be working here at Rominger West Winery because of the relaxed and friendly atmosphere, and because she gets to learn so many new things. You’ll find Kelsey all over the winery: in the cellar getting wine in her hair, in the office analyzing sales, and behind the counter serving you your wine, so stop by to meet the multi-talented Kelsey!
Jack West- minister of mirth
As the newest member of our staff, and easily one of the most beloved, Jack has brought a palpable wave of energy and excitement into our tasting room. With a proud, puppy-loving papa in Mark, Jack spends most of his days here greeting friends and customers as they enter the tasting room. He also is keenly interested in the health and happiness of all of his co-workers, often encouraging us to go on long lunchtime walks or rub his tummy (which has been scientifically proven to immediately improve one’s attitude and mood—good thinking, Jack!) Jack will be one of the key players of our events staff, including assisting with everything from Happy Thursdays to private parties. In his spare time, Jack enjoys napping on his squishy bed, snacking on treats, and playing with friends. He is, however, not much of a wine drinker, instead preferring to sip on water from his favorite dish.
Jack providing critical insight during a staff meeting
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We’re (Almost) Famous! News and Reviews:
Davis Life Magazine: Tailwind May 2011
Davis Enterprise: Tailwind May 2011
Davis Life Magazine August 14, 2010
Davis Life Magazine July 13, 2010
Small Town Living February 15, 2010
Davis Enterprise January 13, 2010
Davis Enterprise January 5, 2010
Wine Wise Web November 24, 2009
Sacramento Bee January 28, 2009
Davis Life Magazine August 1, 2007
Sacramento Business Journal May 18, 2007
San Francisco Chronicle April 13, 2007
OUR FRIENDS
Regional stewardship is a fundamental element of our business. Rominger West recognizes the importance of sharing responsibility for a long-term commitment to build a better future for those who come after us. We would like to encourage you to participate in regional stewardship by creating new partnerships and taking part in local activities.
Yolo County Community Supported Agriculture
Resource Conservation District
We believe that buying our food from local farmers and ranchers is one of the best ways to reduce our impact on the environment. They keep the local environment and community healthy and lively through their conservation efforts and by maintaining a harmonious ecosystem. We ask you to consider participating in these efforts by purchasing foods from your local growers.
Good Humus Produce
Full Belly Farms
Terra Firma Farms
Riverdog Farm
Yolo Land and Cattle
Farm Fresh To You
Hillstone Olive Oil
Yummy Dummy Chocolate Company Great story, Wonderful Ambition
Strelitzia Flower Company Our Neighbors
