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Our Story
How it all began
Our family has been growing grapes for over 70 years on the hillsides of Mount Veeder. William first worked a harvest at Frank Family Vineyards in the cellar in 2018, but shortly after started working in Vineyard Management in the Napa Valley. During the harvest of 2020, which saw fires ruin the crop for much of Napa and Sonoma Counties, we had the opportunity to make homemade wine from the family vineyard's leftover grapes. William and Ryan jumped at the opportunity to get our hands dirty with winemaking, with assistance from our friend and winemaker Andrew Mihm. We fell in love with the process and decided that we would give winemaking a try. We wanted to create affordable and terroir focused wines that we could share and sell to others. By sourcing grapes from our family's vineyard and other small family vineyards, and with the decision making of Andrew, we are able to bring passionate, focused, small batch wines directly to you.
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William Yates, Ryan Yates, and Family
Winemaker
Andrew Mihm
Andrew’s journey into winemaking began in the heart of Napa Valley, where he grew up surrounded by vineyards and the rich culture of wine. His passion was ignited during his first harvest internship at Frank Family Vineyards in 2018, while also getting to know and work with William (also a first time intern). This experience solidified his career path, leading him to seek further experience in the southern hemisphere after the end of harvest.
Andrew traveled to the Yarra Valley in Australia to gain international winemaking experience with Rob Dolan Wines. It was here that he not only honed his winemaking skills but also learned to drive stick shift on the other side of the road! Shortly after the harvest, while exploring Australia, Andrew received the exciting news of his acceptance into the UC Davis Masters program in Viticulture & Enology.
At UC Davis, Andrew combined his practical experience with academic theory, learning from top researchers and gaining hands-on experience in the state-of-the-art teaching winery and vineyard. He interned with the vineyard team at Cardinale Estate and the winemaking team at Dana Estates, further enriching his expertise.
Upon graduating, Andrew joined the historic Inglenook estate in Rutherford, CA, where he quickly advanced to the role of Enologist. Here, he was part of the technical winemaking team, setting up tastings and contributing to blending sessions with some of the top winemaking minds from California and France.
In 2023, family and the birth of his first child brought Andrew to the Paso Robles region. He joined Vineyard Professional Services and is currently the Viticulturist & Assistant Vineyard Manager, working on top vineyards all over the central coast.
Consulting for the Yates Brothers allows him to continue his passion for winemaking, crafting exceptional wines and working with the outstanding vineyard sites that YB Wine Co sources from.
Join us in celebrating Andrew’s dedication and passion for winegrowing, and experience the unique flavors and stories that each of our wines has to offer.
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