Our Story
Rooted on Mount Veeder. Crafted by hand.
High above the valleys of Napa and Sonoma, atop Mount Veeder, Sky Vineyards greets the rising sun each morning. Here, at 2,100 feet, fourteen acres of vines cling to an east-facing hillside, open to the expansive sky and surrounded by the quiet beauty of the mountain. It is a place shaped by wind, sunlight, cool Pacific fog, rugged terrain, and the rich, rocky, reddish volcanic soils beneath our feet.
In this distinctive mountain landscape, Zinfandel and Syrah thrive through warm, sunlit days and fog-cooled evenings, developing the depth, intensity, and character that define our wines. Each vintage is a wildly different expression of this remarkable place — its soils, its elevation, its changing seasons, and the thoughtful care devoted to every vine.
A deep respect for the land guides everything we do. We have farmed organically for more than three decades, embracing a thoughtful, low-impact approach to both vineyard cultivation and winery operations. Our practices include no-till, dry farming, and encouraging wildlife and beneficial insects to flourish among the vines. At the winery, we conserve water and strive to keep our carbon footprint small. Off the power grid, Sky relies primarily on solar energy, with minimal generator use. For us, sustainability is more than a practice; it is a commitment to preserving the character of this mountain and the land that makes our wines and way of life possible.
Our wines are made with attempted patience, intuition, and a respect for traditional craft. At harvest, intensely flavored fruit is gathered by hand and fermented in open-top, one-ton bins. We punch down each ferment by hand three times daily, staying closely connected to the wine as it develops. After fermentation, the wine is pressed in a 1906 basket press and aged in French oak barrels, allowing time and careful attention to bring its elements into balance.
The result is a distinctive collection of wines, that very clearly represent Mt. Veeder. Sky's Zinfandels, Riesling and Syrahs are known for their concentrated fruit, expressive notes of raspberry and violet, and a characteristic touch of pepper and spice. Forward acidity, structured tannins, and depth give the wines both vibrancy and staying power. Our Zinfandels are especially rewarding with age, evolving gracefully over time.
Each new vintage carries original artwork designed by Lore Olds, giving every release its own visual expression and making each bottle a meeting of the vineyard, the vintage, and imagination.
We are proud to produce our handcrafted Zinfandel, Riesling, and Syrah in small quantities, with care given to every stage, from vine to bottle. We believe great wine begins with a remarkable place, is shaped by attentive hands, and ultimately tells the story of where it comes from.
Second Generation Cousins, circa 1983
Lore Olds, Circa 2018
Third generation , Circa 2008
Lore, Mayacamas & Skyla, Circa 2017
Mt. Veeder Crew, 2026
Family
Some places have a way of finding us.
Lore Olds founded Sky Vineyards after purchasing a mountainside property in the early 1970s, but his path to winemaking began years earlier. Born and raised in Berkeley, California, by Midwestern parents, he grew up in a world filled with architects, politicians, and spirited conversation. Lore spent working on his family's Missouri farm gave him an early appreciation for the land and the pain and rewards of working on the land.
Wine entered his life in the late 1960s, when he was sent to Oregon to manage HillCrest Vineyard for pioneering winemaker Richard Sommer. There, he began to discover the possibilities of winegrowing. Returning to California, he continued his education with the old Italian growers of Napa and Sonoma County, working at Rossi Ranch, Old Hill Ranch and Beaulieu Vineyards. In 1971, he arrived at Mayacamas Vineyards on Mount Veeder — and found a mountain he would never truly leave.
Mount Veeder has long drawn people who seek something a little different: winemakers, artists, musicians, craftspeople, and independent spirits drawn to its rugged beauty and quiet solitude. While working at Mayacamas, Lore discovered that the neighboring property was for sale. He recognized something in its eastern-facing slopes, its dependable water, and its reddish volcanic soils — a place with the potential to grow distinctive wines and build a life.
He bought the property and set to work. By 1972, Lore had planted a part of the the vineyard, doing much of the work himself with the help of family and friends. The vines took root, and in 1975, the vineyard yielded its first crop. That same year, his first daughter, Mayacamas, was born. Soon after came his second daughter, Skyla, and what began as a personal vision became a family life woven into the mountain and the work of making wine.
For the next several decades, Sky Vineyards flourished as a small, independent family winery. Lore made wines with a devotion to variety and place, believing that great California wine should express the character of the grapes and the land that nurtured them.
Sky became more than a vineyard. It became a gathering place for a remarkable community of architects, chefs, artists, musicians, and young winemakers. Ideas were shared, friendships took root, and wine connected people from different walks of life. Lore raised his daughters to understand not only the practical work of the vineyard and winery, but also the importance of caring for the land, respecting the environment, and being part of a community shaped by the mountain.
Then, in 2017, everything changed.
Multiple wildfires converged on the property, destroying much of the vineyard, the family home, Lore's artwork, and countless irreplaceable pieces of a life built over decades. The loss reached far beyond vines and buildings. It touched the heart of a family, the history of a place, and the tangible reminders of the life they had created there.
Rebuilding has been slow. There are no easy ways to restore what was lost, and some things can never be replaced. But the connection to this mountain remains.
Today, our family continues to grow grapes and make wine, guided by the same belief that inspired Lore from the beginning: that wine should reflect its place, that the land deserves our care, and that the best things are made with patience, intention, and a willingness to do the work by hand.
Sky Vineyards is still a work in progress, shaped by the seasons, the challenges of a changing climate, and the determination to protect the place we call home. We carry forward Lore's spirit, our family's history, and the community that has sustained us.
Our story began with one man's belief in a mountainside and a variety. It continues with a family's commitment to that mountain — and to the wines, relationships, and possibilities that can still grow here.
We are still here, still growing, and still making wine beneath the expansive sky of Mount Veeder.
Questions?
Questions, need help, or want to sign up for news letters? Please contact us! Please note - the internet is slow on the mountain and we are often away from our devices! We will get back to you!