Our Story
Michael grew up in San Luis Obispo in a family of educators, where dinners were simple and wine was an afterthought. Kara, raised across Northern California by parents who were also teachers turned small business owners, shared a similar experience—home-cooked meals, casual fare, and little exposure to wine.
Michael’s path shifted during college at Santa Clara University, when he discovered Napa and Sonoma just a short drive away. What began as casual weekend trips soon became a passion, as he explored benchmark producers and began collecting wines to mark special occasions. Along the way, he developed a deep appreciation for the intersection of food, place, and wine.
When Kara and Michael began their life together in San Diego in 2001, that shared curiosity quickly became central to their relationship. They explored a growing culinary scene, traveled extensively, and immersed themselves in wine regions from California to Europe. Kara’s passion for cooking flourished, inspired by global flavors, while her interest in wine led her to earn her WSET Level 3 certification in 2025.
Over time, a dream took shape: to one day build a small, hands-on winery where they could grow grapes, make wine, and share the experience with others. They were especially drawn to Alexander Valley, where Cabernet Sauvignon expresses both vibrancy and balance.
That vision became reality with Woodhawk Vineyards.
Perched above Alexander Valley in Northern Sonoma County, the 70-acre property includes 21 acres of Cabernet Sauvignon, surrounded by rolling hills, heritage oaks, and a seasonal creek. Today, Kara and Michael are dedicated to crafting wines and creating experiences that bring people together—rooted in a shared love of food, wine, and connection.
The vineyard unfolds across six distinct blocks, each devoted entirely to Cabernet Sauvignon, where 24,000 vines are rooted within 21 acres of sculpted terrain.
Shaped by the land’s natural contours and the rhythm of its planting history, each block possesses its own elegant identity. Trained along vertical shoot positioning (VSP) trellises, the vines have reached a state of full maturity and expressive vigor, yielding between 70 and 80 tons of fruit each year—an eloquent reflection of both site and stewardship.
As head winemaker Rob Davis reflects, “You truly are blessed with some of the finest terroir in the world.”
Perched at 1,000 feet above the valley floor, the vineyard rests along a dramatic southwest-facing slope, its gradient ranging from 15 to 38 percent. From this elevated vantage, it captures the shifting light of the day while benefiting from pronounced diurnal temperature swings—often exceeding 30 degrees—bringing tension, structure, and vitality to the fruit. This privileged aspect invites an early bud break and, unfailingly, the earliest Cabernet Sauvignon harvest in both Alexander Valley and Sonoma County.
Here, sunlight lingers and ripening comes with quiet assurance. Each vintage achieves complete phenolic and tannin maturity, giving rise to wines of depth and resonance. Aromas of dark berries and spice unfold with clarity and intrigue, while finely woven tannins and vibrant acidity carry through to a long, graceful finish. Beneath the surface, Laughlin Loam soils provide exceptional drainage, imparting just enough vine stress to heighten concentration and refine both phenolic and flavonoid expression.
Viticulture is approached as both art and discipline. Precision farming guides every decision, from advanced irrigation strategies that shape fruit character to the careful calibration of vine balance, ensuring an ideal harmony between canopy and crop. Nutritional programs are tailored to support optimal ripening, while each vine is tended with meticulous care to achieve uniformity across every block. The trellis system itself is thoughtfully composed—protecting the fruit from excess while inviting the perfect measure of sunlight to illuminate the canopy.