OUR STORY
In Happy Canyon, on the frontier of one of the world’s most dynamic winegrowing regions, an extraordinary terrain remained dormant and untapped. All around, the breathtaking foothills of Santa Barbara County’s Santa Ynez Valley simply accentuated the unfulfilled potential of the land.
Such was the condition of the Westerly Estate when it was acquired by entrepreneurs Neil and Francine Afromsky in 1995. 
To establish their vineyard, the Afromskys enlisted highly regarded viticulturist Jeff Newton. The vines were the first to be planted in Happy Canyon, the farthest southeastern point of the Santa Ynez Valley.
“We pioneered Happy Canyon as a winegrowing region,” Neil says. “We sensed that there was magic here. We started by planting Bordeaux varietals, and the quality of the grapes was extraordinary. That’s when we decided to take the next step, to make wine ourselves.”
Under the banner of Westerly Vineyards, they continued working with Newton, planting additional small blocks over the ensuing years, and incorporating Rhône varietals to join the Bordeaux offerings.
Neil and Francine charted a similar course on the winemaking front, tapping Seth Kunin—one of the wine industry’s rising stars—to make limited-production, world-class wines. Sourcing fruit from select vineyard blocks, Seth guides each Westerly wine by hand, articulating the natural flavors and personality of the fruit while enhancing its complexity through artful winemaking.
The wines of Westerly Vineyards ultimately express the long-term, quality-focused vision of the Afromskys. These wines are approachable and food-friendly when young, but also built to last, with an emphasis on balance and structure.
Still a relative newcomer, Westerly is already claiming its place among California’s elite wineries, earning visibility in some of the nation’s most prestigious restaurants and praise from leading wine critics, including Robert M. Parker, Jr., who recently gave the winery’s 2003 Syrah “Cote Blonde” a rating of 95+ points.
“Our wines reflect the attention to detail that we bring to everything we do,” Francine says. “They also reflect our passion not just for wine, but also the lifestyle and culture that surround it, the bonding of family and friends at the dinner table, and the appreciation of beautiful things and places. It’s our desire to make wines that people find enjoyable, wines that complement cuisine and enhance life.”
