March 25, 2025 (Santa Barbara, CA) — Gainey Estate Vineyards has retained Chalky Ridge Vineyard Management to oversee its farming operations at their two estate vineyards in the Sta. Rita Hills and their Home Ranch Estate Vineyard in Santa Ynez. The winery is recognized for its diverse portfolio of ultra-premium to affordable wines, its commitment to land stewardship and its dedication to the community of Santa Barbara County. Chalky Ridge Vineyard is owned by Jason Muscio, who worked at Gainey Estate Vineyard as a vineyard supervisor in 2012, and has now returned full circle to leverage and apply his years of experience towards Gainey’s vineyard operations.
“Jason and I had the pleasure of working together 13 years ago, and we’ve maintained a strong professional and personal relationship ever since. I’ve followed his career and successes with admiration and have been consistently impressed by his dedication and talent. His unmatched work ethic, meticulous attention to detail, and logical approach to vineyard management are complemented by an innate talent for making vines flourish. Having Jason on the team is a privilege, and his contributions are key to the continued success of our vineyards. At Gainey we fundamentally recognize that none of this works if we don’t build it upon a solid foundation of uncompromising fruit quality. Our vineyard team’s passion and commitment are reflected in every bottle of wine we produce”, says Gainey Estate Vineyards Winemaker Jeff LeBard.
Muscio will oversee farming at the Home Ranch, in the Santa Ynez Valley appellation, which stretches nearly to the edges of the Happy Canyon sub-appellation and highlights Bordeaux grape varieties, and at Evan’s Ranch in Sta. Rita Hills, where cool-climate Burgundian and Rhône varieties are pursued.
“I am a Santa Barbara County native,” says Muscio, “and I have a lot of pride in this area. It continues to be an honor to help cultivate vineyards that represent the best of what these diverse regions have to offer. Gainey has always stood out to me as a special place – both as a company and its vineyards. In a lot of ways, it feels like coming home since I worked here back in 2012, when I moved back to the area after spending several years up in the Napa Valley. Having an owner who is committed to creating top-quality wines and collaborating with an innovative wine maker, like Jeff Lebard, creates a dynamic and engaging environment,” he continues.
The Gainey Estate Vineyards wines reflect sixty years of farming and winemaking knowledge passed down from one generation to another with expertise and experience honed and developed over decades. The Gainey team consistently controls the quality throughout the entire process, from grapes to glass, making wines that respect the family’s historical integrity, and that are meant to be enjoyed at the table with food, family, and friends.
About Gainey Estate Vineyards
The Gainey Estate Vineyards story in the Santa Ynez Valley begins more than 60 years ago when Dan J. Gainey and his father acquired 1,800 acres of undeveloped land. At the Home Ranch, the Gainey family ran cattle and horses while growing 600 acres of fruit, vegetables, flowers, and hay. In 1984, after years of travel and appreciation of European wines, the Gainey family saw a similar potential in Santa Barbara County as a world-class growing region and developed fifty acres of Estate vineyards, planting Bordeaux varietals, Syrah and other grape varieties and the Gainey Estate Vineyards were born.
