About Us

We admit it, we're island people. Dave originating from the British Isles, Karen having lived part of her nomadic life in St. Croix, and vacations always somewhere in the tropics. The Seagrape tree (Coccoloba uvifera) is found near seaside beaches and is a visual reminder of both our winemaking roots and our love of the islands.

We're also both refugees from the tech world. Karen's last job in the real world was in marketing at a high-tech startup and Dave managed a logistics company. As huge fans of Santa Barbara Country wines, especially Chardonnay and Pinot Noir from what was then the most westerly part of the Santa Ynez Valley appellation, we were frequent visitors to this wine country paradise.

About the same time that this area was recognized as the distinct Sta. Rita Hills appellation, Karen was working as the lowest of the low in a winery, a cellar rat shovelling stems, cleaning out fermenters, hefting barrels... In 2007, her seventh vintage in the wine business, Karen became the winemaker at Buttonwood Farm Winery and we are very grateful to the folks there (Betty, Bret, Seyburn and the rest of the cru) that they give us the freedom to make Seagrape Wine Company wines there.

Dave, meanwhile, finally had enough of freeway congestion and transitioned his business in 2005 to Lompoc, where he now offers wineries logistics, warehousing, website and e-commerce solutions through Vintegrated Solutions.

So here we are – no “Sig Alerts”, not a cubicle in sight, no power suits or uncomfortable shoes. And every morning, as the marine fog rolls in from the nearby Pacific Ocean through our winegrowing region, we’re reminded of the ocean and the vineyards and wine – Seagrape!