Vinca Minor is a Sonoma-based winery founded and run by winemaker Jason Charles. Since its founding over a decade ago, the focus has remained on old-vine, coastal-influenced sites stretching from Sonoma Valley to Mendocino, partnering with a small group of growers, many of whom Charles has worked with since the start.

Jason came to wine through his travels as a photojournalist and a stint in the New York City restaurant industry before relocating to Northern California to pursue it full-time. Prior to launching his own project, he worked in Napa and spent time in Pomerol, gaining experience across all facets of the business, from cellar work and vineyard management to sales, before founding Vinca Minor in 2013.

Today, production remains small, with a focus on the old Carignane field-blend plantings that began the project, Mendocino Coast Chardonnay, and a nod to his winemaking roots in Napa and Bordeaux through Cabernet Sauvignon made in an old-California style. All are produced at modest alcohol levels, aged in neutral vessels, and made with minimal sulfur additions. These are wines with a clear voice, crafted for the table and for time.