Winemaker Interview Series – Mike Waller – Calera Winery – March 2026

On Wednesday, March 26, 2026, we interviewed Mike Waller. Mike is the Winemaker at Calera Winery. We covered the winery’s 2024 vintage Chenin Blanc and their 2023 Mount Harlan Chardonnay. Then we covered six single-vineyard Pinot Noir offerings from the 2023 vintage. As it always is with Mike, it was another great tasting! In this post, Mike shared updates since our last chat. You can also read our reviews of all of these terrific Calera wines.

Before we get to the wine reviews, I thought I would share a few tidbits that Mike shared in the interview.

• Tell us about these wines which come from the 2023 vintage?
  • 2023 was a big vintage.
  • It was their biggest rain year ever!
    • 43 inches. The normal average is 16 inches.
  • The crop came in late.
  • They got double the normal fruit.
• What about the subsequent vintages?
  • 2024 was fairly average. Good temperatures and no crazy heat.
  • 2025 never got warm.
  • 2026 was the earliest bud break ever and they got 7 inches of rain towards the end of February.
• Tell us about your winemaking process and decisions that you make?
  • Picks are based on flavors.
  • All Estate wines are processed as follows:
    • We use native yeasts rather than inoculating.
    • We prefer 100% whole cluster fermentations whenever possible.
    • Our wines are aged with minimal racking because we feel that every time you touch the wine you take more away from the grape.
    • Pinot Noir is fermented in open-top fermenters.
    • Single vineyard wines are aged in 60 gallon, 30% new French oak barrels for 16-18 months.
    • The wines are unfiltered, but they do get some fining.
  • Tell us about the Vineyards you use?
    • Is the Chenin Blanc still coming from the “Gemelli Vineyard” down the street? Yes!
    • Have the Selleck Vineyard & the Mills Vineyard been replanted?
      • Selleck was replanted to just rootstock, later in the spring it should be grafted.
      • 2 acres of Mills has been replanted.
    • Are you still on track for a Santa Cruz Pinot Noir in 2024?
      • Yes, the grapes were sourced from the “Coast Grade Vineyard.”
      • 2024 will be a blend of Muns and Coast Grande
      • 2025 will be solely Coast Grande.
    • Chalone Vineyard
      • Mainly Pommard and not doing whole cluster.
      • This is the last single vineyard bottling of the Chalone.
    • Sanford & Benedict Vineyard
      • Mainly 115 clone and not doing whole cluster.
    • De Villers Vineyard
      • Was planted in 1997. De Villiers is named for Marq de Villiers, author of “The Heartbreak Grape”, which tells the creation story of Calera.
      • Is between Mills and Jensen vineyards.
      • It needs 5 or 6 passes to harvest it all. Usually the 2^nd week of September and over 11 days.
      • In 2023, they finished on October 24^th.
    • Ryan Vineyard
      • Was planted in 1998, Ryan is named after Jim Ryan, Calera’s vineyard manager since 1979.
      • Ryan is on a gentle slope, so everything ripens evenly.
    • Reed Vineyard
      • Was planted in 1975. (51 years old)
      • Reed is named after William (Bill) G. Reed, Sr., one of Josh’s original partners and investors and a close friend.
    • Jensen Vineyard
      • Was planted in 1975 (also 51 years old)
      • Jensen is named after Stephen Jensen, Josh’s father. It produces impeccably balanced, rich, round and age-worthy wines.
      • They replanted an acre of Jensen recently.
        • They redirected the vines in the replanting to get more vines per acre.
    • Viognier Vineyard
      • Was planted in 1983.
      • This is some of the first Viognier planted in California.
    • What does the name Calera mean?
      • “Calera” is Spanish for Limekiln. This kiln was built circa 1860 for use in processing limestone rock for use in cement and mortar.
      • The image of the Limekiln is on the label.
    • What are some of Mike’s favorites?
      • Reed Vineyard – 2009 & 2016
      • Jensen Vineyard – 1997 & 2017

Below is a summary of the wine offerings from Calera that we covered with Mike. The links below are to our full reviews. If you are interested in ordering and trying these wines, you will find some of these wines via your favorite fine wine shop or on top quality wines lists. You can also purchase these wines on the Calera website.

1. Calera 2024 Chenin Blanc “Cienega Valley” $42 125 cs (RP 90) (KWGTP 93.5)
2. Calera 2023 Chardonnay “Mount Harlan” $70 800 cs (RP 93) (KWGTP 93)
3. Calera 2023 Pinot Noir “Chalone Vineyard” (Monterey County) $54 125 cs (KWGTP 92.5)
4. Calera 2023 Pinot Noir “Sanford & Benedict” (Santa Rita Hills) $54 150 cs (KWGTP 93)
5. Calera 2023 Pinot Noir “de Villiers Vineyard” (Mt. Harlan) $100 905 cs (KWGTP 94)
6. Calera 2023 Pinot Noir” Ryan Vineyard” $100 (Mt. Harlan) 1,750 cs (KWGTP 94.5)
7. Calera 2023 Pinot Noir “Reed Vineyard” $100 (Mt. Harlan) (KWGTP 94)
8. Calera 2023 Pinot Noir “Jensen” $130 (Mt. Harlan) (KWGTP 96.5)

Additional Dry Creek Vineyard Wines Covered In Other Tastings
9) Calera 2023 Viognier “Mount Harlan” $45 (KWGTP 93)
10) Calera 2023 Pinot Noir “Central Coast” $32 (KWGTP 92)
11) Calera 2024 “Vin Gris of Pinot Noir” $28 (KWGTP 89)

You can find reviews of past and future Calera wines that we cover on the Calera KWG winery page on our website. We hope you enjoy these terrific wines as much as we did. Cheers! – Ken