Welcome to Storm Wines
Wines with Personality and Character
Rooted in the rolling hills of Santa Barbara County, Storm Wines blends old-world sensibility with new-world innovation. Our mission is simple: to craft elegant, balanced wines that reflect the distinct personality of each vintage and vineyard site.
About Our Wines
Each Storm wine is truly handcrafted—shaped by time-honored techniques and thoughtful innovation. We source all our fruit from long-standing relationships with sustainable, organic, or biodynamic vineyards, ensuring a strong connection to the land and the people who farm it.
Our wines are a reflection of their origins—expressing terroir, climate, and character with every bottle.
Meet the Winemaker: Ernst Storm
Born and raised in South Africa, Ernst Storm studied viticulture and enology at Elsenburg Agricultural School, just outside of Stellenbosch. After early winemaking stints in both the Stellenbosch and Walker Bay regions—and a few collaborative projects with his brother Hannes—Ernst set his sights on California.
His first U.S. stop was in the Sierra Foothills, where he learned to navigate warmer climates and manage riper, higher pH wines. Longing for the balance and finesse of cool-climate varietals like Pinot Noir and Sauvignon Blanc, he eventually discovered Santa Barbara County—a region whose Mediterranean climate and diverse soils reminded him of home.
After working at Firestone Winery and later Curtis Winery, Ernst founded Storm Wines in 2006, beginning with just six barrels. Today, Storm is devoted to crafting classically styled wines from proven vineyard sites, always with a focus on balance, vintage character, and site expression.
Ernst’s brother, Hannes Storm, launched Storm Wines – South Africa in 2012, specializing in Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley—making this truly a family story told through wine on two continents.
Visit Us
2948 San Marcos Ave, Los Olivos, CA 93441
[[email protected]](mailto:[email protected])
(805) 350-9456
Come experience the elegance and personality of Storm Wines—where each bottle tells a story of place, time, and purpose.
