Winery Story

Dragonette

By the early 2000s, Santa Barbara County was still a rising star in the California wine landscape. Pinot Noir and Syrah had begun to gain attention, yet the region still retained a frontier spirit. It was into this mix that brothers John and Steve Dragonette, along with their close friend Brandon Sparks-Gillis, launched Dragonette Cellars in 2005. Twenty years later, the trio remains dedicated to the same philosophy that guided their early days: a deep respect for vineyards, a hands-on approach to farming, and a commitment to making wines that speak of place rather than style.

Three's Company

The three founders came to wine from different backgrounds. Sparks-Gillis, who grew up in the Pacific Northwest, says he stumbled into the subject unexpectedly. “I grew up with no exposure to wine at all—my parents and even my grandparents didn’t drink,” he recalls. His first encounter came in college at Walla Walla, Washington, just as...