Born from a desire to reconnect with the land and grow something meaningful, Strange Family Vineyards is evolving from a household passion project into a boutique winery, specializing in pinot noir and chardonnay.
As part of their commitment to building connections with the local land and community, the family opened a new tasting room in Los Olivos, bringing the tasting experience closer to their vineyard in the Sta. Rita Hills. Family values are woven into every aspect of their business, co-owner Shamra Strange explained, which takes visitors beyond tasting.
“It’s bigger than a glass of wine,” Strange said. “It’s actually a way of living, a way of communicating, a way of relating to the land. I think that our intentions with starting out, which was to build and bond as a family, grew into building and bonding as a community.”
The newly opened tasting room, located at 2933 Grand Ave., offers a selection of Strange Family Vineyards’ wines as well as a variety of nonalcoholic botanical elixirs. According to Strange, stepping into the space feels like walking into a “modern old-world apothecary” thanks to its earthy and moody aesthetics.
She emphasized that their focus on the environment as a theme is reflected in more than just the appearance of the tasting room—it’s ingrained in the way Strange Family Vineyards operates. The family strives to produce quality and sustainable wines through organic and regenerative farming practices.
“I think there’s a movement, and you can feel it in our tasting room,” Strange said. “We’re leaning into something that’s really important, which is the environment.”
Just as they nurture the land, Strange noted that it’s also important for the family business to nurture relationships within the community. To do so, they host events and workshops, such as writing salons and holiday craft sessions, in partnership with other local businesses.
Strange said that the company started as a family venture, and over the years, the family has expanded with the people they’ve hired and the customers they’ve acquired.
“I think there’s a feeling when you come into Strange—and we hear this all the time—that it feels like an extended family,” Strange said. “We started as a family, we grew the family, and people feel like they’re a part of the family.”
Having been part of the Strange’s journey for many years, Mary Andreasen, manager of Strange Family Vineyards, shares in the values of inclusivity and community building. She emphasized that creating a welcoming space for everyone, regardless of their preferences, has always been a priority.
“We want everyone to have a seat at the table,” Andreasen noted. “That’s why we introduced the nonalcoholics, because some people just don’t drink, or maybe somebody’s pregnant, or a designated driver.”
Andreasen joked about sounding cliché when she said that no one is a stranger at Strange Family Vineyards.
“Everybody is a friend here,” she said, “and everyone belongs.”
Contributor Emma Montalbano wants to know what you value at emontalbano@newtimesslo.com.
This article appears in Jan 2-12, 2025.