29 Dec 2025 Wrapped
Reflecting on 2025: A Year of Challenges, Growth, and Milestones at Joseph Jewell Wines
2025 has been an interesting year for the wine industry. Truthfully, this business has never been easy to navigate, and starting Joseph Jewell Wines during the Great Recession taught me early on how to handle uncertainty and bumpy roads. That experience has proven valuable once again.
While there has certainly been turbulence this year — from shifting consumer habits to continued pressure across the industry — the ups have outweighed the downs. Looking back, there’s a lot to be proud of. Here are a few highlights from the past year.
National Recognition
One of the biggest personal and professional honors this year was being named one of Imbibe Magazine’s “75 People to Watch.” It was incredibly humbling to be recognized alongside so many thoughtful and forward-thinking voices in food and wine, and it reaffirmed the path we’re on at Joseph Jewell. Read the article here.
A Special Project for the 2025 U.S. Open
This year we had the opportunity to produce a custom wine in collaboration with Grapes to Glass and Kevin Perez in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, created specifically for Oakmont Country Club, host of the 2025 U.S. Open Golf Tournament. Projects like this are a reminder that wine connects people and places in unexpected ways — and that our work can travel far beyond Sonoma County.
Humboldt County in the Spotlight: A San Francisco Chronicle Feature
One of the most meaningful moments of 2025 for Joseph Jewell Wines was seeing Humboldt County featured in the San Francisco Chronicle — a major publication asking a serious question: Can Humboldt become California’s next great wine region?
The article followed my journey farming vineyards in Humboldt County, documenting what it truly takes to grow grapes in a place better known for redwoods, fog, and — historically — cannabis. The Chronicle detailed the three-hour drive north from Forestville, followed by another hour up winding dirt roads, just to reach small, remote vineyard sites perched at nearly 2,000 feet. It’s not easy farming, and the piece didn’t shy away from that reality.
As Chronicle wine reporter Jess Lander wrote, Joseph Jewell Wines is “slowly revealing the potential of the cool and foggy region in the face of climate change,” positioning Humboldt as something more than a novelty and challenging the idea that great California wine only comes from established regions
The article also explored why Humboldt matters now more than ever. With rising temperatures impacting many traditional wine regions, Humboldt’s cool climate, long growing season, and extended hang time allow for lower sugars, higher natural acidity, and wines with a distinctly different character. I described our Humboldt Pinots in the article as “more rustic” and “a bit edgier” than their Russian River counterparts — firmer tannins balanced by bright, energetic acidity — a reflection of place rather than trend
Beyond the wines themselves, the Chronicle highlighted a deeper motivation behind the work: a desire to help Humboldt County become recognized for fine wine, not just its past. As quoted in the article, “It’s a way for me to grow my identity outside of the norm,” while also acknowledging that for the region to truly succeed, “we need more people there making good wine”
For Joseph Jewell Wines, this feature wasn’t just press — it was validation of years spent farming difficult sites, investing in overlooked vineyards, and believing that Humboldt County belongs in the larger conversation about the future of California wine.
Expanding Our Farming Footprint
This year we took over farming a second Humboldt County vineyard, Fruitland Ridge Vineyard, located right next to Elk Prairie Vineyard, which we already farm. Being more directly involved in the vineyards we source from allows us to farm with intention, consistency, and a long-term vision — and it strengthens our commitment to this remarkable region.
A Decade in Forestville
2025 marked ten years in our Forestville tasting room, a space that has become the heart of Joseph Jewell Wines. It’s been a place for conversations, friendships, celebrations, and countless shared bottles. As a reminder of how fast time moves, it also means my oldest daughter, Harlow, turned 10 this year — a milestone that puts everything into perspective.
Our 20th Harvest
We also completed our 20th harvest at Joseph Jewell Wines, a moment that feels both surreal and deeply meaningful. Two decades of harvests represent perseverance, evolution, and a continued belief in making wines that reflect place and intention.
Wines You Loved Most
This year also gave us insight into what resonated most with our community, with several wines standing out as top sellers across the tasting room, wine club, and online. Your continued support for these wines is what allows us to keep farming thoughtfully and producing wines we believe in.
As we move forward, I’m grateful — for our growers, our team, our supporters, and everyone who continues to show up for small, independent wineries like ours. Thank you for being part of the journey, and here’s to what comes next.