We take pride in our commitment to estate-grown, estate-farmed wines, and this connection to the land drives everything we do.
The original Gatekeeper, Bud’s Blend, was introduced in 2013 as part of the Cooper family of wines in tribute to our first winery dog. Over the years, the winemaking team began exploring other untraditional blends and varietals to highlight the depth of diversity of our estate vineyard. These wines offered a creative opportunity to move beyond Cooper's traditional Bordeaux-inspired varietals and create something unique, inventive, and original. Today, we are proud to present a full lineup of Gatekeeper wines, each with its own authentic story.
THE OG
Formerly Bud’s Blend, The OG is dedicated to the memory of our first winery dog as the original gatekeeper. Inspired by owner Neil Cooper’s college years in Paso Robles, this first creative exploration highlights the rich, fruit-forward complexity Zinfandel contributes to an untraditional red blend. The OG represents the inception of the Gatekeeper story.
Zinfandel | Syrah | Malbec
MENTOR
We know and love Carménère. We farm the largest and earliest plantings on Red Mountain, and we’ve learned a lot from working with this varietal over the past fifteen years. From pick timing to fermentation to barrel selection, we strive to make a wine with a developed savory character, silky tannins, and a long finish. A unique blend of co-fermented Cabernet Sauvignon and Carménère, Mentor is named for our ongoing study of the grape and Bud’s time training Buc to be a winery dog.
Cabernet Sauvignon | Carménère
NEBBIOLO
The story of why we make this wine involves an unexpected vineyard planting turned pleasant surprise. Our small block of estate-farmed Nebbiolo, as expressed through our Red Mountain terroir, offers a distinct wine with elegant color, floral aromatics, and a pronounced, bold structure.
Nebbiolo
SIDEKICK
Sidekick is a Sangiovese-based red blend inspired by the trailblazing spirit of Super Tuscans. These modern old-world wines were born out of frustration with Italy’s traditional and strict wine production rules of what varietals could be grown and blended. Following that lead, our small block of estate-grown Sangiovese brings a lively lift to the traditional Bordeaux varietals.
Sangiovese | Merlot
CERBERUS ROSÉ
Named for the three-headed dog that guards the entrance to the Underworld in Greek mythology, Cerberus is crafted from a trio of estate-farmed varietals. This wine is made by the saignée method, where a portion of the juice is bled off during the red winemaking process. The result is a unique, delicate rosé with a very big name.
Zinfandel | Nebbiolo | Sangiovese
PORTIERA
A portiera is a female gatekeeper and caretaker. This wine is named in honor of Cheri-- the gatekeeper, orchestrator, and heart of our winery guest experiences—which often come with a shoosh. Viognier’s richly aromatic tropical fruit and Chardonnay’s lush complexity combine for a truly unique untraditional white wine blend.
Viognier | Chardonnay