Grape Collective recently featured an in-depth Q&A with Far Mountain Winemaker & Owner Rodrigo Soto, exploring his journey from Chile to Sonoma’s Moon Mountain District and the philosophy shaping the young estate.
Soto, who launched Far Mountain in 2018 with his wife Mai Errazuriz, focuses on Cabernet Sauvignon from the rugged volcanic slopes of Moon Mountain and high-elevation Chardonnay from dry-farmed vineyards planted in the 1970s. His approach blends organic and biodynamic farming with minimal intervention winemaking, always “working with nature rather than against nature.”
Veteran viticulturist Phil Coturri calls Soto’s work “really unique,” noting: “When you taste through his wines, you’re essentially tasting a cross-section of the entire appellation. He brings out the character of each site and is one of the few winemakers who really lets the vineyard speak.”
On his vision for the Fission Cabernet Sauvignon, Soto says: “You taste the old flavors of Cabernet—a little bit of rough edges here and there, but bright acidity that makes them feel fresh and at the same time versatile.”
The high-elevation Myrna Chardonnay, grown at 1,800 feet, is equally distinctive, with salinity and tension rare in California examples. Soto describes the style as “classic” yet marked by verticality—tannins and structure in harmony with fruit, spice, and earth.
Soto’s vision is to create wines with brightness, depth, and a true sense of place—wines that connect with the land as deeply as he does.
It is a great article; read the full interview HERE.
