The FOXEN Legacy
The Foxen Boys:Meet Dick & Bill
In the late 1970s, Dick and Bill met while working at Mesa Vineyard and decided it would be fun to make a little wine of their own— so they did!
In 1985, they turned that idea into reality, founding Foxen Vineyard on the historic Rancho Tinaquaic, land that has been in Dick’s family since 1837. Their first vintage was famously made on Dick’s basketball court, launching what would become one of Santa Barbara County’s pioneering wineries.
More than four decades later, the “Foxen Boys” remain guided by the same principles that inspired them from the beginning: creating terroir-driven, sustainably grown wines celebrating Santa Barbara County— and having a laugh and a few beers while doing it!
Our Symbol
What’s withthe Anchor?
William Benjamin Foxen, our owner Dick Doré’s great-grandfather, was a British sea captain who came to Santa Barbara County in the early 1800s.
He acquired the former land grant, Rancho Tinaquaic, in 1837 (in what is now Foxen Canyon) and made his home as a rancher.
In his blacksmith shop he made his own plows, horseshoes and branding irons with the anchor logo as a memory of his life at sea. He later on bred horses, some of whom pulled the first streetcars in San Francisco, branded with the anchor.
A tall marble shaft, carved to represent a broken mast of a ship, marks his final resting place.
THE original Winery
The Shack
The Shack is the heart and soul of FOXEN, it is where we got our start. Built in the 1860s, The Shack was the original blacksmith shop on the historic Rancho Tinaquaic, which was founded by Benjamin Foxen.
When we opened the winery in 1985, Dick and Bill could be found sitting on a cooler, enjoying a beer and waiting for someone to come by and try their wine.
Today, things have changed a bit, but we never forget where we came from!
Our Current Iteration
Foxen Estate& Winery
In 2008, we finished construction on an updated facility just down the road from the Shack.
Our new tasting room and winery allowed FOXEN to expand our production, create more refined wines, and achieve our mission of sustainable wine making and growing.
This new tasting room and winery is solar powered, has a temperature controlled barrel room, and allows for more space for our guests to enjoy our wines and the FOXEN experience.
Meet all Our people
The Team
We are a small but mighty team—two families with one goal—make great wines!
Founder
Dick Doré
Dick began Foxen in 1985 with his close friend Bill Wathen on his family’s land in the Santa Maria Valley. Rancho Tinaquaic, where the winery is still located today, was acquired in 1837 by Dick’s great-great grandfather, William Benjamin Foxen. Dick gained his love of wines while living and traveling with his family throughout Europe and brought that passion for great wines back to Santa Barbara County. Dick and his wife Jenny made up Foxen’s Sales & Marketing leadership team until handing those duties over to Jenny’s daughter, Kaitlin. They recently welcomed a new puppy named Willie into their home.
Favorite Foxen Wine
Bien Nacido Vineyard, Block 8 Pinot Noir
Founder
Bill Wathen
Bill was born and raised in San Luis Obispo and graduated from Cal Poly University with a degree in Fruit Science and Vineyard Management. He began his career farming vineyards for Louie Lucas and then as vineyard manager at Chalone Vineyard. Under Dick Graff at Chalone, Bill learned French winemaking techniques and gained a love of Old World wines. In the early ’80s he returned to Santa Barbara County, and in 1985 he and Dick made Foxen’s first wine on Dick’s basketball court at Rancho Tinaquaic. Bill’s wine making philosophy has always been “… respect the vine and let the wines make themselves with little or no intervention.” Bill lives in the Santa Ynez Valley with his wife Becky and their two dogs, Rosie and Sunny.
Favorite Foxen Wine
"Whatever my dinner plans call for!" -Bill
associate winegrower
Bingo Wathen
A second-generation member of the Foxen team, Bingo Wathen has spent most of his life working various jobs within the wine industry, from local harvest intern to a stint in Burgundy with Olivier Merlin, and several years studying and working as a sommelier.
In 2019 he returned home to Foxen Vineyards and has spent the last six years learning the craft of winemaking under the tutelage of his father, Bill Wathen, and building an understanding of the various terroirs of Santa Barbara County. In 2023 Bingo assumed responsibility over the management of Foxen’s estate vineyard.
Favorite Foxen Wine
Tinaquaic Vineyard Cabernet Franc
VP, Operations & Finance
Riley Wathen Slack
Riley Wathen Slack has been immersed in the wine industry her entire life, growing up walking through vineyards and climbing on barrels with her father, Bill Wathen, co-founder of Foxen Vineyard.
After getting her degree from the University of California, Santa Barbara in 2009, she excitedly joined Foxen to assist in opening the “new” Foxen tasting room. After some time away from wine working in the San Francisco tech industry, she returned to Foxen in 2019 where she is now Vice President of Operations & Finance, working directly with the founders and additional second-generation family members on Foxen’s future success.
When Riley is away from the winery, you can find her enjoying local culinary delights, hiking or having a beach day with her husband Chuck, swimming laps in a pool, or snuggling with her two cats while reading a book.
Favorite Foxen Wine
Ernesto Wickenden Vineyard Chenin Blanc
VP, Sales & Marketing
Kaitlin Armstrong
Kaitlin started with Foxen in 2014 after working for a wine distributor and importer in San Diego, CA. Born and raised in the Santa Ynez Valley, she learned everything she knows about wine sales and marketing from her mom, Jenny. She lives in Los Olivos with her two boys, Hudson and Waylon, their dog Lucy and one very fat cat named Woody.
When not working or cheering on her boys at sporting events, she can be found having a margarita with her partner Adrian—always with a Tajín rim!
Favorite Foxen Wine
Sparkling Chenin Blanc
Our Furry Support Staff
The FOxen Pups
warm, sunny spot finder
Rosie
Rosie is the older Border Terrier of our founders, Bill and Becky.
She can usually be found walking around the production area with Bill and searching for a sunny spot to take a nap.
Director of Pest Control
Sunny
Sunny, Rosie’s younger brother, also belongs to Bill and Becky.
Sunny is often found hunting (and catching!) gophers or rats, chewing a stick, or looking for a lap to jump in.
Head of Security
Hazel
Hazel belongs to Bingo and his wife, Kevyn. Hazel’s job is to greet all truck drivers coming on the property with a couple barks to let everyone know they are there.
Watch out, if you leave your lunch bag unzipped, Hazel might help herself— as our Tasting Room Manager, Simone, has experienced more than once!
