Estate Vineyards
Dry Farming
Dry Farming is a rare practice in Santa Barbara County, but it is a winegrowing style that is near and dear to our hearts. It requires the vines to rely solely on natural rainfall rather than irrigation.
At both Tinaquaic and Ernesto Wickenden vineyards, dry farming has encouraged the vines to develop deep root systems, resulting in naturally lower yields and fruit with exceptional concentration, complexity, and a true expression of the unique soils and coastal climate.
While challenging in dry years, this sustainable approach produces wines of remarkable character and a sense of place.
Our Mission
Wine growing Ethos
Our mission as wine growers is very simple and best summed up by our Founder Bill Wathen,
“Respect the vines and let the wines make themselves with little or no intervention.”
Sip Certified
At Foxen, being SIP (Sustainability in Practice) Certified is about more than sustainable farming—it reflects our responsibility to the land, our team, and the community we are a part of.
As stewards of these vineyards, we believe great wine begins with healthy soils, thriving ecosystems, and thoughtful farming practices that protect our natural resources for future generations. SIP Certification provides a framework for us to farm with intention, support biodiversity, and care for the people who make our wines possible.
It’s a commitment that aligns with our values and helps ensure that the vineyards we cherish today will continue to thrive for years to come.
Ongoing experiments
Sustainability in Action!
Want to learn more about our sustainability efforts and SIP Certification?
Our team would love to tell you all about it.
EV Charger
On-site estate EV Chargers
Our charging station partner, TurnOnGreen, uses the Epic Charging app to make these go.
The easiest way to get charging is to download the Epic Charging app before you leave home, but instructions are on the chargers as well.
If downloading the app and setting up your account while at FOXEN, you’ll need to connect to our Wi-Fi as celluar service is limited in Foxen Canyon.
No Tilling
No TIlling Vineyard Practices
At FOXEN, we practice no-till farming in many of our estate vineyards to promote healthy living soils.
By minimizing soil disturbance, we help retain moisture, reduce erosion, encourage beneficial soil microbes, and support long-term vineyard health.
This sustainable approach not only protects the land but also helps our vines thrive naturally, producing grapes that reflect the character of the Santa Maria Valley.
Raptor Perch
Raptor Perch
If you know FOXEN, you know we love our birds! That is why we’ve installed raptor perches throughout our estate vineyards, inviting hawks, owls, and other birds of prey to make themselves at home.
These natural hunters help keep rodent populations in check, reducing the need for intervention while supporting the balance of the land.
It’s a simple and meaningful way we work alongside nature to care for our vineyards and preserve them for future generations.
Also, who doesn’t love looking a beautiful birds while tasting wine?!
Bee Friendly Plants
Bee-Friendly Plants
Bee-friendly plants play an important role in a healthy vineyard ecosystem. By planting flowering species around our vineyards, we provide habitat and food sources for bees and other beneficial pollinators that support biodiversity.
These thriving insect populations contribute to a balanced environment, helping us farm more sustainably while protecting the natural beauty and ecological health of our land.
We love our bees!
Composting Practices
Composting Projects
Composting at FOXEN is our newest sustainability project. Composting is a natural way to return valuable nutrients back to the soil.
By incorporating compost into our vineyards, we improve soil health, increase water retention, and support the beneficial microbes that help vines thrive.
This sustainable practice reduces the need for synthetic inputs and reduces waste at our facility.
