Once Future
Summary
Once & Future is Joel Peterson's small-scale, personally-driven winery in Los Carneros, California, focusing on single-vineyard Zinfandel and heritage varieties sourced from historic vineyards throughout the state, including century-old plantings at Bedrock, Oakley Road, and Teldeschi. Peterson employs traditional techniques including native yeast fermentations in open-top vessels, hand punch-downs, and French oak aging tailored to each vineyard, producing fewer than 500 cases per designation to maintain meticulous attention to detail.
Heritage & Leadership
Once and Future was established in 2013 by Joel Peterson, marking his return to small-scale, hands-on winemaking after his earlier career founding and building Ravenswood Winery. Peterson founded Ravenswood in 1976 and spent decades developing it into one of California's most recognized zinfandel producers before its acquisition by Constellation Brands in 2001. Once and Future represents Peterson's return to his roots as a craftsman winemaker, focusing on small-lot, single-vineyard wines.
The winery's name reflects this journey—drawing from Peterson's past experience while looking toward new possibilities. Peterson remains the sole proprietor and winemaker, bringing over four decades of California winemaking expertise to this focused project. His son Morgan Twain-Peterson, founder of Bedrock Wine Co., occasionally collaborates with his father, creating a multigenerational connection to California's winemaking heritage.
Vineyards & Wines
Once and Future sources fruit from historic vineyards throughout California, with a particular focus on old-vine Zinfandel and other heritage varieties. Key vineyard sources include the Bedrock Vineyard in Sonoma Valley, planted in 1888; Oakley Road Vineyard in Contra Costa County, featuring 120+ year-old vines in sandy soils; and Teldeschi Vineyard in Dry Creek Valley, where Peterson has worked with the fruit since the 1980s.
Additional vineyard sources include Sangiacomo's Roberts Road Vineyard for Petite Sirah, Palisades Vineyard in Calistoga for Petite Sirah, and Oakville's I. Brand Vineyard for Mataro (Mourvèdre). Each vineyard selection reflects Peterson's decades-long relationships with growers and his intimate knowledge of California's viticultural landscape.
The portfolio centers on single-vineyard Zinfandel, complemented by Petite Sirah, Mataro, and Carignane—varieties with deep historical roots in California. Production remains deliberately small, typically fewer than 500 cases per vineyard designation, allowing for meticulous attention to each lot.
Philosophy & Practice
Peterson's winemaking approach at Once and Future emphasizes traditional techniques that showcase vineyard character. Fermentations occur in small open-top vessels with native yeasts, and punch-downs are performed by hand. Peterson employs minimal intervention during the winemaking process, avoiding additions and manipulations that might obscure vineyard expression.
For aging, Peterson selects French oak barrels, with new oak percentages tailored to each vineyard and variety. Aging periods typically range from 12 to 18 months, depending on the wine. Bottling occurs without filtration to preserve complexity and aging potential.
This approach reflects Peterson's commitment to highlighting California's viticultural heritage through wines that balance power with structure and site-specificity. The focus remains on preserving the distinctive character of historic vineyards and traditional varieties that have defined California wine for generations.