About Us
A Five-Generation
Legacy of
Exceptional Winemaking

Estate-grown wines handcrafted in the Santa Cruz Mountains

Taste the difference of a singular focus: remarkable wines crafted exclusively from our mountain vineyards.

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Vineyard

What makes us Different

When you taste our wines, you're experiencing something rare - we're among just 7% of wineries that grow all their own grapes. This commitment to estate-grown wines gives us complete control over quality, from vine to bottle.

Our standards include:

  • Small-batch production to ensure consistency
  • Only the highest quality new oak barrels
  • Sustainable farming practices throughout our vineyard
  • Every decision guided by "What will make the absolute best wine?"
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Bottles of fernwood cellars white wine
vineyards

Meet Our Winemaker
Matt Oetinger

Before founding Fernwood Cellars, Matt Oetinger earned his biology degree from UC Davis and honed his craft managing vineyards across California, including serving as vineyard manager at Clos LaChance Winery

Beyond crafting Fernwood's estate wines, Matt helps wine enthusiasts create their own piece of wine country, offering his expertise to design and manage custom home vineyards.

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Matt Oetinger and his wife
Matt Oetinger

Our Mountain Home

Fernwood Cellars sits at the base of the Santa Cruz Mountains on historic Redwood Retreat Road in Gilroy.

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clouds
  • Natural cooling
    from ocean Influence
vineyards
  • Mountain soils
    perfect for wine growing
close up shot of a fernwood cellars wine glass
  • Warm
    valley sunshine
close up shot of a tree
  • A distinctive terroir
    that shapes our wines

Our History:
The legacy of Redwood Retreat

Originally homesteaded in 1863, this land has evolved from a Victorian resort to today's winery, each generation adding to its story while preserving its character.

1863:

First Generation Charles and Annis Sanders homesteaded 98 acres during the Gold Rush, establishing Redwood Retreat through the Homestead Act. Charles later built a grand 20-room Victorian hotel, making it a premier Bay Area destination.

1910-1929:

Second Generation Gypsy Sanders, youngest child of Charles and Annis, operated the mountain resort with her family. Under her care, the lodge and cabins became a beloved retreat for Bay Area visitors seeking peace in the mountains.

1931:

Third Generation Charles Pond inherited the property. With his wife Elsie, he maintained Redwood Retreat through the challenges of tuberculosis and the Great Depression, preserving the family's mountain legacy.

1991:

Fourth Generation Linda Pond-Oetinger recognized the land's potential for wine making. She planted our first modern vineyards and established the water systems that would lay the foundation for Fernwood Cellars.

1999:

Fifth Generation Matt Oetinger founded Fernwood Cellars, combining his UC Davis education with hands-on vineyard experience. Today, he continues the family tradition while crafting exceptional wines from our estate-grown grapes.

Experience Fernwood Cellars

Join us for a weekend tasting and discover what makes our mountain-grown wines unique.

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  • Hours

  • We are open the first and third weekend of the month from 12:00pm to 4:45 pm, with the last pour at 4:30 pm

    We are open the first and third weekend of the month from 12:00pm to 4:45 pm, with the last pour at 4:30 pm

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