THE SET is a project driven by brothers Christopher and Billy Hines on behalf of their family, all of whom are involved in the 50-acre estate. The goal is to use young vines from the family vineyards to create approachable, yet precise and balanced wines. The vineyards were planted with the guidance of consulting winemaker Sashi Moorman, who works with the family overseeing cellar operations.

Located in the eastern half of the Sta. Rita Hills, the vineyards are planted to take advantage of the cool climate and unique terroir of the region, and the property in particular, to grow cool weather varieties with organic farming techniques. Their focus on vine orientation and terroir specificity is showcased in their high-density east and west-facing plantings, and the use of blocks for all their vineyards. These blocks help shed light on the geographical variation that exists across their estate, along with the micro-climates in this part of the Sta. Rita Hills, which lends itself to mineral-dense wines.

THE SET showcases the distinct qualities of the Sta. Rita Hills AVA across a lineup of varieties that currently include Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Gamay, and Syrah. The cool climate and long growing season of this part of Santa Barbara County allow the vines to fully ripen their fruit while maintaining freshness and acidity from the coastal influence, resulting in complete wines that fully reflect terroir. Their goal is wine with a true balance between minerality, fruit depth, and length, all of which their family have admired in old world wines for generations, Christoper points out.

In the cellar, their team works with only the inputs the vineyards provide, using careful management of native fermentations to craft the wines. Across the range of red cuvées there is a focus on 50-100% whole cluster, while the Chardonnay is whole cluster-pressed to maximize extraction. The fermentations are spontaneous, and they believe in a sparing use of sulfur, and a minimal interventionist approach—no batonnage or remontage. Overall, their philosophy is to achieve a wine as natural as possible; while always prioritizing quality of the finished wine.