ALTA [Latin: High, Deep Rooted ]
ORSA [Latin: Beginning, Undertaking]
ALTA ORSA embodies authentic old-world craftsmanship and the trailblazing spirit of farmers looking to regenerate soils, ecosystems, and relationships. This vision to move farming beyond our fences has led us on the journey to find exceptional grape growers who are willing to break the conventional farming model. Today, we craft elegant, balanced, minimal-intervention wines from our estate vineyard and a few trusted partner Sonoma and Mendocino growers - each bottle a reflection of the ecosystem and terroir it came from.
ALTA ORSA is the story of our land, the vision and labor of winemaker Martin Bernal-Hafner, Roger Peng, and Ricardo Garcia. Farming is the core chapter of our story and has been for more than three decades. As stewards of this 160-acre mountain property in Mendocino County, we farm in a holistic manner – meaning we use organic and regenerative viticultural practices. Patience, observation, science, and experimentation guide our approach. Since the planting of our high-density vineyard in the 1980s, we have practiced no-till farming, minimal organic sprays, no tractors between the rows, and no herbicides under the vine.
ORSA is a tale of appellations. We aim to highlight the character of each region by producing lively and expressive wines through minimal intervention in the winery. These wines are the introduction to the breadth of our winemaking, our story, and North Coast appellations.
We’ve woven our mission to deeply connect with the land, our wines, and patrons into the fabric of Alta Orsa. We strive to honor the land through wines – capturing their uniqueness while building a sustainable business. Due to small production levels, the wines are available straight from us to consumers, select restaurants, and retail shops, so that those who enjoy our wines can become part of our adventure. We aim to be transparent, focused, and committed to our community.
Follow our journey.
