Wine · Santa Cruz area, California
Florez Wines
Low-intervention Santa Cruz wines from winemaker James Jelks.
- Founded
- 2017
- Founded by
- James Jelks
- Based in
- Santa Cruz area, California
Making it since
2017
Their story
Florez Wines is the label of James Jelks, who was born in Santa Cruz and grew up in Davis. After studying viticulture and enology at UC Davis, he spent about a decade working cellars in Burgundy and New Zealand before coming home.
He started Florez in 2017, focusing on Santa Cruz County and the wider Central Coast. The wines are known for playful names and a fresh, easy style, with bottlings like the Lava Lamp red and the Kind of Orange sauvignon blanc.
How it's made
Jelks farms some organic, dry-farmed vineyards himself and buys from organic and sustainable growers, favoring old mixed-variety sites. Fermentations use native yeasts, with no additives and no filtration. The wines rest on their lees without sulfur, with a small amount added at bottling.
Why we carry them
Florez wines are bright and easy to love, the kind we like to chill slightly and open with dinner. A good introduction for anyone curious about natural wine from close to home.
Find more makers like this in Provisions Club, our curated subscription.
Explore Provisions Club