The people

Waits-Mast was founded by Brian Mast and Jennifer Waits. When we first met, we would often get together with friends and go on "moonlight meanders." Born of a love of poetry and the romance of a cool night in the mountains, these moonlit hikes led us through the lush hills of Northern California. Huddled on the dark hillsides, sharing our favorite poems, stories and tasty snacks, we needed something to warm our gullet and our soul. Wine was passed around, as was lively conversation. And as our literary tastes expanded, so too did our palates.

Like the moonlight meanders, we traversed the California coast, exploring its many wine regions — from Anderson Valley to Santa Barbara County. We plotted vacations around tasting rooms, wine-oriented restaurants and wine bars. And we've sunk ourselves into volumes of books to learn more about the history, landscape and process of winemaking. Like a verse that haunts you, Pinot Noir kept on finding us, tapping our shoulder. It was always (and remains) our favorite varietal. Simply enjoying this new passion wasn't enough, however; we committed ourselves to taking a crack at our own shared vision of Pinot Noir.

The wine

A good poem finds just the right words to express an emotion, an experience or a place. Similarly, a good bottle of wine can summon the beauty of the earth or transport you to another time, but more importantly, when surrounded by loved ones, it can stir the soul. When we make our small lot, single vineyard Pinot Noir, we want to bring you such an experience. We're meandering through some of the best growing regions for this varietal, looking to express a specific plot of land and a particular point in time…and then bring you a delicious bottle of wine to share with food, friends and perhaps some good poetry. Read more about each of our wines here.

The imagery

The imagery on our labels and website suggest both the mystical beauty that draws us away from the frenzy of the city, as well as the cool, foggy climate of the vineyards that produce incredible Pinot Noir. The fog on the label also reminds us of our own "cool grey city of love": San Francisco. It's a place with a rich history of poetry, romance and cuisine. A place where we make home and now, make wine.

The poetry

Watch for verses from our favorite poems - some about wine, some from San Francisco poets and some just because they are beautiful. We have a special affinity for George Sterling, an early 20th century San Francisco poet. A good friend read his poem "The Cool, Grey City of Love" at our wedding in San Francisco.

The bards of the barrel

A special thanks to winemakers Scott Shapley and Chris Nelson, who have shared our passion and have provided a guiding hand in creating these great wines, past and present.

– Brian Mast and Jennifer Waits, Proprietors