Jim Porter is a masterful wine maker from Santa Maria, California. He began making wine at a very young age just because he loved it. Jim put everything he had into use – kitchen utensils, strainers & trashcans while he was concocting his potions in his barn.

Spurred by his successes in home wine competitions and all of his family and friends enjoying his wine so much - Jim's dreams of becoming a wine maker were taking shape.

During his college years at California State At Fresno, he majored in Crop Science. His connections with various vineyards made through his agricultural irrigation business and everything he learned at Cal. State – Jim entered the commercial wine making scene in Santa Barbara County in 2003 and immediately began producing award-winning wines.

Jim knew where to go in his search along California's Central Coast – all the way from Monterey to Santa Barbara, learning the unique characteristics of soil and microclimate at each of the region's numerous vineyards, determining where to find grapes of the highest quality.

Jim believed that starting with the best from the soil up - he could utilize what he required to create delicious and unique wines.

Jim's vision is to make wines that sit comfortably somewhere between being fruit forward – stand alone wines, as well as food friendly wines for the ultimate pairing of taste and flavor for a delectable dining experience.

I met Jim in 2007 after moving to the Santa Ynez Valley. To say I went to a lot of wineries and tasted tons of wines is an understatement. Once I was introduced to Jim at a dinner at my own home, and tasted his wines – I knew I had found the wine maker to make my own dreams come true.

We have very similar palates and have the same passion in making the most deliciously satisfying wines possible.

The first 2 wines we "made" together were the 2007 SBC Chardonnay and the 2007 SBC Pinot Noir.

Jim – being a very patient and understanding man – allowed me to blend the barrels together for our 2007 Pinot Noir….it felt like a party with a purpose – so much fun!

Bottling day was an exciting and nerve-racking experience for me – I was smiling like a crazy person all over the place!

That feeling has stayed with me for each and every bottling we do.

Gioia would not be Gioia without Jim Porter.