Casey and Nathan each took distinct paths to arrive where they are today. Nathan is a fourth-generation grape grower from the Napa Valley, while Casey’s roots are in Los Angeles, where a deep love for animals—particularly horses—led her to a career in wildlife biology. Over the last decade, she has focused on the business side of the wine industry, while Nathan has dedicated his career to reimagining traditional vineyard management methods, embracing biodynamic, no-till and grazing-based viticulture. His studies of thought leaders like Alan Savory and Nicole Masters have shaped his farming approach, and helped guide them down the path for their next venture in Elkton. Casey thrives in community, connection and creative pursuits, and recently completed a Fellowship with the Nrhythm and Capital Institutes, exploring how living systems models can transform organizational design and finance. Though she really finds her footing in business strategy, brand development, and marketing, she recognizes the ongoing journey of unlearning traditional views of "success," much like her ongoing evolution in horsemanship.
Together, they are in their third year of raising a herd of Katahdin sheep, alongside their guardian dogs, Argos and Nymeria, who spend most of the year in the vineyard. They are also deep in holistic land planning on their first property in Elkton, Oregon—a small town of 200 people located on the banks of the Umpqua River. They believe their vision to create a regenerative organization that blends crops, animals, and people is the best way to support the rural community. The location is ideal for farming, with its unique maritime climate and terraced slopes that make for excellent growing conditions, particularly for grapes and grazing ruminants.
Their inaugural wine label, Crew Work, launched in 2016, pays tribute to the individuals who have worked alongside them in pursuit of a shared mission—to do the best with what they have. Crew Work represents those who appreciate wine as they do friendship: full of character, nuance, and with a great story to tell.
