When we started dreaming about creating our own winery, we knew the name had to mean something more than just a label on a bottle. It needed to represent our story, our connection to the outdoors, and the landscapes that have shaped who we are.
Rockbound comes from Rockbound Lake, a hidden gem nestled in the Sierra Nevada mountains near Lake Tahoe. Surrounded by a dramatic granite bowl, the lake is a place that feels both rugged and peaceful—a place where you can disconnect from the noise of everyday life and reconnect with nature.
For us, that feeling has always been tied to adventure.
For many years, Colby and I have spent our summers exploring the wilderness around the Rubicon Trail near Lake Tahoe. Camping, four-wheeling, and spending time outdoors have always been a big part of our lives. I drive a 2006 Jeep Wrangler, and Colby’s trusty adventure vehicle has long been his 1985 Toyota 4Runner (although he has collected a few other “toys” along the way). For us, these aren’t just vehicles—they are tools that allow us to explore places that most people never get to see.
Every Fourth of July, we pack up and head into the mountains for at least a week. No cell phones. No internet. No distractions. Just dirt roads, campfires, star-filled skies, good food, and time together. It’s our annual reset—a chance to step away from the pace of everyday life and remember what really matters.
Now, we get to share that same sense of adventure with our kids. Watching them explore the outdoors, discover new places, and create their own memories has made these trips even more special. The same places that gave us so many memories are now becoming part of their story too.
And then there are the rocks.
We have always had a fascination with rocks. Maybe it’s because they are a physical reminder of the places we’ve been and the adventures we’ve had. Over the years, we collected rocks from our travels and somehow managed to move a growing pile of them with us through every chapter of our lives—including our move to Paso Robles.
When we opened our tasting room, we knew we wanted those pieces of our history to be part of the space. Our bar is built in a gabion-style design, filled with rocks from our vineyard and rocks we have collected throughout our lives. Every stone has a story. Some come from the land we farm, and others come from places that hold special memories for our family.
It’s a small piece of who we are, built right into the place where we share our wines with you.
When we moved to Paso Robles, one of the first things that captured our attention was the incredible landscape and the region’s famous calcareous soils. Those limestone-rich rocks beneath the vines are a defining characteristic of the area, influencing drainage, vine health, and ultimately the wines produced here.
It felt like the perfect connection.
The same rugged landscapes that have always drawn us outdoors—the granite mountains, rocky trails, and wild places—also led us here to Paso Robles, where rocks tell another story through the vines. The land has a voice, and the rocks are part of that story.
From the mountains of the Sierra Nevada to the limestone soils of our Adelaida District vineyard, Rockbound represents our connection to the places we love, the adventures that shaped us, and the land that allows us to create wine.
We hope that when you visit us, you don’t just taste what’s in the bottle—you feel a little bit of the story behind it.
Welcome to Rockbound.
