Terra Sonoma Food Company

Justin Miller and Karin Warnelius, a husband and wife team, have literally grown up together in the Alexander Valley of Sonoma County.

Karin immigrated from Sweden to the United States at the age of three landing in Skokie, Illinois, a small suburb outside of Chicago. After only 6 months, the family bought an RV and headed west. The drove to a friends ranch in Lodi, California where they grew peaches and almonds. A year later her family had the opportunity to move to Geyserville in Sonoma County - this was the Miller ranch. The families became friends and the rest is really history. (Well, there may be a bit more in between...)

Justin has lived on his family ranch his entire life. He knows every stone, every tree, every part of the ranch is really a part of him. Justin took over the reigns from his father at the ripe age of 18 - granted there was a period of adjustment - but it didn't take long before his ideas for farming were seen to be flourishing in the vineyards. There's always the struggle between generations over what can be changed and simplified - and what's right and wrong. That's just the way it is.

Today, Justin and Karin run the family ranch and vineyards. "There's such a fascination and attraction with winegrowing - but the real truth is it's hard work. You're dealing with mother nature and she can be unpredictable. Karin and I wake up each morning at dawn looking out at the vineyards and I wouldn't have it any other way.” comments Justin.

"I grew up in a farming family that always worked together - we had to in order to survive back then. One summer we planted over 50 acres of grapevines - with only six of us! There's something very satisfying about working together - working the soil and watching the vines grow. Farming has been a passion in my family for many generations and we plan on handing this down to our children one day. ” says Karin.

Both Justin and Karin have a great respect for the land. Nature is truly amazing and we all have much to learn in terms of sustainability and allowing things to take its’ natural course. We farm organically - as minimalists. We compost, grow cover crops, water only when necessary and allow the vines to guide us. We also grow organically without being certified - growing organically means basically to promote the health of the soil.

We are farmers because we love it! To us the true essence of being a farmer is living as a part of the land.

This is exactly why we have created our Terra Sonoma VerJus and want to share it with you!