Owner

Michael Larner traded his rock pick for pruning sheers when he found his way to the idyllic Santa Ynez Valley in Santa Barbara County. This California native is a trained geotechnical engineer, but while working under the scorching heat to build a runway at the McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas, he got a call about a broken tractor on the family property in Santa Barbara. He came back to help, and after an appreciative glass, or two, of the local wine, Michael was bitten by the winemaking bug.

With engineering in his rear view window, Michael headed to UC Davis to earn his Masters of Science in Viticulture & Enology. Subsequent winery internships and jobs took him to Marchesi Antonori’s Guado al Tasso property in Bolgheri, Tuscany, Guigal’s Château d’Ampuis in Côte-Rôtie, Rhône Valley and travels throughout the vineyards of Australia.

At his family property, Larner Vineyard & Winery, Michael specializes in the production of Rhône-style estate wines.

Earthfluence is Michael’s passion project, where he can flex his creative muscles. He is able to explore links between geology and enology, with a good amount of experimentation along the way.

Earthfluence is meant to underline the magic influences of the earth, the soils and a greater sense of place as they relate to wine. Some call this terroir, but Michael prefers a more literal interpretation, earthfluence.