Sandlands Vineyards

Sandlands Wines is the project of Tegan Passalacqua, a renowned winemaker with a deep commitment to showcasing California’s forgotten classic grape varieties. The winery emphasizes vineyards with decomposed granite (sand) soils, which have been farmed for generations but often remain on the fringes of mainstream California viticulture​.

Tegan is a Napa Valley native with extensive experience in the wine industry, having worked in various international wine regions including New Zealand, South Africa, and France. He has been associated with Turley Wine Cellars for over two decades, advancing from a harvest intern to the Director of Winemaking.

Sandlands Vineyards is dedicated to producing wines from old, head-trained, dry-farmed, and own-rooted vineyards. This approach reflects a return to California’s historic winemaking practices, emphasizing minimal intervention to let the terroir express itself. The vineyards used by Sandlands are primarily located in lesser-known regions such as Lodi and Contra Costa County, featuring varieties like Carignane, Mataro (Mourvèdre), Cinsault, Chenin Blanc, and Trousseau​.

While based in Lodi, Tegan Passalacqua is expanding his personal vineyard holdings, including new plantings in Amador County. Sandlands continues to focus on wines that tell the story of their unique origins, with a commitment to maintaining and showcasing the character of historic vineyards​.