Siblings Eric and Kathleen Kim co-own Rancho Arroyo Grande Vineyards, a venture inspired by their commitment to sustainable land management practices supported by collaborative community engagement.
Informed by their contributions to the fields of mental health, social justice, and the arts, Eric and Kathleen foreground equitable inclusivity in their work. Eric is Senior VP of Strategic Initiatives for the nation’s largest privately held system of behavioral health treatment facilities. He sits on the founding board of GYOPO, a non-profit collective of Korean diasporic artists and cultural producers, and is co-owner of the contemporary art gallery, Belami. Kathleen is a tenured law professor at LMU Loyola Law School, where she recently served as the inaugural Associate Dean of Equity and Inclusion. Prior to joining the legal academy, Kathleen launched the nation’s first legal services program that advanced the civil rights of immigrant trafficked workers. She is also an experimental musician and composer. A student of the late avant-jazz innovator Yusef Lateef, Kathleen’s performance highlights include the openings of the 2012 Whitney Biennial and the 2017 Venice Biennale.
Eric and Kathleen bring their ethos to Rancho Arroyo Grande’s 230 acres of organically and sustainably farmed vineyards. The vineyards, composed of nine varieties, produce grapes distinct in quality due to the unique microclimates and soil profiles that characterize the property. The Kim siblings hope to grow a community of inventive winemakers who share an appreciation of holistic ecosystems that integrate agriculture within wilderness rich in biodiversity.
Vineyard Manager
Sandy Matthews, a fourth-generation rancher from Arroyo Grande’s Huasna Valley, joins the Rancho Arroyo Grande team as Vineyard Manager. Previously, Matthews managed esteemed designates including Sanford and Benedict, Rita's Crown, Mt. Harlan, and Clos Pepe. “It’s a full-circle moment for me to be managing the Rancho Arroyo Grande estate vineyards. I grew up around here and have long been fascinated by this property. It’s a remote, untamed environment with a lot of biodiversity. Wildlife is abundant here and we are literally sharing this land with black bears, feral hogs, bobcats, coyotes, deer, mountain lions, foxes, osprey, bald eagles. You name it. I’m very excited about the quality and singularity of fruit we’re seeing on the vines this vintage,” says Matthews.
On working with the Kim's, Matthews shares, “It's super refreshing, because they think outside the box, and they have ideas that most people wouldn't even dream of. They look at it from a different lens, because they come from different industries, and I think they're way more artistic than most people that I've ever worked with...their ideas are unique and authentic, and they're fresh. Their personalities are kind of like a metaphor of what the vineyard is; it's organic. Much of it isn’t contained within trellis wires. It’s kind of free flowing out here. Similarly, I don’t think the Kim’s are trapped inside boundaries set by the wine business. They’re highly creative. They’ll be collaborating with different people and introducing four small brands all at once. They are also artists themselves, so the spirit of collaboration extends beyond winemaking here, into other art forms, including music. The identity of this place is enriched by them."
Public Relations Advisor
Sao Anash is a wine business insider who has worked in nearly every sector of the wine industry for nearly 40 years. She began working in the wine industry when she was old enough to drink and hasn't looked back. In 2012, she published the first issue of Loam Baby under her pen name, RH Drexel. Loam Baby, her wine culture zine, garnered favorable reviews from Los Angeles Times, Punch Magazine, Imbibe, Wine & Spirits, Food & Wine, and Wine Spectator, among others, for its irreverent cartoons, in-depth articles, and anachronistic approach to wine journalism.Today, she continues to write as a freelancer, and covers wine culture, food and music.
