Swayne Family Ranch

Pete Swayne, raised in southern California, spent his summers and vacations on his uncle's citrus ranch in Lemon Cove, near Visalia, where he carried out tasks including soil tending, irrigation maintenance, pest control, frost protection and harvest work. Following a career in the family business, he sought land in northern California and, in 2003, acquired a 47-acre former Crane melon field in south-west Santa Rosa for Swayne Family Ranch. In 2004, he relocated there with his wife Sherry, their two children and Sherry's mother - construction of the ranch facilities took two years. Oat hay was planted on 20 acres initially, followed by 5.2 acres of Chardonnay grapes in 2008 and 3 acres of olive trees in 2010. The ranch operates as an award winning EVOO producer.