Rooted in Santa Barbara

Jesse and Avery Cloutier’s Sea Creatures Wine Embodies Their Coastal Upbringing

They say one belongs to the land that raised them, and for Jesse and Avery Cloutier, owners of the boutique label Sea Creatures Wine, this sentiment rings especially true. Natives of Santa Barbara County, the husband-and-wife team returned to their roots in 2020 and have since dedicated themselves to crafting limited-production wines that capture the marine-influenced character of their home region.

Jesse, born and raised in Orcutt, and Avery, a native of Los Olivos, didn’t initially envision careers in wine. Avery pursued mathematics at the University of Arizona, while Jesse studied business economics at UCSB. The turning point for Jesse came during his junior year of college, after some encouragement from his older sister to explore the wine industry.

“I had a full-time, unpaid internship with the County, but knew I needed to make some money,” Jesse recalls. “My sister, who makes wine overseas, had been urging me to consider getting into wine, believing the industry would be a perfect fit for me. I finally listened and applied for a job at Foxen in 2008.”

Working in the tasting room and cellar at Foxen, just a short distance from where he was raised, Jesse discovered his true calling. This newfound passion led him to transfer to Sonoma State to study wine business, and after graduating, he spent three years in the Russian River Valley, gaining invaluable experience in wine marketing and production. A stint in Australia further broadened his skills, and in 2013 Jesse returned to his hometown, rejoining the Foxen team in a full-time production role. It wasn’t long before he met Avery, who had moved back to the Santa Ynez Valley from Arizona and found her niche in the wine industry, working as the business systems analyst at Zaca Mesa Winery.

As their relationship blossomed, the duo relocated to San Luis Obispo, where Jesse took on a role at Pacific Vineyard Management and later became the assistant winemaker at Stolo Family Vineyards. Despite several years on the SLO coast, the dream of launching their own wine brand continued to pull them back to their roots. The onset of Covid ultimately solidified their decision.

“Covid was a bit of an eye opener for us,” says Jesse. “We took a step back and thought about our future, our goals and dreams of owning our own label. We’re both proud to be from Santa Barbara County, so it was a light-bulb moment and we decided to come back home. We wanted to make wine from the land we each enjoyed and explored as kids.”

In 2020, the Cloutiers launched Sea Creatures Wine, their small label focused on premium, coastal-influenced Pinot Noir sourced exclusively from sustainable, organic and biodynamically farmed vineyards along the Pacific Coast. From the start, they approached every aspect of the business with intention, prioritizing authenticity and mindfulness to ensure quality always took precedence over quantity.

“Avery and I are the only employees, and it’s our name behind these wines,” he says. “We knew early on that taking a thoughtful approach and staying true to our beliefs would be the best way for people to feel the intentions behind these wines.”

The name Sea Creatures and the label artwork are also deeply meaningful, reflecting Jesse and Avery’s connection to the ocean and its influence on their lives. “We came up with the name during a trip to New Zealand,” says Jesse. “I come from a family of ocean enthusiasts. My mom grew up by the Indian Ocean, and my dad lived all over the Pacific. Avery’s family comes from islands and coastal areas in southern Italy. Growing up, the ocean greatly determined not only what we ate but also what we did for fun.”

But beyond their heritage, the couple also recognize the ocean’s significant role in shaping this region. “The Pacific Ocean has a massive influence on the land, lifestyle, climate and agriculture here,” adds Jesse. “For us, our lives, our livelihood, our home, everything is tied to the ocean.”

Inspired by this connection, the Cloutiers enlisted local artist Clint Darby to design a label that celebrates the sea, with artwork showcasing an abstract view of the local coastline, as viewed from south of the Santa Barbara Channel.

Their decision to focus exclusively on Pinot Noir was equally intentional. “Santa Barbara is unique in that you can grow virtually any grape variety here,” Jesse explains. “But to us, Pinot Noir is the queen. It’s a challenging grape to grow, yet it is incredibly versatile and can be made in a wide range of styles, which really appealed to us. In many wine regions around the world, villages focus on one grape variety, taking pride in producing a wine that represents their distinct area. We embraced this tradition, seeking to represent our region through one variety done exceptionally well.”

Although Sea Creatures produces only a few hundred cases, their portfolio offers a diverse exploration of Pinot Noir, including a rosé, a Pinot Noir blanc, a blend from two vineyards and a single-clone, single-vineyard Pinot. And while Jesse and Avery don’t own their own vineyard, they actively manage the farming of select sites, carefully choosing vineyards that align with their low-impact, sustainability-minded philosophy. A distinctive feature of Sea Creatures Wine, however, is that the vineyard names are deliberately left off the bottles.

“We adhere to the idea that ‘a rising tide lifts all boats,'” says Jesse. “It’s more important to us that consumers are intrigued by the variety and the region as a whole, rather than fixating on a specific vineyard. Once you taste and discover the wine you like, then you can dive deeper and decode the individual elements that appeal to you.”

More recently, Jesse’s extensive experience working with a range of grape varieties beyond Pinot Noir, paired with a desire for greater creative freedom, inspired the launch of the duo’s second ultra-boutique label, Là-Bas. This new venture allows them to explore and experiment with other varieties and styles that fuel their passion, including Gamay and an upcoming Sauvignon Blanc/Semillon blend. Says Jesse, “Sea Creatures will always be exclusively focused on Pinot Noir, and Là-Bas is our creative space for other wines we appreciate, either grown by us or sourced from vineyards we love.”

Between both brands, the Cloutiers are content making a limited amount of wine, with a desire to never exceed 500 cases per label. This approach ensures that both the region’s inherent qualities and the meticulous care they invest in their craft are evident in every sip. Explains Jesse, “We are fulfilled by the small amount we do, committed to being locally focused, and we’re proud to prioritize quality over quantity to make wines that represent our home area.”

It’s clear that the Cloutiers are not just making wine to make wine; they are honoring the land that shaped their lives, and that continues to inspire their work. Concludes Jesse, “Santa Barbara County truly spoils us. Given its location along the coast, it’s a Goldilocks zone for growing remarkable grapes. But beyond its ideal location, this region holds special significance because it’s where Avery and I grew up. We’re rooted here, quite literally, and it’s incredibly rewarding to build our lives and livelihood in the place that gave us our foundation. We truly belong to this county.”