Mr Greg Castanho’s family has been involved in eastern Contra Costa agriculture for generations. He farms his “Castanho Vineyard” and has worked with other nearby plantings for years.
Castanho Farms’ Oakley properties include the “Castanho” and “Teixeira” vineyards.
The “Castanho Vineyard” is significantly younger and further inland than most celebrated plantings of Antioch and Oakley. This vineyard was planted in the 1980s.
“Castanho Vineyard” is located just SW of the intersection of Brownstone and Anderson, opposite from Pine Rd.
· Photographs of the “Castanho Vyd” featured in The Press:
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Image #2
· In years past, “Castanho Vineyard” grapes were sold to Rosenblum Cellars and Mark Herold. Dropout Wines’ excellent single-vineyard Mourvèdre bottlings were produced exclusively from “Castanho Vyd” fruit. Jambe de Bois Wines made a Mourvèdre from this site in 2017.
Cellartracker
Search: “Castanho Vineyard California”
The Bedrock Wine Co Summer/Fall 2017 Release Letter opened with an essay on the “Evangelho Vyd”. In it, Morgan Twain-Peterson praised Greg Castanho as a hard-working, compassionate figure in the community.
Wine Berserkers
“Bedrock Summer release”
by Morgan Twain-Peterson
August 1, 2017
"…The older gentleman, Greg, loaded the truck—the old Massey running like melted butter under his careful watch. As he did, he told me the story of his family, which I now know runs parallel to so many others in the area. His father farmed hundreds of acres of grapes, almonds (pronounced amond in Oakley, because to pick them you have to shake the L out of them 
), prunes, and peaches. Gradually though, land he leased was sold for development or in sadder cases, seized by eminent domain, until Greg was left with only a small vineyard on the east side of Oakley.
“What I know, years later, is what Frank and every farmer in Oakley has known for decades: that Greg Castanho is one of the kindest human beings you will hopefully get to know. He is old school in the way you seem to only hear about—the type who out of the kindness of his heart will take your broken tractor all the way to Modesto for repairs and then go back and get it when you are away and can’t do it yourself. He is guy that makes sure your diesel tank is full. He is the strongest of the depleting coarse ropes that holds farming together in Oakley…”.
On this thread, Mr Twain-Peterson has spoken highly of Greg Castanho’s work in assisting Bedrock Wine Company’s Contra Costa grape harvests: Link
Castanho Farms grows grapes in the “Teixera Vyd” and the “Castanho Vyd” in Oakley. From the company’s Facebook page:
“Castanho Farms is a small family owned grape growing operation in Oakley, CA in Contra Costa County; growing Zinfandel, Mouvedre, and Syrah wine grapes.”
Below are some photos of Castanho Farms properties:
