Felipe came to the Santa Ynez Valley in 1972 from Jalisco, Mexico at the age of 15. Shortly after crossing the U.S.border, he helped plant some of the first vineyards in the Santa Ynez Valley.
Those vineyards included Oak Savanna, where he lived and worked for more than 50 years; and Kohler where he was vineyard manager since 1997 around the time he became a legal citizen.
Under the tutelage of noted local winemakers, Felipe honed his skills for several years to start producing limited quantities of Syrah, Grenache, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon and Riesling.
In 2001, Hernandez became the region’s first Mexican immigrant to start his own brand, Feliz Noche.
“This wine was made for good friends, and Happy Nights”