Calico Vineyard

Harvest and heritage

Calico Vineyard landowners Steve and Lantie Sandlin have been working with seeds and plants for most of their lives. For many years they ran a farm supply business until they were ready to begin their own farm.

The Sandlins own and operate Calico Vineyard, a 115-acre farm in Travelers Rest, SC, named after their beloved cat, Calico. On roughly 15-20 acres, they grow grapes, blackberries, blueberries, muscadines, beans, strawberries, and more. This produce is available around the Upstate at local farmer’s markets, and they sell grapes to individual wine makers. 

Steve was motivated to put his family property under easement when he saw how much of the Upstate was being developed. He’s been in the development business and thought he would take the initiative to put the land into easement. 

“I want to preserve it like it is. It’s where my great grandfather lived, and my grandfather lived, and now where I live,” he says. 

He knows the easement will protect his property and preserve the area’s natural resources forever. In the meantime, he enjoys working the land, viewing the area’s wildlife and spending time with his current cat, Julio.