OUR STORY
At Coplan’s Core
In Sonoma’s Carneros region, the land is both muse and mentor. Coplan Wines was born from the decision to slow down, listen closely, and craft wines that honor the beauty and truth of this place.
PROPRIETOR
Carole Coplan
Coplan Vineyards was born from a deep sense of awe—an enduring passion for vineyard life, thoughtful design, and purposeful winemaking. Here, we craft exquisite wines, estate olive oils, and experiences that honor the beauty and truth of this place.
Before she began tending vines, Carole Coplan built a career as a lawyer, a path that demanded precision, grit, and unwavering dedication. But even during long days in the financial district, she felt a deeper pull toward something more grounded. She grew up in a foodie, wine-loving family where curiosity and adventure shaped her worldview. She imagined a life balanced through connection with the earth, not just a desk.
In 2011, Carole found a Carneros property that happened to overlook Bliss hill – the famous rolling hill photographed for the Windows XP wallpaper that her computer displayed each morning. She never expected that hill, and that longing, would lead her to the land that would define her future. The connection was immediate, almost fated. What began as a search for balance became a full embrace of the land and its rhythms. She rebuilt the farmhouse, took viticulture classes, and, with zero farming background, but with great energy, principle, and determination, learned the landscape by walking it, listening to it, and working it with her own hands. She planted an olive orchard and a block of Chardonnay vines true to Carneros’ calling. The land responded. With every season, storm, challenge, and breakthrough, she and the vineyard shaped each other.
“Practicing law taught me discipline, but farming taught me humility. The land has been my greatest teacher.”
Today, Coplan Vineyards is a reflection of that relationship working with small-lot artisan wines grown and made with reverence for the soil, the climate, and the beauty of Carneros. Partnering with winemaker Jacqueline Yoakum and the woman-run Heirs of My Dreams crush collaborative, Carole crafts wines defined by place: thoughtful, terroir-driven, and tied to the place that inspired her journey. Her vineyard is more than a business; it’s a calling, a dream project, and a reminder that the land itself can change your life if you embrace it.
WINEMAKER
Jacqueline Yoakum
Jacqueline Yoakum didn’t set out to become a winemaker; the vineyards found her. Her journey began on the North Fork of Long Island at Macari Vineyards, where she first felt the pull of the vines and the patience they require. That spark led her to UC Davis for a Master’s in Viticulture & Enology, after which she refined her craft at Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars, Littorai Wines, Nicholson Ranch, Keller Estate, and Italics Winegrowers.
Today, Jacqueline brings that experience and a deep respect for land and balance to Coplan Vineyards. She walks the rows with intention, working with the vineyard team to nurture each vine through the season and harvest fruit at its fullest expression. As a nutritionist and holistic health practitioner, she sees winemaking as an extension of wellness: vitality in the vineyard, honesty in the cellar, and harmony in the glass.