The AJA Vineyards Fall Harvest Party is a members-only event held at their Santa Monica tasting room, and this year it doubled as the official launch of their 2020 FIVE Red Wine. As members of Alec’s Club, we spent the evening tasting the new vintage and talking with the people who actually make it.
Why We Keep Coming Back to AJA
AJA Vineyards (pronounced “Ah-sha”) was founded by Todd and Heather Greenbaum and focuses on small-batch wines. What sets it apart from a lot of tasting rooms is direct access to the people behind it — at the harvest party, Amanda walked us through their sustainable growing practices and dropped hints about upcoming vintages. It doesn’t feel like a transaction; it feels like actually getting to know the winery.
What Club Membership Actually Gets You
Alec’s Club membership includes first access to limited releases like the 2020 FIVE, detailed tasting notes and vineyard updates, and invitations to members-only events like this one. It’s a small, family-run operation, so joining genuinely supports that rather than a large commercial label.
Sustainability, Briefly
AJA follows eco-friendly growing practices in line with California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance guidelines — soil health and water conservation, in particular — while working within Malibu’s coastal growing conditions.
What’s Next
Before the night wrapped up, Amanda and Jenny teased what’s coming for club members: a holiday release event and a spring event at the Malibu estate. I left with three bottles, including a bottle of the 2020 FIVE Red — Amanda mentioned only 26 cases were made, so I may need to go back sooner than planned.
If You Want to Recreate It at Home
Pair the 2020 FIVE Red with roasted lamb, mushroom risotto, or a sharp aged cheddar. Or do what I’m planning to do: get a few friends together and run a mini tasting comparing a few different AJA vintages side by side.
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