Award-winning wine, friends and family at Mystic Hills Vineyards.

Join Academy Award-winning film editor and family at their boutique winery

—From the time they planted their Mystic Hills Vineyard in 2007 and released their first bottles in 2014, Joel and Judy Cox have consistently demonstrated a passion for producing acclaimed wines and unsurpassed private, complimentary wine tasting. Their winery is a family-run operation with their children and grandchildren pitching in by helping with the vineyard, overseeing tastings, and managing the wine club.

“We have so much love for people, and our private tastings allow us to spend quality time with each person or group,” Judy said. “These tastings are complimentary and by appointment only, giving us the chance to get to know one another, share our story, and just enjoy being together.”

Married for nearly 60 years, Joel and Judy encourage and support one another daily in their careers, business, and family life. Joel, an Academy Award-winning film editor who worked with Clint Eastwood for 50 years, has edited numerous films, including “Gran Torino,” “Unforgiven,” “Million Dollar Baby,” “The Bridges of Maddison County,” “Letters From Iwo Jima,” and more. He fell in love with Bordeaux wines while traveling with Eastwood to the Cannes International Film Festival.

In 2004, Joel and Judy purchased their 14-acre hillside ranch in San Miguel and planted their boutique vineyard in 2007. Their children, Tammy, Rebecca, and David, and six grandchildren are involved, and bring what Joel calls “a youthful attitude” to the daily operations. “All of them bring joy to our guests and new friends who come visit us at the vineyard,” he said.

Owners, Joel and Judy Cox. Photo by Brandon Bomberg.

Estate-grown wines crafted by Winemaker Keith Roberts

Farmer and winemaker Keith Roberts has been with Mystic Hills since the beginning, working the vineyard and creating hand-crafted, estate-grown Bordeaux-style wines with Joel. Their teamwork has led to the winery being named the Monterey County Winery of the Year and the San Luis Obispo County Winery of the Year. Bringing his knowledge and experience to the team, Roberts and the Cox Family share the same mindset when it comes to winemaking, with Joel calling Roberts, “a guru” and their teamwork, “an ideal partnership.”

The winery is part of the Pleasant Valley Wine Trail, with a typical climate of crisp mornings, hot days, and cool afternoon winds. These temperature swings and the way the team works the land contribute to the growth of superior fruit for Mystic Hills wines. The soil consists of three feet of sand topped with three feet of clay. Sustainability is of utmost importance, and no fertilizers or sprays are used, ensuring pure, beautiful wines.

“We are truly a boutique vineyard,” Joel says. “We have eight acres of vines grown over 12 acres using nine-foot row spacing. This ensures the plant’s individual vines don’t share the nutrients, and they are given plenty of space.”

It takes patience and time to craft wines with consistent balance and character. After the grapes are harvested by hand and separated, they are placed in French oak barrels and aged 18 months before blending, then left alone for another year in the barrel. Once bottled, it’s another 18 months before the wines are released.

A tradition of acclaimed wines

Not long after releasing the first 2011 vintage, they started racking up awards, including gold at the 2015 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition for their 2011 Unforgiven wine. That same first vintage went on to earn gold again in New York, platinum in San Diego, and Best of Class in Los Angeles.

“When Judy and our daughter, Rebecca, sent our first vintage to San Francisco, we did something that you normally don’t do,” Joel said. “That first vintage is normally a wine you might say is good, but is going to get better. And, it’s hard to believe, but it got gold that very first time, and we knew we were on to something.”

Their 2020 Unforgiven recently earned a gold medal and Best in Class at the 2025 Los Angeles International Wine Competition. Aptly named after Joel’s Oscar-winning film with Eastwood, this rich, velvety blend of cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc, merlot, petit verdot, and malbec remains a favorite among customers.

In addition, Mystic Hills has consistently earned awards from such prestigious events as the New York International Wine Competition, the Critics Challenge International Wine Competition, and more. Their 2017 Reserve Unforgiven is bottled in pristine quality glass and available in limited quantity. Each bottle is hand-signed and decorated with a medallion put in place personally by Joel. Their Gran Trio blend includes cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc, and merlot. Offerings of other varieties, such as their Joyride merlot, are produced in limited quantities and most feature labels created by their son, David.

Their h.e.a.r.t.s rose was crafted following a suggestion from a Mystic Hills wine club member. “I talked to Keith, and he said it might be interesting to make a Bordeaux blend rosé,” Joel said. “So, we created it out of cabernet, cabernet franc, and merlot.” The name for this rich, fruity rosé was coined using the first initials of their grandchildren’s names – Heather, Emma, Alexander, Rachel, Tyler, and Savanna – thus, h.e.a.r.t.s. “Ours has a little more body, structure, and flavor, so red wine drinkers love it. When I ask the red wine drinkers to at least try it, they are pleasantly surprised and tell me they’ve never had a rosé that tastes like ours.”

Tasting room, wine club, and special events

Providing a warm welcome and exceptional hospitality at the Mystic Hills tasting room is a top priority for the Cox Family. Their home has a spacious covered patio with gorgeous views of the vineyard and surrounding hills. The landscaping includes several sitting areas and an outdoor kitchen, and they do everything they can to make each experience special.

“We want everyone to feel like they’re family when they come out here to visit us and have a truly unique experience,” Joel says. Adds Judy, “We want to get to know people and share our love of family and wine with them. Everyone enjoys sitting outdoors and, when it’s cold, we just go inside.”

It’s free to join the Mystic Hills Wine Club, and membership includes invitations to release parties, special events, and more; purchase six bottles twice yearly at a 20-percent discount to maintain membership. Each shipment contains information about the wines and special recipes, along with artwork and personal notes such as “Happy Fall, God Bless You All” from grandchildren Savanna and Emma.

Their annual “Movie Night with Joel” takes place on the first Saturday of August. Tickets are limited, and reservations are required. In 2026, the Cox Family will be celebrating the 11th anniversary of the event, and the evening will include food, their award-winning wine, popcorn, candy, games, prizes, and plenty of stories from Joel about his films.

Mystic Hills Vineyard is located at 79550 Watkins Lane in San Miguel. Winetasting appointments are available by appointment on Thursdays through Sundays, or by special arrangement. For appointments and more information, visit mystichillsvineyard or call (805) 610-1009.

—Meagan Fribert