Most of the wine world places a premium on typicity these days–that is, the notion that a wine should express itself in line with their type, place, and classic style. As a result, it is rare to find wines that stop you in your tracks, delivering that gleeful, child-like sense of discovering something entirely new and fascinating. Enter Hardy Wallace and Extradimensional Wine Co. Yeah! (yes, that’s the enterprise’s name in its entirety) which he runs alongside his wife and business partner, Kate Graham. Their constantly evolving lineup—featuring anywhere from 10 to 20 labels at a given time—shakes up preconceived notions. Think that Mourvèdre had to be brooding and intense? Think again. Never tried a blend of Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc, and skin-contact Roussanne, Marsanne, and Viognier? You don’t know what you’re missing.
With a dedication to craft, a healthy skepticism toward typicity for typicity’s sake, and a dash of mad-scientist ingenuity, Hardy and Kate create some of the most delicious and surprising wines I’ve had the pleasure of tasting. I recently sat down with Hardy to explore the ethos behind his wines and the journey that brought him here.
Hardy’s journey to winemaking is as unconventional as his wines. Back in 2008, Hardy was working a corporate sales job when the economy collapsed. His boss called to let him know his position was being eliminated, and Hardy’s response was: “Thank you, this is the best day of my life.” Asked what he was planning to do next, Hardy’s answer was simple: “Wine.”
That pivotal moment set Hardy on a path of discovery, eventually leading him to co-found Dirty and Rowdy, where he became known for his unorthodox approaches to Mourvèdre. But in 2021, after parting ways with his original business partners, Hardy and Kate launched Extradimensional Wine Co. Yeah!, a venture that feels like the culmination of everything Hardy had learned—and dreamed of—over his years in wine.
At the heart of Extradimensional Wine Co. Yeah! is Hardy’s drive to break free from the rigidity of typicity. He’s not interested in wines that simply act as a “postcard” for their terroir. He seeks to make wines that “open you up some way,” bringing emotion and excitement. This ethos shapes every wine he produces, from experimental blends to classic varieties reimagined.
Take Mourvèdre, a grape Hardy has championed since his early days. While traditionally made into dense, tannic wines, Hardy tends to make his Mourvèdres in a manner that is light, ethereal, and shockingly fresh. By employing techniques like whole-cluster fermentation and partial carbonic maceration, Hardy coaxes out bright, fruit-driven flavors that defy expectations. “People thought it was a dumb idea,” he recalls. “But I just wanted to see if I could make something with guts and freshness—and it worked.”
Blending is another cornerstone of Hardy’s winemaking philosophy. Instead of adhering to traditional blending guidelines, he pulls from a diverse palette of varieties and AVAs to craft wines that deliver punch and finesse. One standout is the Full King Crab, a flagship wine at Extradimensional, it is a white blend of Chenin Blanc, Chardonnay, and skin-contact Roussanne, Marsanne, and Viognier. The result is a wine that’s snappy like Muscadet but with a rich, textured mid-palate that keeps you coming back for more. Hardy’s willingness to break the rules extends to blending across AVAs and varieties in ways that traditionalists might balk at. “We don’t have to follow an AOC or stick to Sonoma or North Coast,” he says. “We’re taking these elements and creating something that doesn’t exist inside or outside the known universe.”
But even when Hardy goes with more traditional blends or single varietals, he manages to perfectly thread the needle of bucking tradition while not losing the essence of the grape. Take the 2021 Mariana’s Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, which is a blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Merlot. It has this sharp, zippy acidity and energetic signature that carries through nearly all of Hardy’s wines, while still managing to be unmistakably Cabernet, with notes of graphite, cassis, and a touch of mint. Like so many of Hardy’s wines, it is irresistibly delicious, yet has true depth too; it is intriguing and complex without demanding thought and analysis.
Hardy and Kate don’t just experiment for the sake of it; their approach is deeply tied to sustainability and community. Climate change has made single-vineyard wines increasingly difficult to produce, with hotter growing seasons and droughts pushing winemakers to adapt. Hardy’s response has been to lean even further into blending, using heat-resistant grapes like Barbera and Primitivo to maintain balance and freshness in his wines.
Their 2023 Shake Ridge Ranch Barbera is a good example of what they are doing with this grape. Composed of 100% Barbera, the nose on this wine leaps from the glass with bramble and a lifted florality, while the palate sees bright, punchy notes of blackberries and blueberries set against a light-bodied backdrop with a pretty softness and lingering finish. Or, as Hardy describes the wine on his website, aromas of “[s]trawberry, blackberry, deep rose, incense” meet flavors of “[j]uicy magenta lasers.”
Innovation at Extradimensional doesn’t stop with the wines themselves. This year, Hardy launched the Nouveau Canteens, a line of fresh, vibrant wines packaged in refillable containers designed to minimize waste. “Though glass is highly recyclable,” he explains, “only about 40 percent of glass bottles get recycled.” By offering these reusable canteens, Hardy is slashing the waste associated with normal wine bottling and introducing consumers to a new way of thinking about wine buying. Hardy is under no illusions that this model is not without its hurdles–distribution being a big one–but he’s not afraid to experiment and try new things, even when the headwinds are against him.
The canteens and the nouveau style wines that they house also reflect Hardy’s playful side. The wines are lively and electric, designed to be enjoyed in their exuberant youth. Hardy compares them to cookie dough: “You’re not going to eat it all the time, but when you do, it’s amazing.”
Beyond the vineyard, Extradimensional Wine has a strong philanthropic focus. As Hardy explained, “for my wife and I . . . we are crystal clear in that our purpose, that our goal is to make the world a more beautiful place through wine.” Most recently, they offered hurricane relief four-packs of their wines, raising thousands of dollars for World Central Kitchen to assistance to those impacted by Hurricane Helene. During COVID times, they diverted profits to help farmworkers impacted by the pandemic.
Hardy is also acutely aware of the challenges facing the wine industry, particularly as younger generations gravitate toward cocktails and other beverages. But instead of lamenting the shift, he sees an opportunity to stand out. “We offer something radically different,” he says. “After you’ve done all the normal stuff, come to us for an experience that’s completely unique.”
His Sonoma tasting room is a beacon for adventurous wine lovers and industry insiders alike. Hardy describes it as an outpost for something different, where visitors can explore wines that challenge their perceptions and inspire their palates. Indeed, last time I was there, I did a tasting where Extradimensional wines were paired with different vibrations. Yes, you read that right–we paired wine with vibrations. I held each wine in my mouth as I pulled vibrating tuning forks of different frequencies to my body, and I marveled as the wine changed on my palate with the changing vibrations. Higher frequencies brought out the sharper, more acidic notes, while lower frequencies accentuated rounder, fruitier notes. It was a fascinating experience of synesthesia that was unlike any tasting in which I had ever participated.
At its core, Extradimensional Wine Co. is more than a winery—it’s a revolution against sameness, a celebration of creativity, and a call to embrace the unexpected. With every bottle, Hardy and Kate invite drinkers to step into a new dimension of wine, where rules are meant to be broken, and every sip offers the potential for wonder.
So, the next time you’re looking for a wine that’s anything but typical, immerse yourself into Hardy Wallace’s universe. You might just discover something out of this world.