Griffin's Lair Vineyards is located in the Sonoma Coast appellation, a few miles north of San Pablo Bay in the Lakeville area. The hillside overlooks the Petaluma River, Mt. Burdell, Mt. Tamalpais, the Bay, and, to the east, Mt. Diablo.

Soils at Griffin's Lair Vineyards are sandy loam and clay loam with varying amounts of gravel/rocks. Climate is typical coastal-warmer in winter, with fog and wind cooling the vineyards in summer. Fog channels in through the Petaluma Gap, as well as from the Bay. Twenty plus acres of vineyard were planted in pinot noir and syrah in early spring 2000. The pinot noir plantings face east, southeast; the syrah faces west. Spacing is five by eight.

The vineyard is owned by Joan and Jim Griffin, who live on the property. Joan is a retired book editor, whose interest in wine and in growing grapes led her back to college to study viticulture. She continues her education by attending grape-growing seminars and vineyard technical groups, and learning “on the job” as she manages the vineyard. Jim is the CEO (Chief Equipment Operator) and although he has not quit his day job, his weekends are spent in the vineyard. Planning the vineyard (varietals, choices of clones/ rootstocks, spacing, etc.) was accomplished with the assistance of Ann Kraemer, a well respected vineyard consultant based in Napa. The vineyard crew is provided by Corona Management Company in Napa; Roberto Corona's focus is small, quality vineyards. Truly a team effort, their winemakers are involved in every phase of the growing process. Each winemaker has designated rows in the vineyard, and the techniques within those blocks vary according to the philosophy of each person. It takes finesse and creativity to produce premium quality grapes, especially pinot noir and cool-weather syrah. “Formula farming” does not happen here.