The Story

Chapter One

Once upon a time,

there was a mountain girl and an ocean boy.

They grew up wild and free in the '70s. The girl spent her days climbing trees, cresting mountains, riding horseback, and swimming in cold mountain rivers. While the boy went spearfishing, raced BMX bikes, leaped off cliffs, and began to ferment anything that would sit still long enough.

The mountain girl became a geologist for a time, but travel and wine beckoned, and she could not resist. The ocean boy grew into a sommelier, a wine educator, and a garagiste winemaker with a passion for travel.

And one serendipitous day, in a wine bar in Monterey, the two did meet.

They talked of wine, whiskey, and travel. One sweet kiss, and in five short weeks, they were engaged. Their adventure had begun, and with the sale of what little they owned, they had two around-the-world tickets and no return date.

When the internet was still young, and before social media was a twinkle in anyone's eye, the two adventured without an itinerary, allowing life to dictate direction. Hopping from country to country, and town to town, keen on learning all things fermented and food.

Mid-adventure, while working in the wine cellars at Esk Valley Winery in New Zealand, they wed on an autumn day in May. Standing barefoot in the Malbec terraces above the sea, with glasses of wine in hand, and the vintage crew as witnesses, they said, "I do."

Many months, places, and memories later, the day came to return home. They landed at midnight in the San Francisco airport, waiting for their bags to come popping up the carousel, hands intertwined, penniless, and filled with the desire to make wine...

The girl turned to the boy and said, "Let's start our own winery."

...And they lived happily ever after.

Chapter Two

New Roots,

and the same fiery love for new horizons

Dylan's Vineyard Dream on Vancouver Island

Dylan’s boots press into the glaciofluvial soils of the Cowichan Valley, the morning fog still clinging to the rows of young vines at Cobble Hill Winery. Each breath carries the scent of earth and sea—a reminder that this is truly cool-climate wine country. Here, Dylan does what few dare: he plants rare grape varieties like Grüner Veltliner, Gewürztraminer, and the ancient Rkatsiteli, alongside Albarino and Verdelho, each chosen for their ability to thrive in this unique terroir. The vineyard itself is a patchwork of innovation and tradition, where regenerative farming meets European winemaking sensibilities.

It isn’t an easy journey to this point. After decades in California, wildfires and the call for something new lead Dylan north. The partnership with Steve and Tricia at Cobble Hill feels like fate—a kismet crossing of paths that inspires not only a signature wine, but a whole new approach to what a boutique winery can be. Dylan now splits his time between North Carolina, where his family and loyal dog Baloo await, and the vineyard, where each season brings a new challenge: pruning, grafting, nourishing the soil with kelp fertilizer, and experimenting with lower-alcohol, food-friendly wines that reflect both the land and his vision.

Harvests are communal affairs, with Dylan returning for weeks at a time, sleeves rolled up, working alongside the team to coax the best from each cluster. The winery’s tasting room buzzes with visitors eager to try the results—wines that shimmer with citrus, quince, and white peach, or reds that are elegant, fruit-forward, and unmistakably of this place. Every bottle tells a story of resilience, adaptation, and the joy of new beginnings.

Tobe's Mission at BamCore

Meanwhile, Tobe charts her own bold path. As Chief Marketing Officer at BamCore, she stands at the forefront of a movement to decarbonize the built environment. Her days are a whirlwind of strategy sessions, brand campaigns, and thought-leadership forums, all focused on one goal: scaling up BamCore’s carbon-negative building solutions to fight climate change.

BamCore’s innovation—using rapidly regenerative timber bamboo to create prefabricated wall systems—rewrites the rules of construction. Their Prime Wall™ System is twice as strong as traditional framing, sequesters five to six times more carbon, and is up to 60% more thermally efficient. Tobe’s background in geology and sustainable agriculture gives her a unique perspective, and she pours her passion for environmental stewardship into every initiative, from expanding global partnerships to launching data-driven campaigns that showcase BamCore’s impact.

She knows the stakes are high. The construction industry accounts for a staggering share of global emissions, and the world needs to build a new New York City every month for decades to come. But with each new project—every home built, every ton of carbon sequestered—Tobe sees hope. BamCore’s work is not just about materials, but about changing mindsets, creating livelihoods, and leaving a legacy for future generations. And through it all, she keeps the fairytale alive, one glass at a time.

Home Base and the Ongoing Adventure

Back in North Carolina, the Sheldons’ home is a sanctuary of laughter and love. Baloo, their ever-faithful dog, greets every return with a wagging tail and muddy paws. Even as their careers take them to opposite coasts and across borders, Dylan and Tobe remain partners in adventure. Weekends find them hiking the Blue Ridge trails, sharing stories over home-cooked meals, and planning their next journey—whether it’s a quick trip to Vancouver Island for Dylan or an ultra running race for Tobe.

Their story is no longer just about wine, or bamboo, or even the places they call home. It’s about finding purpose in new beginnings, about the courage to chase wild dreams, and about the quiet joy of coming home to each other and to Baloo, wherever the road leads next.

Dylan and Tobe Sheldon

We're all crazy. The trick is to find your brand of crazy reflected in someone else.

Dylan Sheldon

winemaker | sommelier

Production Manager at Inspiration Custom Crush

"My fascination with wine was sparked at an early age and it only grows stronger."

Tobe Sheldon

resident badass | marketing

Sheldon | BamCore

"Keeping the fairytale alive one glass at a time."