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The Beginnings

A Labor of Love

Winemaker Jim Brown and his wife Toshi Brown have always dreamt of owning a vineyard and winery. Since the early 1970s, Jim has been making and experimenting with many different wine styles and varietals using grapes from other vineyards in the Sonoma and Napa areas. All along, Jim scouted for the perfect region to grow uncompromising red grape varieties. Not satisfied with the costal climates for producing consistently good reds, Jim extended his search farther inland and to higher altitudes.

It wasn’t until the 1990s that Jim found what he considered the perfect climate for red wines - the western slopes of Sierra Nevada foothills. With its warm summer days, gentle afternoon breezes, and cool mountain nights, the foothills provided the perfect climate to allow for the full development of rich and complex reds. The coarse granite soil and sloping hillside of the region provided the restraint need to create powerful deep-rooted vines. Together the climate and land formed the optimal setting for growing world-class red wine grapes.

When the ideal southwest-facing 40-acre parcel in the beautiful rolling foothills of the Fair Play appellation became available, Jim and Toshi immediately purchased the property and began realizing their dreams. With much excitement and not a moment to waste, they both rolled-up their sleeves and started putting up deer fence, digging wells, clearing fields, moving boulders, installing irrigation pipes, building roads and even raising a barn.

By July 1995, the first three acres of Merlot grapes were born. Every day they tended to the young plants and prepared for the future plantings. By 1997, another two acres of Merlot vines were planted. By 1998, they planted the first three acres of Syrah with an additional two acres coming in 1999. In the following years Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Petite Syrah vines were added.

Through it all, Jim and Toshi did most of the work themselves - paying attention to every detail - definitely a labor of love. In less than 10 years their hard work was recognized when the vineyard was honored with “Best Vineyard in El Dorado County” by the El Dorado County Fair 2004.