My path to winemaking began during my college years, visiting wineries in Napa and Sonoma. While winemaking was always on my mind, my career in microbiology led me in another direction. Many years later as our children, Laura and Matt left the nest, my understanding husband, Mark, agreed to move from North Carolina to California so that I could pursue my dream of living on a vineyard and making wine. With a certificate in winemaking from UC Davis under my belt, I began our search for a vineyard in California. Mark and I were drawn to the natural beauty and wonderful climate of the Russian River Valley, its welcoming community, supportive grape growers and winemakers and, of course, its renowned Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays.