Winemaking

Gregory Graham is an award-winning winemaker, garnering top honors as recently as October 2009 when several of his varietals were chosen for Lake County People’s Choice Awards. (See Awards & Events)

Graham brings more than 25 years of experience to his craft and continues to hone his skill from the vines to the winery on his property located in the Red Hills Appellation of Lake County. Graham believes strongly in hands-on vine management and winemaking, working with the grapes from the beginning and harvesting when fruit flavor is right, not in accordance with a preset schedule.

Shaping the wines to render the grapes’ superior characteristics is Gregory Graham’s signature. His appreciation for the fruit began at an early age in a suburb of Cleveland, Ohio, where his family owned and operated a 10-acre Concord grape vineyard.

His winemaking experiences started while he was in college in the mid-1970s. He had completed a stint in the military and decided to attend Cleveland State University, earning a degree in mechanical engineering. Graham’s interest in winemaking grew rapidly, evolving from homegrown Concord grape vintages to his desire to grow European varieties and improve his wines. 

In 1980 Graham moved to California and enrolled in one of the top viticulture schools, the University of California at Davis. He obtained his bachelor of science degree in enology in 1983.

Following his internship at Freemark Abbey Winery, Napa Valley, Graham immediately landed an assistant winemaker job with Rombauer Vineyard. Two years later, in 1985, he was hired as an enologist at Robert Mondavi Oakville. He then returned to Rombauer in 1988 to take the head winemaker position. His work brought recognition to the Rombauer label, especially with Chardonnay, Merlot, and Zinfandel wines.

While working as winemaker at Rombauer Vineyard in Napa Valley, Graham envisioned producing wines under his own label. He began to do so in 1992, using fruit he purchased in Napa, Carneros, and Knights Valley.

In September 2000 Greg seized the opportunity to grow his own wine grapes and thus enhance the quality of his wines. He and his wife Marianne purchased a 13-acre Zinfandel vineyard in the Red Hills Appellation of Lake County. He now calls Lake County his home and continues to produce superb wines under his own label.

The Grahams live in their home upon a hill overlooking the span of vineyards, the estate winery and tasting room.  Purchase of adjacent property in 2004 helped the Grahams expand operations to 27 acres, and construction of the winery at the base of the vineyard-covered hills was completed in 2006.  With the passion that has made him an award-winning winemaker, Gregory Graham continues to oversee vineyard development, sample grapes daily, and harvest the fruit at the perfect time for on-site production of his excellent wines.