Proprietor Al Brayton became intrigued with winemaking in the late ‘70's while spending time with Father Tom Turnbull, an Episcopal priest with vineyards just off the Silverado Trail at Stag’s Leap. Gleaning grapes from vineyards that had already been harvested, and under the tutelage of Father Tom and his next door neighbor Nathan Fay (often called the father of the Stags Leap District), Al made his first wine and bottled it in bottles recycled from the dumpsters of the finest wineries in Napa Valley. This experience gave Al a love of winemaking, as well as the desire to someday have a world-class vineyard and produce his own wine. In 1999 Al realized his dream when he found and planted this wonderful site nestled in the Sonoma Coast Appellation at the intersection of Highways 37 and 121.