Putah Creek Winery

While out in Davis California for my cousin’s Eagle Scout Court of honor I was able to tour a small and yet little heard of winery in the region. In fact the entire space used by this winery is probably under a thousand square feet. But that doesn’t mean they use any less technology or have less sophisticated techniques. Not at all, they have the same specialized machines to separate the grapes from the stems, to mash the juices from the grapes, to mix the various chemicals needed and so on. But they have only been producing wine for a handful of years. Though, I expect this to be the start of a long and successful endeavor. The winery is owned by my Uncle and Aunt and is named for a creek that runs through the University of Davis and most of the surrounding city. The creek also ran along their ranch until 30 years ago when it was diverted leaving a dried river bed in its place.

More than a decade ago my Uncle was mostly a rice farmer, though he also grew some straw and soy. He didn’t own any land though and had to lease it. Because he was a smaller scale farmer he had to lease land that was less the pristine. So he would not be able to use it the first season or two as he cleaned it and groomed. By the time it was producing well his lease would expire and the owners would demand more money because the land was hirer quality! So this cycle while it provided him limited success lined others pockets more than his own. So he decided to change his fortunes. Lucky for him America has developed a grand taste for wine. Consumption has sky rocketed in the last 25 years and demand of course is very high.

Many people know of Sonoma and Napa in California. What they don’t know is only a fraction of the grapes used to supply wineries in these areas come from the actual region. To increase supply they are allowed to mix similar grapes that contain the same quality and characteristics as those from there own vineyards. I do believe the regulations on the proportions are rather strict but this had created a market in northern California for wine grapes. My Uncle and Aunt did have some acreage around their house, not really enough or of the right configuration to farm most products but with the advances in grape farming it was enough to establish a vineyard. So this is what they did. Of course this is a long proposition; grape vines take years to develop, and a longer time to be cultivated to grow the right composition of grape. So they continued to farm rice on other’s lands as they grew there hopes literally in their back yard.

After several years the vineyard yielded high quality grapes and they were able to be sold to the various producers in the named regions and locally. This spurred the panting of a second acreage of land. Again after several years the grapes were of good quality and able to be sold. However by now many people in this region had discovered the money in vineyards and there was a major increase in supply or at least the worry that there would soon be an abundance and further commoditization of the product. So my uncle and aunt decided rather than letting other control their fortunes they would try to produce their own wine and realize the benefits of all of their labor. And they have met with success, they are currently working on new blends of wine, have again expanded their winery and are no longer in the rice, soy, or straw business. So it was with some amazement that I toured the winery, not a mile from there house, and feet from part of their vineyard.

I truly think that their fortunes are rising due to their diligence, hard work, systematic approach, and faith in themselves. It truly is the embodiment of the American story. To top it all off my uncle has been asked to partner is several other local business enterprises based on his experience, knowledge, and success in wines – which makes me further believe that I am witnessing the beginning of something big.

Check them out: http://www.putahcreekwinery.com/