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The Journey
Planting Roots
Embracing Biodynamics
Embracing Biodynamics
When we packed up & left for Bourgogne, France in 1991 with our 4-year-old daughter in tow, our family and friends thought Tom's scheme to become a winemaker, was a "maboroshi" of a dream. To them, maboroshi appeared to be a frivolous hallucination, but to us it was just the start of an extraordinary adventure. After knocking on nearly
When we packed up & left for Bourgogne, France in 1991 with our 4-year-old daughter in tow, our family and friends thought Tom's scheme to become a winemaker, was a "maboroshi" of a dream. To them, maboroshi appeared to be a frivolous hallucination, but to us it was just the start of an extraordinary adventure. After knocking on nearly every great wine domaine in the Cote d'Or for a chance to intern with one of the wine masters of Pinot Noir, Tom jumped at the chance to work under the instruction of Charles Rousseau, proprietor of Gevrey-Chambertin's Domaine Armand Rousseau. Learning every aspect of winemaking from pruning the meter high vines in sub-zero conditions to punch-downs in the cellar cemented his plan. This initiation led us to move to Northern California's wine country. Between studying enology and microbiology, Tom began in the cellars of Stonestreet Winery in 1993 and worked his way up through various production jobs before becoming enologist at Michel-Schlumberger in Healdsburg, CA.
Meanwhile Rebecca's true interests led her to study viticulture once in Sonoma, CA. With what seems like great luck, she's worked with some of the top winemakers, vineyards and viticulturists of both Napa & Sonoma counties. In particular, she attributes much of her inspiration and success to two great women in wine, Erin Green & Helen Turley, whose influence has been far-reaching.
Finally, in 1999, after chasing this vision, it became a reality for us when we began our own wine brand. In retrospect, this is why named our wine, "Maboroshi", a Japanese term for extraordinary visions. It is our passion for wine and our commitment to each other's dreams that keeps us driven.
Embracing Biodynamics
Embracing Biodynamics
Embracing Biodynamics
Nestled among the hills of southwestern Sebastopol, the Maboroshi vineyard is just a short drive to the Sonoma Coast. Shelter on the west by the surrounding ridges, protects the vineyard from excessive coastal fog and wind. The cool afternoon breezes are the only obvious coastal effect. Located in the extended area of Sonoma's Russia
Nestled among the hills of southwestern Sebastopol, the Maboroshi vineyard is just a short drive to the Sonoma Coast. Shelter on the west by the surrounding ridges, protects the vineyard from excessive coastal fog and wind. The cool afternoon breezes are the only obvious coastal effect. Located in the extended area of Sonoma's Russian River Valley, in what is sometimes called the "golden triangle"; indicated by a handful of eminent Pinot Noir vineyards geometrically scattered on the neighboring hillsides, we are perched between 400 to 600 feet above sea level. Often we're the first to clear from the morning fog. Fine, sandy loam, Goldridge soils prove well for drainage and just nurturing enough for the Dijon selections of Pinot Noir vines planted in 1999. We hand tend this certified organic & Biodynamic vineyard ourselves in hopes to extract the true expression of our site.
Communicating that sense of "place" in one sip of wine seems like a daunting task if not impossible to achieve. As a grape grower and grower of Pinot Noir at that, nearly every aspect of human contact & contribution to the vine and wine has an effect that can either exalt the taster into a sumptuous experience or leave them abruptly at the door. We make every effort to work with nature and its erratic rhythms to encourage the wines to be definable and distinctly Maboroshi.
Passion for Pinot
Embracing Biodynamics
Passion for Pinot
This temperamental varietal is not for the faint of heart. Every vintage is unique and exciting. But the reward of patience in the vineyard and minimal interference in the fermentation process yields exceptional character and liveliness that ages well.
Ready to Dive Deeper and Taste Elegance in a Bottle