Award winning winemaker Andrew Murray came of age in the wine business. When his entrepreneurial parents decided to sell their southern California restaurants, they ‘retired’ to 200 acres of fertile soil in the Santa Ynez Valley. As a teenager, Andrew was a willing travel companion during lengthy expeditions in France’s Rhône Valley wine region. He acted as translator as his father picked the brains of some of France’s most acclaimed winemakers. Together they planted their vineyard on steep hillside slopes, with Andrew drinking in every aspect of grape growing and wine production. Eventually trading his UC Berkeley paleontology pursuit for UC Davis’ enology and viticulture program, he pursued his new mistress, Syrah, with an extended internship in Australia. His tryst has evolved into a full-fledged love affair with his favorite varietal. When he sold his vineyard in 2005, Andrew reignited his passion by selecting vineyards throughout the Central Coast to tease out singular compelling flavors from his flirty temptress. Not yet 40, Andrew has spent over half his life working amongst vines and presses in his unflagging quest to create unique blends and divine distinct nuances from Rhône varietals.
