Brand Family Wines
About
Ian Brand spends his time exploring and discovering great vineyards at the edge of sensible farming in Central California. He brings the remote, challenging vineyards, with hard depleted soils, and intense sunlight tempered only by the coastal breeze to light. These vineyards are capable of producing only the most idiosyncratic wines. Ian’s goal as a winemaker is to lightly polish the roughest edges and leave the idiosyncrasy intact. It is there in the back country of Monterey and San Benito county that Ian’s wines come to life.
Ian, named San Francisco Chronicle’s 2018 Winemaker of the Year, puts a lot of miles on his car searching out and spending time in these vineyards. His French inspired Rosé, Chardonnay, Cabernet and Le P’tit Pape make up the value-driven, French inspired Le P’tit Paysan line. Grenache and Albariño comprise his La Marea, Spanish-inspired label. The I. Brand and Family wines are small lot, single-vineyard selections that Ian wishes to showcase.
About Our Winemaker
After moving from Utah to California to pursue surfing, Brand found his real calling at Bonny Doon in Santa Cruz, where he was assistant winemaker from 2004– 2007. He has also been winemaker for Nicholson and Pierce Vineyards and consults for various clients in the region. Innovative, experimental and eager to push the envelope in the Salinas Valley and beyond, Brand is known for his progressive approaches to plantings, commitment to organic farming and tireless promotion of Monterey as the next region to watch in California.
Ian puts a lot of miles on his car searching out and spending time in vineyards. He likes dirt roads, 12” vinyl, point breaks and hiding in the barrel room.
