Alright, stop here for a moment and take in Charles Creek Vineyard-you’ll find it just to your left. At first glance, it’s hard to imagine this was once home to one of Sonoma’s more inventive wineries, especially since the Brinton family practically turned “experimentation” into a lifestyle choice. Bill and Gerry Brinton started out as city folks from San Francisco; Bill had deep roots in the beverage business already, but wine had started calling his name-maybe a little more persuasively than most collect calls.
Back in the 80s, the Brintons bought property up on Sonoma Mountain, planted a modest patch of Chardonnay, and then, almost accidentally, kicked off a second act in wine. They finally sold their old business, Wiman Beverage Company, for what would now be a hefty sum-imagine selling a company for enough to buy several nice homes just outside of San Francisco today. After the sale, they doubled down and officially founded Charles Creek in 2002, naming it for both their son Charley and Bill’s grandfather, Charles Deere Wiman. Keeping it in the family, literally.
Now, some vineyards build wine empires, but the Brintons? They kept things practical. No sprawling estate-just a tight operation that partnered with local grape growers and even outsourced winemaking to a custom facility. That way, the wine stayed affordable; the living, a little easier.
If you’d visited back in the day, you would’ve found a quirky tasting room, an art gallery, an owl as a mascot, and a life-sized cow made of wine corks. Try explaining THAT to tourists.
Alright, when you’re ready, let’s keep this story rolling
