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      Our family venture began when Lisa and Lothar Maier purchased a 20 acre vineyard located on Kalthoff Commons in the southwest corner of the Livermore Valley in January 2006.  We decided that the existing vineyard was not up to our standards.  That year, we pulled the existing vines and tilled the soil so as to break the hardpan barrier that resides below the surface of this region. We then planted small parcels in different clones of Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Petite Verdot, Tempranillo, Barbera, Petite Sirah and Chardonnay.  Our labor of love began in earnest.

Our Mission, Our Passion

Charlie Kidd ~ Winemaker

Charlie earned a BS in Viticulture from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.

While attending Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and studying agriculture Charlie grew a variety of different crops but was drawn toward the vineyard. This would ultimate become his passion and focus for his career. Charlie started a vineyard management company through which he would help clients select the proper land, perform a detailed soil survey, design and install the vineyard.  After installation he would continue to maintain the vineyards as well.  Charlie designed and installed over a dozen vineyards in San Luis Obisbo County. In 2001 Charlie added a pest control division to the company and performed all of the pest control on more than 50 vineyards in the County.

Charlie’s first vineyards started producing in 2001 as well, allowing him to make wine for the first time. Charlie helped the Wood Family convert a 100 year old barn at the base of Cuesta grade into a winery, which became Wood Winery.

In 2003 Charlie partnered with the Ford Family and started John Alan Winery. They made Estate Bordeaux blends and varietal Rhone wines. Over the next several years, Charlie grew his brand to 5k cases a year of production.

In 2005 Charlie graduated and was asked to teach viticulture at Cal Poly. He accepted and created a curriculum for Vineyard Practices. During this time he also managed both the on and off campus vineyards and helped students with agricultural experiments for their senior projects.
The Ford Family bought Charlie’s portion of John Alan in 2007 and Charlie got an itch to leave California. He shut down his vineyard development company and started to look around the country for his next challenge.

He found that challenge in Texas at Flat Creek Estate, located just outside of Austin. Charlie was hired to go to Texas and increase production from 3k to 10k cases per year and build the new winery. Charlie also started  a consulting business that took him all over the huge state of Texas. He worked with over a dozen vineyards owners and nearly as many wineries. Texas and Flat Creek Estate will always have a special place in his heart because that is also where Charlie met his significant other Bethanie Dudley.

Having accomplished his goals in Texas, Charlie and Beth decided to move back to the West Coast. They met Lisa and Lothar Maier in 2011 and moved to Livermore, CA just in time for crush.

Charlie has worked with more than 20 grape varietals both in the vineyard and the winery. His Mistella was voted the best wine in Texas in 2010. He has won many gold metals at international competitions as well as a double gold for his Viognier at the San Francisco International competition.

Charlie enjoys wood working, mountain biking and skiing.

Charlie lives in Livermore, CA with his significant other Bethanie Dudley and Mia the Boxer