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And now, the back-story

Mike Berghan had just finished getting his degree in International Finance from the University of San Francisco so it was now time to join the real world and get a job. He had to say goodbye to his carefree days as a student and hello to a job doing retirement planning in the financial district of San Francisco. Exciting work for a 23 year old.

Meanwhile, one of Mike’s best friends was working for his family in the Napa Valley and actually enjoyed his career. So Mike decided to leave the real world behind and head to Napa. His friend gave him a couple of job leads, and the first one he called gave him a job. Mike was now an official vineyard laborer for Wight Vineyard Management, a company that manages about 30 vineyards in the Napa Valley, ranging in size from 5 acres to 280 acres.

His first job was tucking shoots in Lewelling Vineyard. He loved it. In fact he ended up spending a few years with the company, learning as much as he could from his mentor's Doug a nd David Wight, brothers who grow some of the best grapes and make some of the best wines in the Napa Valley. Occasionally Mike's parents, Peter and Stephanie, would come to visit him. Through Mike’s connections they were able see and do things in Napa that few tourists experience, it was the beginning of a love affair for them as well.

With his parents enthusiastic support, Mike eventually decided he wanted to try to grow grapes himself, which led him to Walla Walla, Washington. He moved here in November of 2001 and started looking for ground. In 2002 he and his family bought 10 acres of 3-year-old vines, half Merlot and half Cabernet Sauvignon. In the first year we sold all of our grapes. The following year however, we decided to complicate our lives and make some wine as well. In December of 2005 we released our first wine, the 2003 Stateline Red, and the rest is history.

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