The original Truchard winery was not in California but in Texas. Founded in 1887 by French brothers Jean-Marie and Anthony Truchard it lasted until the 1920s when Prohibition dried up all sales. The winemaking gene skipped a generation, resurfacing in the 1970s with Jean-Marie’s grandson, Tony.

Stationed in California during the Korean War, Tony decided to follow in his grandfather’s footsteps by buying 20ha of vines in Carneros. The cool climate of Carneros began to be recognised as a great area for Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. The estate itself is a series of hills and valleys with clay, shale, sandstone, volcanic rock, and ash soils.

Over the last four decades, Tony has expanded the estate to some 280ha and in 1989, the family released the first wine under their own label. Today, alongside his parents, Anthony Truchard works incessantly and passionately to maintain the integrity of his family’s wines and loves sharing them with the world.