Kirchhoff Family Wines is a small estate winery proud of its Clarksburg roots.
They are a true family endeavor, where each member gets involved from hand picking grapes to hosting members at their home ranch and tasting room. They focus on small lots and old-world techniques to produce a craft wine that is sustainable for future generations.
At its heart are Clayton and Casey Kirchhoff— brothers, business partners, and vintners. Children of the vines and raised by a Clarksburg wine grape grower, it wasn’t until after they left the Delta and graduated college that they realized their passion for enology (the study of wines.) Clayton was the first to catch the bug and was driven to learn all he could about winemaking, taking him as far as New Zealand and Spain to work harvests, before making a final move to Napa. Named a SF Chronicle 2015 Winemaker to Watch, Clayton made a name for himself in various Napa wineries, but always in the back of his mind was the desire to make great wines from the Clarksburg AVA.
Drawing from his time abroad and particularly upon what he saw in Spain, Clayton helped devise the vineyards and varietals they produce today. They even convinced Craig to try a few unfamiliar growing techniques to help push the quality: closely spaced rows, heavy crop thinning, growing organic (non-certified) and dry farming the vines. The results were quickly realized through amazingly layered and smooth drinking wines which showcase the potential inherent to Clarksburg’s rich alluvial soils.
Casey’s eye for design was what initially tied him to the family label— he and his wife Lisa created the labels and logos that capture both Clarksburg and the Kirchhoff family. Casey, a hobby beer brewer, interned under Clayton to learn the winemaking process and the art behind high-quality, natural wines and has been making the wines on property since 2017. He is dedicated to maintaining their hands-off approach of winemaking: using neutral oak barrels for aging, wild-yeast fermentations, minimal SO2 and no other additives which combined, truly allow the grapes speak for themselves.
Kirchhoff Family Wines is dedicated to showcasing world class wines that fully exemplify the terroir of Clarksburg. Tasting room open weekends at the Old Sugar Mill in Clarksburg, as well as private vineyard tours by appointment. Make sure to keep an eye out for events hosted by the Kirchhoff Family. Reservations can be made at www.KirchhoffWines.com
– Casey Kirchhoff