The folks at Nelson Family Vineyards believe in their motto that “Great wines are born in the vineyard.” Nelson Family's goal is to gently guide the grapes into wines that show off the balance and high quality that they strive to achieve in their vineyards.

Founded in 1999, proprietors Sherrie and Elliot Graham purchased a picturesque 34-acre parcel of rolling hills and sprawling oak and pine trees. The property, which is a portion of the old Meyer’s Ranch, was bare with the exception of a historic barn, once a notable stopping point for miners to change horses en route to Placerville.

An experience in Fair Play showcases the many diverse attractions of El Dorado County.  Why not make your adventure to Fair Play more than just a day trip?  Busby Cellars offers on-site lodging, and many quaint Bed & Breakfast Inns and Vacation Rentals are also nearby.  In addition to over 25 award-winning Fair Play wineries, historic downtown Placerville is just a short drive and features gold-rush charm along with gourmet restaurants and shopping.  Wonderful hiking trails and pristine lakes are nearby, and world-class ski resorts are just a one-hour drive to Lake Tahoe. Isn’t it time to experience Fair Play today?

The first row of vines were barely in the ground when the neighbors began lining up to lean on their shovels and scoff. Grapes in Anderson Valley? Nobody could make it work, they insisted. The naysayers grew so vocal that Dr. Donald Edmeades dragged some old redwood planks out from behind the barn, found some red paint, and christened his vineyard with a sign out on Highway 128: "Edmeades' Folly." "When we first planted up there, people said we were nuts," said Deron Edmeades, son of the Pasadena cardiologist who founded the winery and vineyards. Nearly four decades later, nobody is laughing at Anderson Valley wines.

Our vineyard and winery represent the culmination of nearly 6 years of hard work, patience, and persistence. Since 2001, our dream and vision has been to build a small San Diego mountain winery in Warner Springs that offers an incredibly intimate wine-tasting experience. In April 2008 our dream became a reality as we proudly opened Hawk Watch Winery to the public. Our wines are hand-crafted from only the finest fruit using hands-on, old-world wine-making techniques. Each bottle truly represents the excitement and enthusiasm we have for premium wine making and the passion and obsession we have for viticulture.

A stone’s throw from both Julian and Temecula, we invite you to take a short, scenic drive through the mountains of Northern San Diego County and stop by our tasting room. We think you’ll be pleasantly surprised.  – Mike & Lisa Schnell