The winery does not accommodate visitors as it functions solely as a production facility without a tasting room. Their primary focus remains on cultivating and crafting world-class wines. For those seeking visitor information, they enthusiastically recommend the Santa Cruz Mountains Winegrowers Association as a reliable source.
Take the time to make an appointment and visit this hidden gem! We wound our way up the hill through two security gates and pulled into what looked like someone's home. We were greeted with the most beautifully fragrant in-bloom roses under a gorgeous pergola. Magnificent views were everywhere. It was so beautiful I didn't really want to go inside. Inside, however, there were treats in-store. The wine was great. The interior was cool and comfortable with leather club chairs. Again, it felt like someone's home - almost like the family's lab was waiting just around the corner with a ball ready to play. The barrel room was simple with glass-enclosed library room.
A lifelong passion for wine, combined with a keen interest in mountain geology, first brought Bill and Bonnie Kehret to the Fair Play region of the Sierra Foothills in the early 2000s. Amidst building a successful high-tech company in Silicon Valley and traveling globally for business, the couple became regular visitors to El Dorado County, indulging in low-key wine getaways.
In a fortunate twist of fate, the old Mt. Aukum winery came up for sale just as Bill was preparing to retire from the company he had dedicated nearly 30 years to building from the ground up. Intrigued by the potential of the microclimate atop Mt. Aukum, the well-drained granite soil, and the breathtaking views from the winery, Bill and Bonnie purchased the property in 2018. They envisioned transforming the site into a world-class winery that would showcase the unique characteristics of the region.
The following year was dedicated to a complete renovation of the facility and the installation of state-of-the-art winemaking equipment and technology. With a small, dedicated team, they transformed the site into a premier winemaking facility and began the process of renewing and expanding the estate vineyards.
In April 2019, the newly renovated tasting room at Kehret Vineyards reopened its doors. After much anticipation, the first wines from Kehret Vineyards were released in October 2019. The next crucial step in their journey to becoming a world-class winery was to find the right winemaker to lead their vision.
In 2020, Steve Leveque joined the Kehret Vineyards team as the Master Winemaker. He is reshaping winemaking in the Fair Play region, bringing with him a rich history of viticulture and world-class winemaking techniques. Steve’s impressive resume has established him as one of California’s most renowned winemakers.
Born and raised in Napa Valley, Steve has built a reputation for crafting wines that embody the purity and identity of their vineyards. His experience includes prestigious positions at notable wineries such as HALL, Chalk Hill, Opus One, and Mondavi.
In addition to being a master winemaker, Steve is also a skilled viticulturist, spending significant time overseeing vineyard operations to produce exceptional grapes of unparalleled quality. He honed his winemaking skills during a decade-long tenure at Robert Mondavi Winery and absorbed innovative ideas from leading viticulture research and visionary collaborators, including the renowned Bordeaux consultant Michel Rolland. Later, as the executive vice president and winemaker at Chalk Hill Estate Winery in Sonoma, he crafted an award-winning portfolio of small-lot Bordeaux varietals and Chardonnay. Steve then became the head winemaker for HALL Wines in Napa, as well as their partners WALT and BACA. Under his guidance, over 200 of his wines received ratings of 90 points and above during his 11-year tenure.
Steve has earned three 100-point scores from Wine Advocate, two from Jeb Dunnuck, and was recognized with the #2 Wine in the World from Wine Spectator’s Top 100 Wines of 2011. More than 80 of his wines have been rated between 95 and 99 points by elite wine publications. This success is the result of years of experience marked by risk-taking, experimentation, collaboration, and an unwavering commitment to excellence.
Steve’s winemaking philosophy begins in the vineyard. To truly tell the vineyard's story and create balanced wines, he emphasizes the importance of bold flavors. Every aspect of vineyard farming is crucial; timing is everything. Each vintage presents its own unique challenges, and vineyard operations must align with the growing season's influences. Decisions about shoot removal, hedging, and crop thinning all carry significant consequences.
For Steve, achieving a harmonious balance between vine vigor and crop is essential. He believes that cultivating low-vigor vines with low yields allows each cluster to ripen perfectly. This approach ensures that each grape cluster can develop fully, allowing for optimal ripening of sugar, tannins, texture, and flavor. Canopy management is another critical component of this process.
Numerous factors contribute to vineyard expression and balance. Once harvested, a winemaker's role is to honor that expression, employing gentle and precise techniques. Ultimately, to maintain vineyard expression and balance, winemaking must consistently respect and celebrate what the vineyard offers.
So, you're in Napa for a long weekend or maybe even a wallet-draining week. There's plenty of choices to feed your wine fix. This charming little vineyard absolutely, positively needs to make your "must visit" list. No tasting room. No walk ins. No boutique to purchase a variety of goods while visiting. You need to call, make an appointment, and then prepare yourself for a truly personal wine experience given where the family that grows it presents their five or six well-done sophisticated wines.
This was our very first stop in wine country and we couldn't have asked for a better experience. We had made an appointment for the first tour of the day, and we ended up touring with a very nice man and his sons. Turns out the older gentleman was a wine and liquor distributor down in Silicon Valley (with what sounded like an impressive client list), so we got to hear a lot of industry chatter that was really interesting! Tastings are by appointment. The most amazing wine. Chards, Pinot, wow.
What began as a retirement project back in 1999 has blossomed into a full-time labor of love for Dick and Dolores Kelsey, long-time residents of See Canyon.
The Kelsey family’s winery is a true family affair, with three generations working side by side. It all began as a retirement project for Dick and Dolores Kelsey, longtime residents of See Canyon. Their sons, Richard and Keith, along with grandchildren Deanna, Devon, Clive, Tessa, and Jessica, have since joined in, transforming the initial venture into a vibrant family business known for both fantastic wines and a welcoming atmosphere.
Founded in 1999, the Kelsey Winery has grown into a full-time endeavor for Dick and Dolores, who are dedicated not only to their vineyards but also to the land and wildlife that surrounds them. The winery property produces Estate Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, with the cool coastal climate contributing to exceptional harvests year after year. Wild peacocks roam the grounds, with more than 150 calling the winery home—a unique and beautiful addition to the estate that brings charm to every visit.
The Kelsey family believes in letting the land and climate guide each vintage. Their winemakers take a “hands-off” approach, allowing the terroir to shine with minimal intervention. This philosophy brings out refined, authentic notes in each varietal, staying true to the essence of the land. Their wines, sourced from See Canyon, Creston, and Paso Robles, have earned awards for their consistent quality. These reds, whites, and apple blends are loved for their fruit-forward profiles, satisfying mouthfeel, and lingering finishes that keep enthusiasts coming back for more.
Ken Brown Wines focus is on very small lots of Pinot Noir from the finest vineyards of Sta. Rita Hills. The wines are produced at the Ken Brown winery in Buellton at the gateway to the Sta. Rita Hills appellation, and most lots consist of 250 cases or less. Total annual production is only about 2,000 cases. Ken work with growers, many of whom he has known for years, to hand select vineyard blocks for our program. Some of the remarkable vineyards we work with include Cargasacchi, Clos Pepe, Rio Vista and Sanford & Benedict. Ken Brown Wines also produce limited bottlings of Chardonnay and Syrah.
A total of 6 tasters were brought out as well as one dessert - all were delicious. This normally runs you $30 per person but we were given a $10 off coupon so each it ended up being $20 per person. Even at $30 per person, it was a really good deal and at $20 ...it was a steal! I'd definitely recommend this pairing to anyone who wants to sit down and take wine tasting to the next level. Usually we drink wine with food so it's really neat to get ideas on what to pair these great wines with.
Kendric Johnson was my Dad and is the person for whom this enterprise was named. He died in 2001 just as we were getting started. Naming the company after him is meant to both honor his memory and to impose his high personal standards upon the undertaking.
Ken Volk has been making Santa Barbara and Central Coast wines for more than a quarter century. Perhaps best known as the founder of Wild Horse Winery, Ken has earned a reputation for crafting world-class wines, particularly Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from the Santa Maria Valley.