Rhonda Wood
The year was 1991. Rhonda was a pilot for USAirways, on a mandatory leave of absence. With nine months on her hands, she renewed her flight instructor rating, hit the slopes of Vail — and started brewing her own beer after hearing it was good for breastfeeding.
After a couple of years of home brewing, Rhonda wondered: why not make wine? She and Michael had long enjoyed wine together, touring vineyards and wineries as a couple. They planted 18 grape vines in their Fremont backyard — the beginning of everything.
In 1995, during the Harvest Festival, they discovered Livermore Valley and saw a vineyard property for sale. The rest is history.
"From the cockpit to the cellar — every great journey starts with a leap of faith and a good glass of wine."
17 Years in the Sky
Rhonda commuted to San Francisco Airport until she took a leave of absence in 2001, taking up winemaking full time. She officially resigned from USAirways in 2006 — trading her wings for wine.
She continues to deepen her expertise through extension courses at UC Davis, laboratory programs, discussions with fellow winemakers, and a relentless curiosity about every aspect of the craft.
Michael continues to commute to Sunnyvale and contributes wherever he can, especially during harvest. His favorite? The award-winning Chardonnay, of course.
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