Proprietor Tim Slater is a reclusive, elusive former researcher and inventor and carries a business card that reads “Mad Scientist (mad crazy, not mad angry). In addition to dozens of patents he is most proud of having a culinary degree from the Cordon Bleu in Paris. He also makes some pretty great wines at this off the beaten track winery west of Gilroy.

Visitors to his winery are encouraged to try their assortment of Bordeaux and Burgundy style wines from their quaint and friendly tasting room. Plan on tasting a number of excellent Chardonnay wines. There is a nice covered porch to sit and take in the view of vineyards and the nearby commercial nurseries.

The vineyards encompass both the Santa Cruz Mountain and Santa Clara Valley appellations. The typical summer day has a foggy morning, a hot sunny day moderated by a strong ocean breeze, and brisk nighttime temperatures in the 50s. Grapevines love the strong sun and warmth of the day, giving them the energy to thrive; while the chilly nights preserve the subtle fruit flavors of the grapes.

The rocky clay soil is made up of many different layers over a deep sandy base, and the color and character of this soil changes every few hundred feet across the vineyard. The original vineyard was planted in 1978 with Chardonnay, supplemented in 1989 with additional plantings of “Proprietary” clones of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. After purchasing the property in 2001, the Proprietor has planted several additional test plots of Pinot Noir, Viognier and Roussanne. These test plots have proved so successful that in 2006, another 5 acres of Pinot Noir was planted