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After
many adventures, he ended up in California in 1954. His first
winemaking experience came in a San Francisco garage in 1967 with
Zinfandel grapes purchased from a vineyard in Dry Creek Valley.
He employed Old World winemaking techniques that he observed while
growing up in his native Switzerland, such as fermenting grapes
in open-top vats and aging wine in small, oak barrels. |
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results
were positive, inspiring him to fulfill his childhood dream by settling
permanently in historic Sonoma Valley to a six-acre property in
1972. With the help of his son, Michel (Mike), Merlot vines were
planted immediately and within a few years they were making wine
from
their
own
grapes.
Over
time, Mike’s interest in wine and winemaking became his
focus. He received a degree in Enology from Fresno State University
and
After 15 years at Arrowood Winery, Mike left to become the winemaker at Mayo Family Winery, while still operating Berthoud Winery with his family. Berthoud wines are now available for tasting and sales at the Mayo Family Winery tasting room in Glen Ellen, CA. His studies and experience in the industry have exposed him to the technical side of winemaking on a large scale and have reinforced his opinion that producing wine on a small scale with the use of production methods that have been in practice in Europe for centuries is the preferable way to produce wines of personality. Berthoud
Vineyards & Winery is a family operation ... real people who
are passionate about growing grapes and making wine. |
went
to work for Richard Arrowood in the cellar at Chateau St. Jean
in Kenwood, meanwhile still producing
Berthoud wine for his family and friends. In 1989, he left Chateau
St. Jean to become the winemaker at Arrowood Winery.