My philosophy for winemaking is heavily influenced by my dual Kenyan-American heritage. Growing up in Kenya, I enjoyed a rich, cultural heritage and the love of building community over sharing food & drink with complete strangers. When I migrated to CA and discovered its wine regions, I fell in love with wine, the mysterious science of winemaking, and the euphoric excitement that consumed my friends and I each time we planned out a wine country trip. I struggled to identify wines that complemented my mother's and grandmother's cuisine. It also bothered me that I did not see myself represented behind the counter as a winemaker or as a wine expert. These two were significant motivators behind bringing the Wachira Wines dream to fruition.
My winemaking style is centered around taking, for example, a Cabernet grape and infusing it with my "Kenyanese" twist to craft a high quality, easy to drink wine that maintains the integrity of each grape’s varietal. Such that a Wachira Cabernet or Wachira Rosé still has characteristics associated with the grape varietal but with that little je-ne-sais-qouis that is uniquely me - the Kenyan accent
WACHIRA WINES COLLECTION
WINES FROM DISTINCT REGIONS
The wines from each distinct region express the flavor characteristics of the region they were grown in.
NAPA VALLEY
Our Napa Valley vineyards benefit from the cooling influence of the San Pablo Bay in the southern part of Napa Valley making it ideal for growing Chardonnay while the warmer longer, growing season in the eastern part of Napa Valley is ideal for growing Sauvignon Blanc and other red varietals.
PASO ROBLES
Paso Robles makes an amazing diversity of wines. The wines are often described as opulent, sweet-fruited red wines with a plush mid-palate, high alcohol levels, and a surprisingly firm backbone of acidity that will make you sit up straight in your seat. Paso Robles wines are typically enjoyed in their youth, although the best ones do stand the test of time.
Lodi
Lodi is predominately a red winegrowing region, with approximately two-thirds of the acreage dedicated to red varieties. Lodi is home to all of California’s leading varieties, and has long been the leading producer and California’s best kept secret for Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Merlot, Sauvignon Blanc and Zinfandel. However, with over 100 varieties now in production, Lodi offers a vast portfolio of diverse and interesting wines.