Gary Brookman, Winemaker

Necessity is the mother of invention. Back in 1979, Gary Brookman was on vacation as a young tourist in Australia and ran out of money. It was harvest season Down Under, and he found a temporary job at Toranga Winery. The budding wine man worked the season in the cellar before returning home to the United States. Apparently, wine was in his blood, and Gary moved to the Napa Valley in 1980, where he found work at Charles Krug Winery. Soon afterwards, he made a move to Joseph Phelps Vineyards, where he rose through the ranks over the course of a 13-year tenure there to become Associate Winemaker. In 1997, Miner Family hired Gary as winemaker, and still makes their wines today.

In 2001, Gary had the opportunity to take up the reins as winemaker for Grace Family Vineyards. "Making Grace Family Cabernet gives me the chance to work with a unique, small, high quality vineyard," Gary says. "Here it's possible to craft a crystal clear expression of terroir. I also love making a wine that serves as a catalyst for social change. There's no winery doing anything like Grace Family on the social front. I am honored to be part of the team."