DA Vines Wines

Our journey in winemaking started in 2004 when we moved from Sedona to a quaint 6.5-acre estate nestled along the banks of Oak Creek in Page Springs, Arizona. Little did I know the turn my life was about to take that has culminated in the birth of “Farmer John” Rachel.

In 2007, our neighbor planted a half-acre of Merlot and each day I would watch their progress, curiously asking the caretakers about the planting and growing process, wondering if we could do the same thing. I decided to take a 3-day crash course at U.C. Davis and, upon returning, I immediately enrolled in the viticulture program at Yavapai College’s Southwest Wine Center. When my neighbor learned of my desire to learn about grape growing, he made an offer I couldn’t refuse, if we tended the vineyard we could keep the harvest! Every day after work and between classes, I would be out in the vineyard putting my newly-learned skills to practical use, watching the evolution of the vines and waiting for the day we could use our harvest to produce wine.