Country of Origin:  United States                  Appellation:  Mixed
Winemaker:  Peter Burford                            Winery:  Burford & Brown

 

Peter Burford is a product of Sacred Heart College and Roseworthy Agricultural College in South Australia. Peter has held top winemaking positions for a decade and a half throughout the world, from one of Australia's top icon brands- D'Arenberg Winery to Alexander Valley Vineyards in Healdsburg, California, Renwood/Santino Winery in Amador, California, and one of Asia's largest wineries, the Chateau de Loei in North Eastern Thailand.

In 2001 he established Burford and Brown with good friend and former colleague from Alexander Valley Vineyards-Adam Brown. He’s since bought out Adam leaving only the Burford in Burford and Brown. Unlike most terminations of partnerships, Peter and Adam still work closely together on many other wine related projects.

Peter has been painstakingly building the brand through hard work and key relationships over the past five years. His access to top vineyards throughout California enables him to expand without compromising quality.

Currently he sources Sauvignon Blanc from Lake, Mendocino, Sonoma and Solano counties.

He also works with two top Zinfandel vineyards in Amador County and he will be releasing his unbeatable debut vintage in August 2006.

Burford and Brown is also the largest producer of Verdelho in the United States. This Portuguese white varietal is grown in Lodi and his 2005 debut release will have the proprietary name-Lady Grace, dedicated to his mother-Grace Pauline Burford.

Verdelho is widely planted in Australia and it makes some of the countries finest white wines. Peter originally sourced the fruit as a blender for his Sauvignon Blanc. "Everyone adds Semillon to their Sauvy’s for complexity, I just wanted to have something different and I think it worked, what about you?"

For his final release he has gone back to the valley where he first started in California. Alexander Valley produces some of the finest red wines in the world. His 100% Merlot from this region will be released soon after the Zinfandel and he guarantees that this wine will over deliver as well.

Believe it or not, Burford and Brown is not Peter’s fulltime job. When he is not working at B&B, he consults for a handful of private labels including, Magito Wines and Haut Art Wines to name a few.

He is obviously extremely passionate about what he does, however, his wife Jillian, his 4-year-old Daughter Olivia Grace and new addition Maggie Kate, always come first.