Ian Brand, the San Francisco Chronicle’s ‘Winemaker of the Year’ in 2018, produces brilliant and distinctive wines that offer terrific value for California – a state famous for wines that are either incredibly expensive or mass produced.

Founded in 2008 by Ian and his wife Heather, I Brand and Family Wines focuses on vineyards in the underappreciated regions surrounding Monterey Bay – a stretch of the California Central Coast hugely influenced by the Pacific Ocean. Ian quickly established a reputation for seeking out excellent organic and sustainably farmed vineyard sites with the right mix of soil, aspect, variety, and microclimate.

In the winery, Ian looks to be hands off, harvesting quality fruit so that little needs to be done during fermentation. Native yeast, gentle maceration, and minimal oak are all part of the winemaking process.

Initially producing wine under their Le P’tit Paysan label with characterful and expressive ‘village’ wines, they went on to launch the I. Brand label, with elegant and refined single vineyard wines from exceptional sites.