It makes sense that a friendly person like Avtar Singh Sandhu would fit right in the wine community at Sonoma Valley where the people are known to be unpretentious and the passion for wine genuine. Rishi Vohra met up with Sandhu and learned of his unprecedented wine journey over three decades and how one of his favourite sayings "farming is in my blood" effectively translates into the superior wine grapes produced by Sandhu Vineyards.

Avtar Singh Sandhu's first tryst with wine happened in 1962 in Berkeley, California where he had arrived for higher studies to pursue a Masters degree in Structural Engineering at the prestigious UC Berkeley. Little did this freshly graduated civil engineer from Punjab University know that the first sip would change his life forever and start him off on an enjoyable journey which continues till the present day.

Purchasing this vineyard was a feat of sorts as the Sonoma County Grapegrowers Association was a closely knit community and the property was being eyed for years by many winemakers in the area, including John Pedroncelli of the well-established neighboring Pedroncelli Winery. Like all other winemakers in the region, Pedroncelli was curious as to how an outsider managed to procure the sought after vineyard and even asked Sandhu good-naturedly if he had any experience in viticulture. Sandhu remembers his reply to date; "No, but I know agriculture!" At this point, Sandhu was well-versed in wines but still unacquainted with winegrowing. Being a Jat Sikh to whom farming came naturally, Sandhu says, "For generations, our family simply planted something and made it grow. It was common sense." Continue reading...