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Bryan Kays

Winemaker, Trefethen Family Vineyards

Bryan obtained an undergraduate degree in English Literature from Cal Poly, SLO. Like any good English major, Bryan found refuge in wine, and quickly developed a healthy interest in the subject.

Bryan began his wine career as a field worker/cellar rat in the Sierra Foothills. After a couple of vintages and thousands of questions to the winemaker, Bryan returned to UC Davis to earn a degree in Viticulture and Enology.

Bryan joined Trefethen in 2006 as a Viticulture intern. Fascinated with estate grown wines and the opportunity to work with some of the valley's long-term residents, Bryan worked his way into the cellar then to Associate Winemaker. In 2015, he was promoted to Winemaker.

Bryan's goal is to create wines that are balanced and true to type. The winemake's two most critical decisions for any given wine are harvest date and press date. When those two decisions are perfectly timed, the winemaker's job is then to simply let each wine develop its own flavors and nuances, and keep his/her hands out of it. Winemaking is as much about action as it is about restraint.

Country born: United States

Education: BA in English Literature from Cal Poly, SLO
BS in Viticulture and Enology from UC Davis

Years in the wine industry: 15-20 years

Winemaking Philosophy:
Bryan's goal is to create wines that are balanced and true to type. The winemaker's two most critical decisions for any given wine are harvest date and press date. When those two decisions are perfectly timed, the winemaker's job is then to simply let each wine develop its own flavors and nuances, and keep his/her hands out of it. Winemaking is as much about action as it is about restraint.