As serious wine lovers for more than three decades, Clay and Brenda have traveled extensively throughout the great appellations of Europe and sampled everything from simple, honest regional bottlings to some of the world’s most celebrated wines. Years ago, while visiting the Napa Valley, they decided the time was right to make their own wines. Coquerel was born. (The name Coquerel is an archaic French
derivation of the family name – Cockerell.) In 2005, they purchased a vineyard in Calistoga planted to old-vine, dry-farmed Sauvignon Blanc. In 2008 they acquired the adjacent site that was planted to a handful of traditional varieties rarely found in modern-day Napa. Since then Clay and Brenda have revamped, replanted and upgraded our property to luxury-class winegrowing standards.

Christine was born and raised in Bordeaux France. She studied biochemistry and received her doctorate degree in Enology and Viticulture from the Bordeaux Institute of Enology. Her knowledge of sauvignon blanc is extensive as she made wine at Chateau Carbonnieux and La Louviere in Pessac-Leognan. Christine worked with the renowned Denis Dubourdieu and learned firsthand how to taste Sauvignon Blanc grapes as they ripen and how to harvest them to maximize the aroma and flavor of the wine. In 1996 Christine moved to California where she engaged in winemaking and viticulture research for Robert Mondavi, Gallo and Trinchero. Christine also produces wonderful wine under her personal label Toquade. Christine oversees the winemaking and viticultural programs and practices at our estate vineyard in Calistoga. In the spirit of the traditional French vigneron, a life she knows well from her years in Bordeaux, Christine manages all aspects of our farming, harvesting, vinification and bottling to ensure the highest quality, most expressive wines possible.