Our Winery

Kendric Vineyards is a small vigneron's operation.

  Eileen and Stewart

We make Pinot Noir from our vineyard in Marin and Syrah from my Mom's vineyard the Shenandoah Valley.

My name is Stewart Johnson and I handle all aspects of production -- from planting and farming the vineyards, to making the wine, to now pitching it to you. When I say "handle," I don't mean the photo-op level of participation common to the industry. Every vine and every barrel has my hand prints all over it.

Eileen Burke is my wife. She has kept the roof over our heads at home which has allowed me to spend my days in the vineyard and the winery. While running her busy legal practice in San Francisco, she, somehow, found time to have our kids, Lucy and Owen, four years ago. With so much time on her hands, I've suggested that wine marketing might be a fun hobby.

  Kathleen and Kendric Johnson

Kendric Johnson was my Dad and is the person for whom this enterprise was named. He died in 2001 just as we were getting started. Naming the company after him is meant to both honor his memory and to impose his high personal standards upon the undertaking. So it is really his fault that we didn't release a 2003 vintage that didn't measure up.

Kathleen Johnson is my Mom. She and I jointly manage the vineyard on her ranch. Besides providing the grapes for the syrah, she has been a source of both moral and material support throughout the long haul from planting to bringing wine to market.

Starry Night Winery has hosted Kendric Vineyards at its facility in Novato since we emerged from the garage in 2003. Beyond renting us space and equipment, they have generously provided guidance that has helped a wine industry novice like myself get started in the business.