Winemaker: Brandon Armitage

Brandon Armitage was born and raised in Portland, Oregon, where he developed an interest in horticulture. After earning a degree in the field, he moved to the Central Otago region of New Zealand, where he gained practical experience in vineyard management while working towards his Diploma in Viticulture and Winemaking. While immersed in the wine industry there, he realized that his true passion lay in winemaking. He had the privilege to spend two years working under the tutelage of Steve Davies, one of New Zealand’s most respected winemakers, before returning to the USA to continue his career.

His sense of adventure and the desire to try something new led him to the young wine industry in Colorado, where as head winemaker he produced award-winning Syrah and Cabernet Franc. Before coming to California he also worked in Oregon’s Willamette Valley, as well as returned to New Zealand for a short time.

As a winemaker, and based on his training as a viticulturist, Brandon believes firmly in the idea that great wine comes from great grapes, and that a winemaker’s job is to guide each wine into expressing itself to the fullest extent. He is very happy to have settled here in the Santa Cruz Mountains with Roudon-Smith Winery.

Annual Production: 4,000 cases

Grape Varieties Planted

• Chardonnay