Rounding the pastoral curves on the road just East of Hopland, you are humbled by the beauty of the hills, the vineyards, the oak dotted hillsides of this very special part of Mendocino County. Pull over on Old Toll Road, park on the little rise, breath deep and take in the view of Brutocao Vineyards “Contento” ranch. It’s the same view that Grandpa Irv Bliss saw in the 40’s that compelled him to buy this land.

Irv’s daughter, Marty, married Len Brutocao and the seeds of a family wine enterprise were planted. First Irv and then Len and Marty, along with their sons Steve, Len Jr., and David, have worked this land as well as neighboring acres for over 50 years. Now, farming 600 acres of myriad varietals, Brutocao is primarily a grower for many premium wine brands as diverse as Hess in Napa and the Biltmore Estate in North Carolina. They also produce about 12,000 cases annually under their family brands, Brutocao Cellars and Bliss Vineyards. It seems that finding the right niche has always been one of the strengths of the Brutocao Family.

Another example of this savvy is a new program offered by the Brutocao Family. It’s called Personal Vineyards at Brutocao and might just be the perfect way to satisfy one’s passion for all things wine, without the risk of actually becoming a farmer, or the discipline to become a viticulturist.


Winesong event Hopland

Sort of a hybrid partial ownership program, Personal Vineyards provides its clients with the perfect mix of celebrating one’s love of wine and the wine country lifestyle with the joy of creating a product from something that starts as basic as farming.

Personal Vineyard’s clients are invited to be involved in the entire journey of their “personal” grapes, through the harvesting process, crush, blending, and bottling. Members even have their own personal label. But this is so much more than a personal label program like many have offered for years. This is a true opportunity to express yourself in the magic that wine is – to be instrumental in the alchemy that creates this wondrous and ancient drink. With the guidance and help of the team at Brutocao, members create their own version of “art in a bottle”

Members enjoy having actual vines of a varietal of their own selection (you get a personal row of 200 vines, see inset). More than that, however, members have access to the land and activities like private

picnicking in the vineyards up at “The Little Barn”, overlooking the same wonderful view Grandpa Bliss enjoyed those many years ago, ATV riding, or just being able to spend time walking amongst the vines or fishing in the reservoirs.
Personal Vineyards is an opportunity to reconnect with long resting agrarian roots that many of us have. It is a chance to authentically experience the romance of the wine country lifestyle.

“I enjoy the personal touch of being able to meet with the Brutocao family and having direct access to one of the regions premier winemakers, Fred Nickel.” says Mark Schrader, one of Personal Vineyards members. “I also enjoy having my “own” vineyard with a sign with my name as well as the wine they help me produce to my taste.”

Personal Vineyards at Brutocao is about being part of something as old as time (wine) and being part of an extended family - on any given day, there is a Brutocao family member there on site, being part of the process. Folks that don't consider themselves farmers or winemakers can be both with Personal Vineyards - or they can just reap the benefits of a family and staff of experts to make their own expression of their passion for wine.

For more, visit www.personalvineyards.com or call Leslie Bramwell-Smith, Executive Director of Personal Vineyards at 866-530-4567.