Our Winemaker
Bryan Kane, Winemaker
With a commitment to sustainable farming practices, natural winemaking and a focus on making wines from Rhone varietals, Bryan Kane has established himself as an awarding winning winemaker. Recognized as one of the “Next Generation of Cult Winemakers” by Somm Journal and Winemaker of the Year by American Fine Wine Competition, Bryan employs philosophy of “making wine in the field” in his wines and has total control over to implement this approach with Sol Rouge, his family estate vineyard.
After a number of years assisting with winemaking, Bryan Kane was named winemaker of his first commercial project in 2004 with the launch of VIE Winery – a boutique winery focused on making high quality, limited production Rhone varietal and Zinfandel based wines from many of the finest vineyards in California. Within the first two years, VIE gained, what some call, “cult winery” status with each of its wines receiving 90+ point ratings and one being named “Top 100 wines of the Year”.
Outside of some formal studies at UC Davis and learning through fellow winemakers working harvest for several years, Bryan has gained great knowledge and experience by working along-side of several established winemakers. First, Bryan worked two years along side of Scott Shapley, formally Assistant Winemaker at Siduri & Novy Cellars, winemaker for Roessler Cellars (now Walt Wines) and currently head winemaker at ROAR wines. Bryan continued to work along side of Scott as they both make their wines out of Copain’s crush facility where Bryan also worked along-side notable winemakers from DuMol, Domun, Carlisle, and Copain, of course. Later, Bryan to Nicholson Ranch where other great wines like Rivers-Marie and Schrader Cellars where produced. Bryan gained much of his knowledge working along-side these great winemakers. Although Bryan did not directly work with him, he also valued the mentoring offered by the late Denis Malbec, a third-generation winemaker from Ch. Latour and winemaker at several California Cult Wineries including Kapcsàndy Family Winery, Blankiet Estate, Sodaro Estate Winery, and Captûre Wines as well as his own wineries Notre Vin and Aliénor. His mentoring and guidance was invaluable and he will be missed.
Bryan also took over winemaking for the famed Howell Mountain Vineyards, following a line of great winemakers including Dave Phinney (Orin Swift), Ted Lemon (Littorai) and James Hall (Patz & Hall). Bryan also heads up winemaking for The Winery in San Francisco and an Italian wine project called Sottomarino Winery. Bryan also continues to consult at VIE Winery and other boutique wineries in the area, but his true passion is his estate winery – Sol Rouge Vineyard & Winery.
Bryan has produced wines that have been named to the Top 100 Wines of the Year list, two or the last three years, including the Sol Rouge Petite Sirah — Lake County’s highest rated wine to date.