Andrew Murray fell in love with the emerging Rhône varieties, Syrah and Viognier, in the late ’80s while traveling through the Rhône Valley. He took that passion further when he headed out for a short internship in Australia in 1992 to learn more about the famed Australian Shiraz. There he fell so in love with Syrah that he overstayed his planned three months by almost a year. 

When he returned home, he earned a degree in viticulture and oenology from U.C. D avis and started his eponymous vineyard and winery, working with growers who mirrored his passion for excellence. He found vineyard owners who matched his desire for perfection, and who farmed their vines to ruinously low yields with the most advanced viticultural methods. Andrew’s razor sharp vision can be surmised succinctly in the company motto, “Handcrafted wines from steep hillside vineyards, planted exclusively to Rhône Varieties.”

All of the focus, passion, and dedication have paid off. Today, Andrew Murray Vineyards is considered, “One of Santa Barbara’s finest wineries,” by Robert Parker,Jr. and the editors of Food and Wine magazine were in agreement when they named Andrew as the “Tastemaker Of the Year” in 2004.