In the mid-1950s, when Harry Kuchta purchased the 200-acre ranch that now grows the grapes for Sycamore Cellars, he knew far more about milk than wine. But he was drawn to the beautiful land in the upper portion of the Arroyo Seco Canyon and believed that, in one way or another, it would provide a great future for his family.
He first ran a dairy farm, but when his sons were grown and unable to assist him, Harry switched to farming row crops. Although he had several offers from parties interested in leasing some of his land to grow wine grapes, it wasn’t until Rob Madsen became his son-in-law that Harry contemplated doing it himself. Rob’s wealth of experience in developing vineyards and growing grapes in Monterey County dated back to 1963 at Paul Masson. He gained valuable knowledge at a variety of vineyard jobs, providing the background needed to start a vineyard. In 1997, Harry planted his first 25 acres of grapes with the help of Rob, his son Dennis, and son-in-law Marvin Tavernetti.
Today, Sycamore Cellars is 75 acres and four generations strong. The vineyards (planted with Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Syrah, Chardonnay, Muscat Canelli, Petite Sirah, Grenache Noir, Cinsault, and Sangiovese) are 100 percent sustainably farmed to produce the finest wines without impacting the soils and environment. The full-flavored wines reflect the family’s careful farming practices. The portfolio is quickly expanding from four 2008 wines to ten 2009 wines. First-time new releases for 2011 include four single varietals (Cinsault, Grenache, Petite Sirah, and Sangiovese) and two red blends (GSP, a Rhône blend; and Red Wine Blend, a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah).
These new wines have already earned honors at different wine competitions including five Silvers and one Bronze medal at the NextGen Wine Competition. Besides the bright interior, there’s a lovely patio where visitors can picnic, enjoy the view, and taste the wines that represent a dairy farmer and his family’s dream-come-true.