Our Founders

In 1992, Barry and Susan Collier were living in Los Angeles when they decided to spend a weekend in Wine Country for Barry’s birthday. It turned out to be a vacation that would change their lives, and 5 years later the couple had sold their home and were growing grapes and making wine in Sonoma County.

Of course, the transition wasn’t quite that simple. Susan moved to northern California to study viticulture in Santa Rosa, while Barry stayed behind to wrap up his old life with Prism Entertainment, the company he founded that went on to produce over 50 films.

While Susan was studying, she was also busy looking for the right property in Wine Country, and after searching throughout Napa and Sonoma it was Dry Creek Valley that she fell in love with. “The valley was intimate and the people were so friendly and genuine. It just felt right.” Or as Barry put it, “I left the highway, turned onto Dry Creek Road and found heaven.”

For the Colliers, this was no retirement, but instead a chance to get their hands dirty, challenge themselves in a new industry, and enjoy the outdoors together as farmers and winegrowers in a spectacular setting. Now, most days you’ll still find Barry in the vineyard tending to the grapes with his iPod playing and his Labradors JoJo and Rogue close by.

Sadly, Susan died from ALS in 2007. But her passion for growing grapes and drinking wine, her appreciation for nature and the land, and her infectious love of life, people and Dry Creek Valley are represented in every bottle of Collier Falls we produce. 100% of the proceeds from our Collier Falls Syrah du Soleil goes towards ALS research.