Our Founders

A trip to Wine Country in 1992 changed Barry and Susan Collier's future together. That weekend encouraged them to sell their home and move to Sonoma County, and by 1997 they were growing grapes and making wine as Collier Falls.

For Barry and Susan this was quite a risk. But they saw it as a chance to enjoy the outdoors together as winegrowers, and challenge themselves as farmers after decades of city life.

Susan was the first to move to Sonoma County, where she studied viticulture in Santa Rosa and looked at dozens of properties throughout Wine Country. It was Dry Creek Valley she fell in love with. "The valley was intimate and the people were so friendly and genuine. It just felt right."

Barry soon followed and together they saw their very first vintage, a Collier Falls 1997 Zinfandel, earn 90 points in the Wine Spectator, the first in a long line of award-winning wines from Collier Falls. 

For more on Barry and Susan, read this article form the 2001 Santa Rosa Press Democrat: Vintage Dreamer