Open: Year-round

Vern and Maxine Boltz had already completed successful careers in other professions when their venture landed them in the beautiful Anderson Valley. Vern is a retired Captain of the Oakland Fire Department and a residential contractor who designed and built several luxury homes in his off-duty time. Maxine spent her prior years traveling the world as a United flight attendant and later as a successful real estate salesperson. After retirement, the two decided to explore the possibility of owning vineyard land and becoming growers. Their quest brought them to a bucolic 160-acre site approximately one mile from the town of Philo. In 1997 Vern cleared the land, prepared the site, planted 17 acres of Pinot Noir grapes, and named the vineyard Toulouse. By 2002, they were making wine. Subsequently they purchased an additional 160 acres adjoining the rolling hills of their property which now encompasses 320 acres.