Andrew's Vision

In 1998 I took a large step toward accomplishing a vision that began 20 years earlier in a high-school class room in upstate New York. The English teacher calling attendance that day pronounced my name enthusiastically with its correct French pronunciation several times before realizing that it was unrecognizable to me. (My father had been adopted by Italian parents and miss-pronounced the name.) After that class, she pulled me aside and told me about the town of Ferrière in France and of the name-sake's proud history. During that Spring, we would finish every class by reading from a novel and then discussing more about her travels, and of a culture that deeply appreciated knowledge, food, and life’s simple pleasures...,how these things centered around family, vineyards and wine.

The step taken twenty years later was the purchase of eighty two beautiful acres consisting of steep mountains, rolling hills, and panoramic views of the New Meloines Reservoir which surrounds the property. With a little entrepreneurship, luck, and a lot of work, ground was broken and Ferrière Vineyards was born... along with a newly fueled desire to create a foundation from which the future of my family’s heritage could proudly be built upon. It was an incredible feeling building that vineyard and developing the Coyote Ridge Peninsula from cattle pastures into the viticulture sub-appellation it is today; worth, every drop of sweat and sleepless nights. Sadly, however, like so many other winery operations, I was unable to maintain ownership of the property during the financial storms that plagued the industry during the years 2002-2003. I still manage the property and hold an equitable share in it and proudly make the wine in concert with and for my associate partner Raven Oaks Vineyards and Winery. One day I hope to fulfill my dream to repurchase the 82 acres in its entirety. Fortunately, the new arrangement gives me an avenue to build my Ferrière Vineyards Brand, a brand which consists of vineyard management, winemaking, charitable work and a small production of very, very good wine.