Welcome to Brucher and Golden Bear Winery!
We're thrilled to share our enthusiasm for the art
of winemaking.
Our goal is to provide you with wines that go above
and beyond your expectations - making your next
glass
a cherished memory.
Thank you for choosing Brucher and
Golden Bear
wines.
We look forward
to serving you!
In 2010, Janis and Mike Schmidt purchased Brucher and Golden Bear Winery from longtime family friend, Peter Brucher. Known for finding the best possible harvests and allowing the grapes to determine the production technique, Peter began his career in 1972 as a grower of Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon grapes. He then founded and managed Vichon Winery in Napa Valley. With a reputation for innovation and dedication to quality, the successful winery was purchased in 1989 by the Mondavi family.
Peter and his partners founded Golden Bear Vineyards in Napa Valley in 1978. A UC Berkeley alum, Peter named the Golden Bear label after the school's mascot, Oski. He later relocated the winery to the cooler climate of Santa Maria on California's Central Coast where he created his signature Brucher label. Using his experience as a grape grower, Peter selected the finest Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grapes, and using traditional winemaking techniques, produced exceptional, high quality wines. The Schmidt family, along with Jim Yerkes, the original winemaker, are dedicated to continuing the tradition of fine, handcrafted wines.
