We believe the finest wines begin with a simple premise: give great vineyards the freedom to express themselves.
Our pursuit is to perfect wines of elegant intensity to maximize what Mother Nature gives us while blending art and science to reveal the truest expression of the grape. Our approach is hands-off, but never neglectful: working with exceptional vineyard sources and growers with whom we have built relationships over decades, then intervening only where it can make the wine better.
This collection brings together seven wines from exceptional vineyard sites, four returning favorites and three new additions to the Grail wine collection.
Crafted with meticulous care and born from deliberate vineyard sourcing, these wines embody Dan Kosta and winemaker Shane Finley’s continual pursuit of ever more profound expressions of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.
The 2023 growing season gave us an exceptional vintage, from sustainably farmed vineyards tended and nurtured for decades.
We are delighted to present the addition of three new wines to the Grail by Dan Kosta wine collection: the 2024 Gantz Vineyard Chardonnay, the 2023 Rayhill Vineyard Pinot Noir, and the 2023 Bootlegger’s Hill Pinot Noir.
Gantz Vineyard
Clay and Celeste Gantz planted their small vineyard on Laguna Ridge in 2010, choosing a site in the heart of the Russian River Valley known for its Goldridge sandy soils and cool, fog-influenced climate. The vineyard’s first commercial fruit went to Kosta Browne, and years later the relationship came full circle with Dan Kosta. Today, Gantz Vineyard is valued for the richness of the Russian River Valley combined with bright acidity and detail.
Rayhill Vineyard
William Rayhill planted this hillside vineyard in the Sebastopol Hills in 2000, creating a site that has become well known for its Pinot Noir. At roughly 500 feet in elevation and influenced by cool Pacific air, Rayhill produces fruit with depth and concentration while retaining the freshness and acidity that define the area.
Bootlegger’s Hill Vineyard
Charlie Chenoweth planted Bootlegger’s Hill in 2007 on a cool hillside in the western Russian River Valley. The vineyard’s shallow Goldridge soils, low yields and strong Pacific influence give its Pinot Noir a distinctive combination of concentration and freshness. The name comes from the site’s reported connection to Prohibition-era moonshining, adding a bit of history to an otherwise very modern vineyard.
The Grail Wine Collection continues to be anchored by three vineyards that have been part of Dan Kosta’s pursuit of exceptional Pinot Noir from the beginning. Rosella’s, Garys’ and Campbell Ranch each bring something distinctly their own to the collection—from the maritime influence of the Santa Lucia Highlands to the rugged, cool-climate character of the West Sonoma Coast. Together, they remain at the heart of Grail, alongside the new vineyards that are now joining the collection.
Rosella’s Vineyard
Planted by Gary Franscioni in 1996 and named for his wife, Rosella’s Vineyard is one of the foundational sites of the Santa Lucia Highlands. Cool mornings, strong afternoon winds and deep Arroyo Seco sandy loam shape both the Pinot Noir and Chardonnay we source here, giving the wines a combination of richness, freshness and energy.
Garys’ Vineyard
Planted in 1997 by lifelong friends Gary Franscioni and Gary Pisoni, Garys’ Vineyard has become one of the defining sites of the Santa Lucia Highlands. Dan Kosta has worked with fruit from the vineyard since 2005, drawn to its combination of ripe fruit, cool-climate freshness and distinctive savory character.
Campbell Ranch Vineyard
High in the coastal hills near Annapolis, Campbell Ranch sits at the edge of the Pacific marine layer, where cool temperatures and low-vigor Goldridge soils create a long, slow growing season. Dan Kosta first worked with fruit from the vineyard in 2013 and has long been drawn to its combination of dark fruit, freshness and savory complexity.