Maboroshi Vineyard and Wine Estates

In the wine business, there are the occasional stories of those who develop a passion for winemaking, give up their lifestyle, and plunge cold turkey into wine. In 1991, Tom and Revecca Kisaichi packed up and left for Burgundy during the Gulf War with their 4-year-old daughter in two. They called their scheme a "maboroshi" (Japanese term for extraordinary visions), but their family and friends thought it was a frivolous hallucination.

Tom knocked on doors in the Cote d'Or until he landed a job under Charles Rousseau, proprietor of Domaine Armand Rousseau in Gevrey-Chambertain. The Kisaichi family then returned to the United States where Tom continued his studies of winemaking. He worked at several production jobs in numerous wineries prior to becoming the enologist at Michel-Schlumberger Winery in Healdsburg, California. Rebecca studied at the University of Bourgogne and developed an interest in viticulture. She was able to work with some of the top winemakers and winegrowers in Napa and Sonoma counties. Erin Green and Helen Turley were particularly inspirational.

The Kisaichis launched their own label in 1999, naming their winery Maboroshi, after their commitment to each others dreams. They now have their own estate Pinot Noir vineyard, Maboroshi Vineyard, located in the hills of southwestern Sebastopol and planted in Goldridge soils. Several Dijon selections were first harvested in 2004.

The winery's portfolio includes the Maboroshi Estate Pinot Noir, Spring Mountain York Creek Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, and a Los Carneros Chardonnay. Some Pinot Noir grapes are sold to DeLoach for a vineyard-designate bottling. The Maboroshi wines are sold on the website.