Our Story
Brady Vineyard is rooted in land, family and decades of winemaking. It was founded by winemaker Don Brady and his wife Catherine, whose families trace back to some of the earliest Texas settlers — raised on farming and ranching, and on the belief that meaningful work begins with the land.
Don in the early days
A life in wine
Don found wine while studying horticulture at Texas Tech, working at Pheasant Ridge Winery and putting in late nights in the chemistry lab. In 1983 he started pouring in the tasting room at Llano Estacado Winery, and when he went full time in 1985 he became assistant winemaker.
Then, the day the winery’s newly hired winemaker showed up, he handed in a letter of resignation — and the winery decided to “let the kid do it.” Working alongside a consultant, Don became Llano Estacado’s winemaker and one of the pioneers of the Texas wine revival. In 1991 he received the Louis F. Qualia Award for his contributions to the Texas wine industry. His wines were served at the White House to Presidents Reagan and George H. W. Bush, Queen Elizabeth and Prince Charles.
He went on to make wine at Ste. Genevieve in Fort Stockton, then joined Delicato Family Vineyards in 1998 as senior winemaker, responsible for all of the winery’s blends. In 1999 the family moved to Paso Robles, and Don drove an hour each way to King City every day he worked there. In 2001, Delicato was named Best U.S. Winery and USA Wine Producer of the Year at the International Wine & Spirit Competition in London.
That same year he joined Robert Hall Winery, making its very first wines and launching the brand. He was named San Luis Obispo County Winemaker of the Year in 2006, and in 2010 he won the Golden Bear — the California State Fair’s Golden State Winery of the Year — making Robert Hall the first Central Coast winery to earn it. Dating back to 1854, the State Fair is the oldest wine competition in the country, and the Golden Bear goes to just one winery in all of California each year.
tasting room
then winemaker
Award
Delicato
IWSC, London
Robert Hall
& Brady Vineyard
Winery of the Year
Wheat, then barley, then wine
This ground grew wheat, then barley, before it was planted to vines in 2001. Don bought some of the very first grapes it produced — and loved the wine so much that in 2006 he and Catherine made the vineyard their own.
Twenty-four acres on a gravelly alluvial terrace above the Estrella River: warm inland days, cool maritime evenings, and lean soils that make the vines dig deep. Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Petite Sirah are planted here, on rootstock chosen to seek out scarce water and nutrients.
Each spring, bluebonnets bloom between the rows — a nod to the bluebonnet fields of Don’s Texas roots. The same flower sits front and center on every Brady Vineyard label.
“Capture the essence of the vineyard, and coax the best expression from each vine.”Don Brady
Harvest Night
Most of our grapes come in at night. The real work happens in the days leading up to it.
Check the numbers
We follow each block’s vineyard analysis closely as the fruit ripens.
Taste the grapes
Walking the rows and tasting the fruit to confirm it’s truly ready.
Line up the crew
Then it’s all about scheduling — the equipment, or the people for hand harvesting.
Pick by night
Usually at night, the grapes come in — and the year’s wine begins.
Good neighbors
Alongside our estate fruit, we partner with small local growers who share the same respect for place. Our Zinfandel comes from these relationships — a focused way to make more great wine while supporting the farming community around us.
Patience, restraint & respect
For the land, for history and for the craft. The most compelling wines aren’t forced — they’re carefully guided.
Explore the wines