Co-founders Dan Kosta and Michael Browne met while working at John Ash & Company in Santa Rosa, California. Dan had been the general manager and Michael the sommelier. By 1997, they saved $1,000 of their tip money to purchase one used barrel, a half ton of Russian River Pinot Noir grapes and a hand-cranked crusher-de-stemmer. They poured the wine for restaurant customers. Afterwards they brought onboard Chris Costello and other investment partners. Upon release of their 2003 Pinot Noir, it received two 95 points scores and their 2009 Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir was Wine Spectator’s Wine of the year. Their destiny had been etched in stone.

Duckhorn Winery purchased Kosta Browne in 2018, updating the Sebastapol winery and transitioning from relying solely on purchased fruit to owning vineyards. Duckhorn intends to broaden the market for the wines, making them more accessible to consumers.

Gap’s Crown Vineyard is situated in rocky sub-soils within the windswept and fog laden Petaluma Gap AVA of Sonoma Coast. This inviting deep ruby wine is well structured and broad with juicy crushed cherries and warm mixed berry fruits. Behind the dense core is host of savory notes and minerality layered with a subtle amount of finely grained tannins and mouthwatering acidity.

By W Peter Hoyne