In 1980, screenwriter Robert Kamen purchased 280 acres of land in southwest Sonoma County in the Mayacamas Mountains. Phil Coturri, a leading organic and biodynamic viticulturalist, was brought into the project to develop and oversee vineyard design. Robert and Phil practice a minimalist winemaking philosophy – the core components of which are certified organic vineyards, thoughtful rootstock selection and clonal variety. After a devastating fire destroyed Robert’s home and almost a third of the vines, he and Phil reinvested in the winery and vineyards. The 40 acre estate is situated at elevations ranging from 1,100-1,450 feet along steep hillside contours where the gradient often exceeds 40%. Winemaker, Mark Herold received his doctorate in Ecology emphasizing Nutritional Biochemistry from the University of California, Davis. For his thesis, Mark analyzed how sun exposure, yeast strains and enzymes affect wine quality. His goal at Kamen is to fully express the character of the vineyard while producing intense, complex and balanced terroir-driven wines.