Karuga Kimani and Mariam Karuga of Mellowood Vineyard
Fair Play
Upon moving from Kenya to California in 2005, Karuga Kimani and Mariam Karuga were impressed by Northern California’s wine–to the point the couple decided to start making wine themselves (at first, out of their garage). In 2020, the Karugas became owners of Mellowood Vineyard, with Mariam also the general manager and Karuga the winemaker at the family- and pet-friendly establishment. Their team is rounded out by their children, Maryanne and Daniel, who work in wine operation, as well as Loree Farmer, who recently joined as Mellowood’s winery manager.
What inspired your career in the wine industry? We moved to the US from Kenya in 2005, and I was impressed by the wine produced in Northern California. We then moved to Livermore in 2014 and really enjoyed the wine offered by Livermore wine country which was literally down Vasco Road from our house. Karuga used to visit a different winery every Saturday after his morning gym and that is when we decided that we would love to make wine ourselves.
How did you get your start? We started making wine in our garage, which we used to give away to my friends for free. In late 2020, we acquired Mellowood as we started looking for a new chapter in wine making and in our life. Mellowood reminds us of the Kenyan central highlands countryside where we grew up, and we are excited to recreate and share those special moments with all our visitors!
What does Mellowood specialize in? Our winery specializes in offering memorable getaways for groups of all sizes characterized by outstanding wines, delicious food, a relaxing ambience and breathtaking views of the Sierras. We have a total of 25 acres with 10 acres planted with Syrah (five acres) and Zinfandel (five acres). The vineyard sits at an elevation of 2,400 feet and is exposed to cool winters and wonderfully warm springs that impart our grapes with characteristic flavor and finish. Our Syrahs are generally complex wines with a great structure and exceptional length on the finish, emitting flavors of fresh cherry and a subtle hint of warm spices. Our Zinfandels are beautifully balanced, velvety smooth, with fruit-forward notes of blueberries and cherries. The 2018 and 2020 vintages have won Double Gold at the Foothill Wine Festival, and the 2017 vintage has multiple awards, including with the San Francisco Chronicle. We recently revamped our indoor event room and will be offering live music once in a while.
What is the biggest reward in being in the wine industry? What about the biggest challenge? Our biggest reward is to be able to connect with our winery guests, offer them our great wine, share the space with them and create new memories. We really enjoy spending time at Mellowood, which offers a relaxed and laidback experience. We have a charming tasting room that allows guests to explore wines. We also encourage guests to take a bottle with them on a hike up Zin Hill to enhance their experience of this Gold Country with stunning views of the Sierras. Our biggest challenge currently is being able to get the word out to potential guests and increase the traffic to our winery.
What career goals do you hope to meet in 2023? What does the future of the industry look like to you? We consider ourselves to be entertainers, so wine is our instrument and the vineyard is our stage. We are looking to host a number of events at the winery this year, including a wine-themed camping event on Memorial Day weekend. We also expect to invest significantly into the property in the coming years, including increasing the available accommodation at the property to bring in more visitors. We are also working on our wine offerings and currently working on our 2021 and 2022 releases. And, eventually, we intend to host weddings at the vineyard.