Bavarian Lion Vineyards

The Ehret Family Winery makes all of its wine from the family owned Bavarian Lion Vineyards in Knight's Valley, Sonoma County, California.

Bavarian Lion Vineyards are planted to cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc, merlot, malbec, petite sirah, syrah, sémillon, and sauvignon blanc grapes on various rootstocks. Ehret Family Winery produces Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Syrah, and a red Meritage from the estate vineyards. The vineyard soils consist of strata of stony, loam, and clay.

Established in 1996, we have sold our grapes to many well-known wineries over the years as the vineyard was developed under the direction of Alex Vyborny, of Vyborny Vineyard Management Company in Napa Valley.

Vyborny Vineyard Management

Alex Vyborny is one of the most respected individuals in the vineyard industry in the area. Alex graduated from UC at Davis with a degree in viticulture in 1969. He worked in the Delta area from 1973-1976 for the Pillsbury Company. In 1974 he moved to Geyserville, and bought out Pillsbury with two other partners. Alex now manages 1,300 acres in Sonoma County and Napa Valley.

The frost protection irrigation system for the vineyard was developed by Alex utilizing collected runoff, as the county prohibits the use of ground water for irrigation. According to his unique vineyard philosophy, all fruit is caned pruned, intensifying the flavor development within the grape.

Knight's Valley

Knight's Valley, on the northeastern side of Sonoma County, is the warmest official AVA in the county. It is situated in the saddle of the Vacas Mountain range between the northern end of Napa Valley and the southern end of Alexander Valley in Sonoma County. Originally carved by the Russian River as it wended its way through both Sonoma County's Alexander Valley and Napa Valley, the volcanic activity and the creation of Mount St. Helena turned the river west, and raised Knight's Valley floor, thus protecting the region from Pacific Ocean influences more than other Sonoma County AVAs. The unique, warmer climate, slightly higher elevation, and the volcanic soils all combine to create ideal conditions for growing cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc, merlot, malbec, and petite verdot - the famed red wine grapes of Bordeaux. Beringer has made a well-known Knight's Valley Cabernet Sauvignon from the region since the 1970's, and Peter Michael has made exceptional wines from their estate vineyards in Knight's Valley since 1982, garnering the AVA the attention it deserves.

Bavarian Lion Vineyards