Gary Pisoni will be forever associated with Pinot Noir and his pursuit to develop Pisoni Vineyards in 1982. His dream has changed the course of his family’s work in agriculture, and critics have credited him for a great deal of the success of the Santa Lucia Highlands. Like is the case with many visionaries, it’s hard to imagine what Gary did before he perfected his craft.

Watch this video to see how Gary’s dream came to life. His roots in farming was instrumental to developing a deep understanding for the land and its needs. It was farming on the valley floor, specifically, loading lettuce boxes onto his father’s tractors, where he would constantly gaze up at the horizon to the mountains where he would one day plant grapevines. But like all endeavors, it takes years of work and inspiration to make a dream come true.