Barber Cellars was established to produce high quality, hand crafted, and truly unique wines from the best grapes that Sonoma’s appellations have to offer.  The winery only uses hand picked grapes from organically or sustainably farmed vineyards, makes no unnatural additions or manipulations to their wines, and uses as little sulfur as possible. 


Michael Barber started making wine with his wife, Lorraine, in 2005.  He taught himself commercial wine making by reading through the UC Davis course books, made wine at home, and asked advice from winemakers and colleagues he met while working for one of the largest and most respected wine retailers in San Francisco.  Here he had the opportunity to taste all the great wines of the world and establish relationships with the best winegrowers of Sonoma.  After making friends with several east bay vintners, he was given the tools and knowledge necessary to take his winemaking to the commercial level. 


Michael wanted to create classic California wines with old world sensibilities - delicious wines of elegance and complexity.  His wines honestly showcase the differences of individual terroirs and individual vintages with fruit from very small lots, and wines from single vineyards.  Barber Cellars gives consumers unique, balanced, and food friendly wines from Sonoma that are also affordable. 


There is a saying in the wine industry that goes “You start with a large fortune to make a small fortune.”  Mike and Lorraine started Barber Cellars with no fortune at all, but have dedicated their lives to the pursuit of great and memorable California wine.  Their first commercial vintage was 2007, pressed, fermented, and bottled at a Suisun City winery close to San Francisco.  Their wines were immediately welled received with media and consumer praise in everything from the SF Chronicle to Wine Enthusiast Magazine.  They are currently 100% Sonoma - living in Petaluma, and making all their wines in Sonoma County from Sonoma County grapes.