Rhonda Wood
The year was 1991. Rhonda was a pilot for USAirways, on a mandatory leave of absence. With nine months on her hands, she renewed her flight instructor rating, hit the slopes of Vail — and started brewing her own beer after hearing it was good for breastfeeding.
After a couple of years of home brewing, Rhonda wondered: why not make wine? She and Michael had long enjoyed wine together, touring vineyards and wineries as a couple. They planted 18 grape vines in their Fremont backyard — the beginning of everything.
In 1995, during the Harvest Festival, they discovered Livermore Valley and saw a vineyard property for sale. The rest is history.
"From the cockpit to the cellar — every great journey starts with a leap of faith and a good glass of wine."
A Pilot at Heart
Rhonda commuted to San Francisco Airport until she took a leave of absence in 2001, taking up winemaking full time. She officially resigned from USAirways in 2006 — trading her commercial wings for wine. But flying never left her: she still owns a PA-22 Tri Pacer from the 1950s, which she flies out of Livermore Airport.
She continues to deepen her expertise through extension courses at UC Davis, laboratory programs, discussions with fellow winemakers, and a relentless curiosity about every aspect of the craft.
Michael recently retired after more than 30 years serving as Regional CFO for Pacific Coast Trane Air Conditioning. He continues to serve as CFO for Wood Family Vineyards and contributes wherever he can — especially during harvest. His favorite? The award-winning Chardonnay, of course.
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