Kathleen Inman embodies the essence of hands-on winemaking—equally comfortable pouring tastings as she is maneuvering tractors through her vineyard.
For more than two decades, this multifaceted entrepreneur has single-handedly built Inman Family Wines, wearing every hat, from viticulturist to accountant. Her winery reflects an unwavering commitment to environmental stewardship, evident in everything from eco-friendly wine labels to a sustainably designed tasting room powered by solar energy.
A third-generation Napa Valley native, Inman’s wine journey began ironically not in Napa but during a college tasting seminar at University of California, Santa Barbara, where pinot noir captured her imagination.
That summer, working at Napa Creek Winery on Silverado Trail, she discovered both her vocational calling and her future husband, Simon, a visiting Englishman. Their whirlwind romance led to marriage and 15 years in England, during which time Inman cultivated another passion—organic gardening—eventually creating an expansive 11-acre walled garden at their estate, The Grange at Elvington. This experience planted seeds for her future.
In 1998, drawn by her love of farming and pinot noir, the Inmans returned to California, purchasing the Olivet Grange property in Russian River Valley the following year as a tribute to their English home.
Since her inaugural 2002 vintage, Inman has championed what she terms “eco-ethics” in winemaking, at the forefront of techniques including direct-press rosés, single-vineyard sparkling wines and utilizing Stelvin screw caps with Saratin liners for even her most high-end wines.
Inman serves on Wine Road’s board of directors while advocating tirelessly for equity and diversity in the wine industry.
Amber Turpin: How did you get into this work?
Kathleen Inman: I created my job by forming a company in 2000.
Did you ever have an ‘aha’ moment with a certain beverage? If so, tell us about it.
No, but the 1963 Croft I had in 1982 was a port epiphany.
What is your favorite thing to drink at home?
A Corpse Reviver #2 (equal parts gin, Lillet blanc, orange liqueur and fresh lemon juice, shaken with ice and served up in an absinthe-rinsed glass).
Where do you like to go out for a drink?
Lo & Behold in Healdsburg.
If you were stuck on a desert island, what would you want to be drinking (besides fresh water)?
Champagne.
Inman Family Wines, 3900 Piner Rd., Santa Rosa, 707.293.9576. inmanfamilywines.com.
