In 2016, my son Colin, who was just 6 months old, was diagnosed with Down syndrome. As a parent, this was obviously a hard pill to swallow and essentially changed all my hopes and dreams for him. It ignited a passion within me of wanting to make this world a better place and more inclusive for individuals like him.

My winemaking career began in 2006 while attending Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. I’ve had the pleasure of working for some of the best winemakers in the Central Coast of California and honing my craft and style along the way. A goal of mine was to someday create wines of my own, but timing was never right. That all changed in 2021 when finally gaining the courage to take a risk and begin a wine brand of my own, and Common Thread was born. The name comes from a similar trait I share with my two boys - a single palmar crease on our left hands. This crease is one of the physical markers of Down syndrome, along with almond shaped eyes, stunted growth, etc. It is not an indication of any mutation, and can be an uncommon inherited trait that is often passed down among males. I’m proud to share this special trait with my two boys, and is my Common Thread.

A large part of my desire to make wine is getting an opportunity to give back to the community in a meaningful way. I’m proud to donate 10% of proceeds to organizations that support individuals with special needs. Those individuals share a common thread with my son, and all deserve to live life to the fullest.

My 2021 vintage wines benefitted the Special Olympics of Northern California, a group that works tirelessly to promote inclusion and empowering individuals with special needs.