Byron Kosuge is a native Californian, and studied English Literature as well as Viticulture and Enology and UC Davis. He was born and raised in the Central Valley of California, the son of a UC Davis professor. He began his winemaking career in 1985 as a Carneros Pinot Noir and Chardonnay specialist at Saintsbury Winery. After 15 years at Saintsbury he departed in 2001 to pursue other projects, including his own label, B. Kosuge Wines, as well as Miura Vineyards, Foghorn (like McIntyre based in the Santa Lucia Highlands of Monterey County) and Kingston Family Vineyards in Casablanca Chile. All of those projects focus on Pinot Noir. He has also served as consultant to several Napa and Sonoma based wineries.

 

Byron began working with Steve McIntyre in 2004 as part of a project wherein small blocks in several different Monterey County vineyards that Steve farmed were given the “A vine” treatment in an effort to explore the potential of some of the more promising sites. In 2005, they decided to make a small amount of wine from these trial blocks, and the wine project was off and running. In 2006, the focus shifted to the McIntyre family estate in the Santa Lucia Highlands, and Byron switched from consultant to winemaker for McIntyre Vineyards.

 

Byron lives in Napa with his wife Mary and daughter Audrey.