Bryan Kane & Jill Brothers

Proprietors

It started with a dream…to build a world-class winery producing the highest rated wines in its class.

In January of 2005, Jill and Bryan found a 70 acre, mountain-side property in the Red Hills of Lake County.  It was an abandoned walnut orchard situated on the side of Mt. Konocti, one of Lake County tallest peaks with slopes from 20% to over 50%. It was the perfect property to develop a world-class, high-elevation, mountain-side vineyard. Sol Rouge Winery was born.

Although Sol Rouge is one of the original twelve founding members of the Lake County Winery Association, Sol Rouge has remained somewhat unknown in the county, as it did not have a public facility. Sol Rouge, instead, focused its efforts on extending the presence of Sol Rouge and Lake County wines through distribution across the nation and its tasting room in San Francisco.

This strategy has been successful in Sol Rouge achieving its goal of producing the highest rated wines in its class.  In 2013, Sol Rouge was the first winery in Lake County to receive a 94 point rating by one of the Big 3 (Wine Spectator, Wine Enthusiast, and Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate). Two years later, Sol Rouge was the first winery in Lake County to receive 90+ point ratings on all of its wines (all 12 wines). Recently, Sol Rouge was the first winery in Lake County to receive a score higher than 95 points one of the Big 3 Wine Rating Magazines with a 96 point rating from Wine Enthusiast Magazine. Plus, Sol Rouge was named to the Top 100 Wines of the Year list with the #25 wine in the world, the first time a Lake County wine was named to a Top 100 list from a major magazine (outside of a Top 100 Best Buys list).

Today, Sol Rouge continues to be driven by our goal to produce the highest rated wines in its class, but we are focused on giving back to the local Lake County community. After thirteen years, Sol Rouge is finally establishing a presence at home, here in Lake County. By opening the Sol Rouge Tasting Room @ On The Waterfront, we not only look to share our wines with the local community, but look to establish a new and unique Food & Wine experience through our new restaurant – On The Waterfront.