Krutz Family Cellars: A Closer Look at a Local’s Family-Owned Winery
Story by Jordan Lacenski
Written while wining with Krutz Family Cellars 2012 Pinot Noir Soberanes Vineyard, Santa Lucia Highlands
You may often enjoy wine with your family, but have you ever thought about making it? We checked in with Rosemary Beach local, Bryan Krutz of Krutz Family Cellars to find out more about team “KFC” and how the family business began.
Bryan and his brothers, Cole and Patrick, grew up in a home with quite the collection of wines. All graduating from Ole Miss, they found themselves gravitating back to their roots. Patrick worked in the very same wine retail shop in Carmel, California where his father would acquire allocated wines. He immediately caught the wine bug and began making hobby level wine, while interning at several wineries in Monterrey. His hobby officially became a business in 2003. Cole joined shortly after in 2011.
The apple didn’t fall far from the tree for Bryan either. He moved to Rosemary Beach after college, where he operated Courtyard Wine & Cheese. Krutz Family Cellars was growing rapidly and had expanded distribution to 8 states (now 15). The winery needed more space and more help. They relocated several times, landing in Sonoma County, when Bryan also joined the family business in 2011 to handle sales and marketing and work closely with their distributors.
As Bryan currently travels for market visits, the California grapes are changing color. Patrick and Cole are busy racking with new clean barrels, while other barrels are full of aging wine. They just bottled their 2015 Chardonnay as well as their Pinot Noir Sobranes.
“2016 is becoming a great year,” Bryan told us. “With the El Niño rain, the grapes have been affected in a good way, resulting in a bountiful quality harvest.”
It’s no secret that the Emerald Coast consists of wine collectors and connoisseurs. Managing this region, Bryan attends and pours the family-owned winery’s products at many local events, such as SEASIDE® Seeing Red Wine Festival™, taking place on the first weekend of November each year. In addition, Bryan and his family have supported and attended the Destin Charity Wine Auction for many years.
“Being a smaller producer, and sourcing fruit from other vineyard sites, people here know these regions,” He tells us. “The wine market here is outstanding. People love good quality, they know the pedigree behind those vineyards. You often don’t find that, even in big cities.”
As we begin the last month of summer, Bryan recommends you enjoy the beach with his Magnolia Chardonnay or a chilled dry, rosé. At dinner, he suggests popping the cork on a Pinot Noir.
If you’re looking to purchase a healthy variety of the Krutz Family Cellars portfolio, Bryan recommends Emerald Coast Wine & Spirits, next to the WaterColor Publix. Look for the Magnolia flower on the label. Representing their southern roots, the Krutz family has included the Mississippi state flower on every bottle produced since 2003. In addition, mark your calendars for upcoming wine events on 30A, where you can try the Krutz Family Cellars Signature Series and Magnolia Series for yourself.
Cheers. Proost. Sláinte. Salute. Salud.
– Jordan Lacenski: Founder & Chief Innovation Officer of BrandBoss Creative
To purchase tickets to the 26th annual SEASIDE® Seeing Red Wine Festival™, go to seeingredwinefestival.com.
To learn more about the “KFC” team, go to krutzfamilycellars.com.
