Heron
Heron relentlessly focuses on the very best California appellations to create balanced, fresh classics that redefine approachability - embodying the determination of the iconic bird it represents and of Laely Heron, founder of one of the industry’s first female-owned and-produced brands.
These wines are never formulaic - each vintage of Heron reflects an exhausting search for the best grapes from the best appellations across California, to make the highest quality vintage expression that consistently showcases finesse, freshness, and balance. The brand has been a consistent “Best Buy” from Wine Enthusiast over the years because of its incredible quality, price, and as a formidable competitor to bigger brand wines.
Much like the Heron bird embodies strength, focus, and determination, we honor Laely’s near 30 years of inner wisdom and intuition to craft classic, varietally-based wines set with intention - representing a timeless, but modern take on California wines.
Wines by Heron
Around the Winery
Laely Heron, Founder
Laely Heron comes from a historic era of original female leaders who broke the glass ceiling in the wine industry by creating one of the first female owned and produced brands in 1995. With the debut of the 1994 vintage, Heron became an instant success by being poured in top restaurants and sold in boutique retail shops around the country and is still going strong as the 30th vintage anniversary of Heron approaches.
Instead of going to UC Davis, she studied Oenology at the University of Bordeaux, cutting her teeth by learning from French winemakers. This influenced her desire to create transparent, restrained wines, setting Heron apart from other California brands.
Best friends Laely and Nick Ramkowsky, owner of Vine Connections, have partnered to create the wines in Sonoma, California. Nick is a master blender who has worked for the past 25 years with South America’s best winemakers to bring to life award-winning wines for the US palate. An avid believer in Laely, and the Heron brand, Nick is honored to now craft these wines for new generations of wine lovers to believe in.