Roshambo Winery was started with the simple idea that serious wines became, well, a little too serious.? The winery is owned by Naiomi Brilliant, granddaughter of the late, great Sonoma County grape grower, Frank Johnson. The small, independent winery was named after the West Coast slang for the children's game, "Rock, Paper, Scissors."
The grape growing history of the Dry Creek Valley goes almost 140 years.? Early agriculture centered around wheat, hops, and livestock, but by 1870 French immigrants had established the first winery in the valley.?
A century later, Frank Johnson, a career inventor and machinist, traded in his successful orthodontic equipment company for a simpler life in Sonoma County.? Having grown up on a farm in upstate New York, he sought to become a gentleman farmer.? He purchased an apple and prune orchard that hugged the Dry Creek and Russian River Valleys, knowing that this unique microclimate would be ideal for growing grapes.? He was right. ? Frank sold his fruit to some of the most highly acclaimed wineries, and was among California's first vineyard-designated grape growers.? He took tremendous pride in his fruit, and dreamed of someday producing a family estate wine. Roshambo Winery is the fulfillment of that dream.?
Frank Johnson Vineyards currently has 116 planted acres of vines at the very most southern edge of the Dry Creek Valley. The varietals include Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Syrah, Merlot, and Sauvignon Blanc.? The family is dedicated to Frank Johnson's vision, and they have begun replanting some portions of the vineyards.
In the 1970s, legendary winemaker Richard Arrowood, while working for Chateau St. Jean, printed the vineyard's name on his finest Chardonnays. As a result, Chardonnay from this vineyard is sought after and prized. Enjoy this Chardonnay from the winemaking family who first planted the vineyard, and who puts the full flavors of their harvest in every glass.
