Maybe it was destiny. Tolosa is named after the Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa, the mission dedicated to Saint Louis, Bishop of Toulouse. Frederic hails from Toulouse, France, and received his master’s degree in agricultural sciences in 1995 from the Ecole Supérieure d’agriculture de Purpan (ESAP) in Toulouse. He discovered California while getting his degree, during an internship in Alexander Valley in Sonoma County. He came back for another harvest at Newton Vineyard in Napa Valley in 1997 and stayed in California. His career path has allowed him to make wines for distinguished wineries in many of the subappellations of Napa Valley, including Rutherford, Oakville, Yountville, Howell Mountain, and Mt. Veeder, as well as in the Sonoma Coast and Red Hills Lake County AVAs. His fascination with differing soil compositions and the impact of local climates has led him on a pursuit to understand how these factors influence the resulting wines.

He was introduced to Tolosa and Edna Valley just in time for the 2017 harvest. He immediately perceived that the combination of Pacific influences and unique soil compositions of Edna Valley provide an incredible palette for very special wines. Fred is continually exploring Tolosa’s estate vineyard, Edna Ranch, and discovering more facets of its exceptional character. He is passionate about crafting balanced, complex, and nuanced Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays which express the singularity of this marvelous terroir.