Charlie Kidd joined Flat Creek Estate as winemaker & vineyard manager just in time for Vintage 2008. When you visit with Charlie, you’ll enjoy the extent of his knowledge & the easy way he explains the complex process of growing grapes & crafting wine.

His ‘growing up’ years were spent in Chico, California followed by a few good years of skiing by day & cooking by night at Kirkwood near Lake Tahoe. Finally, the draw of an education at California Polytechnic University San Luis Obispo lured him off the slopes & into the classroom.  

Once involved in agricultural science, his interest in the production of row crops & vegetables quickly changed to a passion for grapevine physiology & viticulture. His mentor at Cal Poly was Dr. Keith Patterson. He also studied with the renowned Dr. Richard Smart for two years.

While still an undergrad, Charlie started a vineyard development & management company. Over a decade, Charlie designed & developed 13 vineyards, managed a total of 20 & worked with an equal number in specific arenas. He worked with a range of varietals including:  Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Merlot, Petite Verdot, Syrah, Petit Sirah, Sangiovese, Pinot Noir, Zinfandel, Chardonnay, Viognier, Alberinio and Reisling.  

Among the vineyards he managed was the Cal Poly off-campus vineyard. His involvement expanded to management of the campus vineyard. He was also asked to create & instruct a curriculum for a class titled Vineyard Practices.

By 2001, Charlie’s interest & training in winemaking lead him to broaden his involvement in the wine industry. He began making wine for Wild Wood Winery in San Luis Obispo. He developed his own label which later became John Alan where the showcase wine was a Meritage (Bordeaux blend) that consistently won best of class & best of show awards. At John Alan, the focus was on growing and producing Bordeaux style blends and Rhone varietal wines.

By 2007, Charlie was ready for a new challenge and a change of scenery. His partners purchased his stake of John Alan. He shut down Kidd Development & started looking around the country & the world for the next challenge that involved both vineyard & winery.

When Charlie visited Flat Creek Estate & met Rick and Madelyn, he knew Flat Creek Estate & the Texas industry were to become his next challenge.  Seven days later Charlie was packed & on the way to the beautiful Hill Country of Texas!