Thomas Rivers Brown
Winemaker · Schrader, Maybach, Rivers-Marie · Calistoga
Thomas Rivers Brown arrived in Napa in 1996 with no formal wine training and became one of the most sought-after winemakers of his generation. His Cabernets for Schrader and Maybach have earned a string of perfect scores, and his own Rivers-Marie wines are made just off Foothill Boulevard in Calistoga.
About Thomas Rivers Brown
- Raised in Sumter, South Carolina, and studied at the University of Virginia.
- Drove west to Napa in 1996 and took a job at a Calistoga wine shop and bar, where he met winemaker Ehren Jordan.
- Joined Turley Wine Cellars under Ehren Jordan in 1997 with no formal wine training, and helped on Outpost's first wine there in 1998.
- Began making wine for Fred Schrader in 2000, at age 29, despite never having made Cabernet before; stayed on after Constellation Brands bought Schrader in 2017.
- His 2007 Schrader To Kalon Cabernets earned perfect scores from both Wine Spectator and Robert Parker.
- Named Food & Wine magazine's Winemaker of the Year in 2010.
- Founded Rivers-Marie (first vintage 2002) with partner Genevieve Marie Welsh; the label's Calistoga winery and tasting room on Foothill Blvd opened in 2020.
- Took full ownership of Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir producer Aston Estate in 2021.
- A 2018 Wine Spectator profile counted about 45 clients; in 2024 he was brought in to make a new small-production Cabernet for Far Niente.
Thomas's own wines
- Rivers-Marie · since 2002
- Aston Estate · since 2021
- Caterwaul Wines
Where Thomas makes wine today
- Schrader Cellars · winemaker
- Maybach Family Vineyards · winemaker
- Outpost Wines · winemaker
- Far Niente (new small-production Cabernet) · consulting winemaker
Wineries Thomas has made wine for
Consulting relationships change often; these are clients past and recent as reported over the years.
- Mending Wall
- Casa Piena
- Revana Estate
- Round Pond Estate
- Vermeil Wines
- Pulido~Walker
- Shibumi Knoll
- Robert Mondavi Winery (To Kalon Cabernet project)
- GTS (Tom Seaver)
- Black Sears
- Hobel
- Ferrari-Carano (Prevail bottling)
- Kinsella Estates (Dry Creek Valley)
- TOR Wines
- Turley Wine Cellars
Notable wines and scores
- 2007 Schrader CCS Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon: 100 pts, Wine Spectator (James Laube)
- 2006 Schrader Old Sparky Cabernet Sauvignon: 100 pts, Robert Parker / Wine Advocate
- 2013 Schrader Old Sparky Cabernet Sauvignon: 100 pts, Robert Parker / Wine Advocate
- 2013 Maybach Materium Cabernet Sauvignon (Weitz Vineyard): 100 pts, Robert Parker / Wine Advocate
- 2014 Maybach Materium Cabernet Sauvignon (Weitz Vineyard): 100 pts, Robert Parker / Wine Advocate
- 2015 Maybach Materium Cabernet Sauvignon (Weitz Vineyard): 100 pts, Jeb Dunnuck
- 2015 Rivers-Marie Calistoga Cabernet Sauvignon: 97 pts, Wine Advocate (Lisa Perrotti-Brown)
Recognition
- Food & Wine Winemaker of the Year, 2010
Taste Thomas's wines in wine country
Many of these wineries are by appointment only, and some sell only to their mailing lists. Tell us which wines you would like to taste and your chauffeur will book what is possible and build the day around it. See our Napa Valley wine tours and Sonoma County wine tours, or plan a private tour.
Sources
winespectator.com · top100.winespectator.com · napawineproject.com · winesvinesanalytics.com · princeofpinot.com · beckstoffervineyards.com · hedonism.co.uk · vinfolio.com
Taste these wines with Bien
Many of these wineries are by appointment only. Tell us the wines you want to taste and your chauffeur books what is possible and builds the day around it.
Private six-hour tours with your own chauffeur and luxury SUV for up to 6 guests, from $600 plus gratuity. Bottled water and tasting appointments included.
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