Brent Harrison, a Saratoga resident, is showcasing his work with cabernet franc and syrah grapes from the Santa Cruz Mountains through his From Brent Wine Co. label. Harrison produces his wines in the Cooper Garrod cellar and lives with his family at Garrod Farms in Saratoga. He expressed a desire to use these specific grape varieties to demonstrate the quality of the region for such wines.
Harrison’s path to winemaking began unexpectedly during his studies at Southern Illinois University. While pursuing a degree to become a licensed marriage and family therapist, he took a vine to wine class as an elective. He noted that he initially wanted the class simply to drink wine, but it led to a career change. After graduation, he worked at Blue Sky Vineyard in Makanda, Illinois, located on the Shawnee Hills Wine Trail. There, he worked with chardonnay and cabernet franc, developing a strong interest in the latter varietal during his first harvest.
In 2014, Harrison moved to California for graduate school in holistic counseling psychology. While waiting for student loans to be approved, he was camping in Sanborn Park when he secured his first vineyard job with Cooper Garrod in Saratoga. The winery is known for its five-acre cabernet franc vineyard. At Cooper Garrod, Harrison worked with Jan Garrod and the vineyard team previously led by the now-retired Luis Trejo.
During his third harvest at Cooper Garrod, Jan Garrod received a call to send his crew to Peter Martin Ray Vineyard. Harrison, who describes himself as a fast harvester, caught the attention of vineyard consultant Ken Swegles. Swegles subsequently hired Harrison to work during harvest at numerous small sites throughout the mountains. This work introduced him to Marty Mathis of Kathryn Kennedy Winery in Saratoga, who needed help with the 2017 harvest. Mathis recognized Harrison’s capabilities and assigned him to install godello vines at Guichard Vineyard in Saratoga, followed by planting sauvignon blanc and gamay noir at Imperial Vineyard near Lexington Reservoir.
While serving as assistant winemaker for Mathis, Harrison produced his first cabernet franc from Camel Hill Vineyard on Bear Creek Road in 2021. His first syrah came from Littlehale Vineyard in Saratoga in 2022. That same year, he obtained cabernet franc fruit from Ascona Vineyard, located off Skyline Boulevard between Black and Gist roads, which was then managed by Swegles and Cole Thomas of Madson Wines.