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Our Story
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| Two very close friends with a common dream of producing a fine wine founded Karl Lawrence Cellars in 1991. The name "Karl Lawrence" comes from combining the middle names of the two founding partners: Michael Karl Trujillo and Bryan Lawrence Henry. Our venture together has the common goal of producing a unique and outstanding Cabernet Sauvignon wine from the wonderful Napa Valley. |
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Michael's background in the wine industry goes back to 1982. While involved in his college studies in Colorado, a spring break from school had him traveling to Napa Valley to visit a family friend, Jim Allen. A short visit soon turned into a few weeks, and a few weeks turned into months and before long Michael ventured into his new career of winemaking. With Michael's farming and ranching background, working in the vineyards fit right in to launch his start in the industry. University of Davis and Napa Valley College set the academic foundation, but his most amazing opportunity was to work along the side of the great Andre Tchelistcheff, which defined Michael's wine style. Michael credits Andre as his greatest influence to making great wine.
In 1991, Trujillo founded Karl Lawrence Cellars as a way to express his own wine style. To realize his style, he combined grapes from the Napa Valley hillsides with the Napa Valley floor. This blend was unique for that era. The excellent relationship with Jim Allen, of Sequoia Grove, allowed Karl Lawrence to custom crush there and launch the Karl Lawrence brand. In return, Michael took on the title of Assistant Winemaker to Sequoia Grove. It was a great opportunity to have Karl Lawrence produced at Sequoia Grove. There he further honed his craft working with numerous winemakers, vineyards, appellations, and growers.
In 1998, Trujillo became Associate Winemaker to Sequoia Grove Winery taking on most winemaking responsibilities for Sequoia Grove. In 2001, Jim Allen retired, as owner/winemaker, and Trujillo became the President and Director of Winemaking of Sequoia Grove. Today Michael oversees all winemaking operations for both Sequoia Grove Winery as well as Karl Lawrence Cellars.
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Bryan was born in Napa and raised in Santa Rosa , which is just over the Mayacamas mountain range from Napa . At times he worked in the vineyards while majoring in biology at Napa's own Pacific Union College, where he graduated in 1973. He went on to study medicine and specialized in obstetrics and gynecology, joining partners in Glendale, where he had completed his residency training. Bryan returned to the Napa Valley, in 1986, to open his own practice in St. Helena. During the ‘90s, Bryan served two tours of duty in the Air Force, stationed both here and in Germany. He states that he’s home for good now, and spends his “spare” time tending to his vineyard.
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Bryan's little brother, Ric (he's actually bigger), joined the winery a few years after it started. He was also born in Napa and raised in Santa Rosa. And like Bryan, he graduated from Pacific Union College in 1973 with a degree in social work. He moved away for graduate and doctoral studies and took a position as the administrator of the social work department at Loma Linda University Medical Center. While working at Loma Linda, his wife, Cheryl, graduated in medicine, and specialized in obstetrics and gynecology, also at Glendale. Ric and Cheryl's return home, to partnership with Bryan, coincided with the birth of their third child. So after thirteen years of work, it only seemed natural that Ric become a full-time househusband. Today, Ric continues his househusband duties, which now includes grandkids, cycles the Valley and surrounding environs, and works to keep Karl Lawrence customers happy.
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