Thank you for visiting Wines by James MacPhail.

Throughout my winemaking career, I have always taken very seriously the honor of putting a world-class wine on your table. Wine is a very personal and intimate product – from the grower who grows the wine-grapes, to the farmer and farm hands, to the viticulturist and winemaker, the cellar masters and winery workers, and ultimately to you.

I grew up with wine on the table; my father taught my sister and I that wine was part of the meal, which led to the geeky kid in college who would rather have wine than beer or liquor. So when I found my love of the wine-grape as a career, it hit me – why not take this artisanal craft and combine it with my love of food, conversation and laughter?

Today, I am an Independent Winemaker specializing in crafting Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, with full winemaking control from berry-to-bottle. I work with over 70 special vineyard sites throughout Sonoma and Napa County, for 10 wine brands based in Sonoma, Napa and Mendocino Counties.

Each brand I represent shares in my own passion of working with dedicated high-quality wine-grape growers, who practice sustainable farming – all with the same goal: creating balanced, varietally-driven, honest, world-class wines.

My wife Kerry and I have our own small brand – Tongue Dancer Wines – as well as my aptly named ‘The Departure’ brand.

I hope you enjoy the wines I craft as much as I enjoy making them for you.

Crafted by Nature, Nurtured by Hand.