Faith-led visionaries, Carey and Mike, live life with intention – guided by purpose and unafraid to take bold steps when the moment feels right. They never anticipated becoming stewards of James Skinner’s enduring heritage, but since 2007, they’ve embraced the calling with open hearts and unwavering commitment. “We’re a family heritage which means so much more to me than a business. You can’t buy a heritage.”
Deeply rooted in over 150 years of family history in El Dorado County, Skinner Vineyards is more than a winery- it’s a soulful journey. Carey and Mike are devoted to handcrafting elevated wines that honor the past while shaping a purposeful future. This venture has not only reinvigorated their spirits, but also drawn their family closer and gifted them a life rich in meaning, connection, and grace.
Brendan is known as the best cook in the family – and for good reason. But before he was showing off his skills in the kitchen, he was using his expertise as a CPA to get the winery off the ground. These days, he still loves coming to the winery – not to crunch numbers, but to enjoy good food, great wine, and time with family and friends. You’ll usually find hime around the Bocce court or cooking up one of his favorite recipes for everyone to share.
Kevin and Kathy now live in Kalispell, Montana, enjoying a quieter chapter with their three children. Kevin , recently retired from his role as a fire captain, played an important role in overseeing safety and fire prevention efforts at the winery – helping to protect both the land and the family heritage it represents.
Together they make it a priority to gather at Green Valley Ranch – always enjoying the food, wine, laughs and most of all the family and friends.
Ryan and Shannon share a love of wine and family, and live in southern California with their daughters Brynne and Genevieve. Ryan played a key role in managing the winery when it first opened, laying the foundation for what Skinner Vineyards is today. These days, he runs MG Skinner & Associates, continuing another meaningful family tradition.
Though life keeps them busy, they stay closely connected to the winery and always make time for the moments that matter – especially when it involves good wine, great company, and time with family at the ranch.
SKINNER HISTORICAL SITE
The original Skinner Ranch was located in what is now known as the town of Rescue. In the 1860s, it was named Skinners, California and remains an unincorporated township that still appears on most maps.
The original cellar from the J. Skinner Winery still exists and was home in recent years to the Cameron Park Nursery.
In early 2014, Mike and Carey Skinner purchased the property with the goal of preserving it and protecting it from development. The area around Skinners, CA today is paved with vines planted by Mike and Carey, vines that they refer to as Legacy Grapes – James’ original varieties, including Mission, Zinfandel, Trousseau, Grenache, Carignane and the Skinner clone of Petit Bouschet. “From what we’ve learned about James Skinner,” says Mike, “he was a very forward-thinking guy. We really believe he’d like what we’ve done with the heritage he left us.”
GOLDRUSH ROOTS
James Skinner was born in Scotland and trained as an engineer before immigrating to the United States. In 1842 he brought his wife, Jessie, and their eldest son, James Jr., to Massachusetts. Like many immigrants of the era, James was drawn west during the California Gold Rush, first settling near Coloma - where gold was famously discovered - and eventually following the streams and rivers into the Sierra foothills.
After years of perseverance, James found success and was able to purchase land, establishing what became known as the J. Skinner Green Valley Ranch.
The ranch was located along a well-traveled route that would later become the Pony Express Trail (now Green Valley Road). In 1861, James made full use of this strategic location by planting vineyards and founding the J. Skinner Native Wine and Brandy Co. - one of the earliest commercial wineries in California. By 1883, it had grown to become one of the largest in the state.
Ever the innovator, James also built a multi-story, state-of-the-art distillery, featuring a boiler room powered by a six-horsepower engine - cutting edge technology for its time.
J. Skinner Winery operated into the early 20th century. Beyond his success in wine and brandy production, James Skinner was a generous member of his community, donating land for public use - including the sites where the current Rescue fire station and post office now stand.
100+ Year Old Mission Vines
The story of the Mission Grape is woven into the fabric of California’s winemaking history. Originally brought to California in the 1700s by Franciscan missionaries, the variety was planted to produce sacramental wine and Angelica - a sweet grape juice fortified with brandy.
By the time of James Skinner's passing in 1885, the Mission Grape had earned a place in his cellar, producing both Angelica and a dry table wine he called Mission Claret.
Like much of early California viticulture, the Mission grape nearly vanished during Prohibition in the 1920s. As part of our commitment to honoring the Skinner heritage, we sought out and acquired 22 ancient Mission vines, dating back to the late 1800s.
Today, these old, twisted vines - living pieces of California wine history - continue to bear fruit. Their grapes are used in our heritage Native Rouge blend, as well as in the production of our own Angelica, echoing the wines James Skinner once made generations ago.
Our farming practices are sustainable – it’s the right way to take care of our land.
Stoney Creek Vineyard, sits at nearly 3,000 feet on steep, rocky slopes of decomposed granite. These well drained soils limit yields and promote deep root systems, resulting in complex, mineral-driven wines. With a south facing aspect, the vineyard benefits from warm, sunny days and cool Sierra nights, preserving acidity and balance. The wines are concentrated, earthy, and expressive of their rugged mountain terroir.
Red Varietals: Syrah, Grenache, Mourvedre, Petite Sirah, Counoise, Zinfandel, Carignan, Trousseau Noir, Petite Sirah, Petite Bouschet, Mission
White Varietals: Viognier, Grenache Blanc, Picpoul Blanc, Trousseau Gris
Appellation: El Dorado
Elevation: 2,300 – 2,740 feet
Acres: 67 acres, 18 planted
While still a young vineyard, Wing Ranch shows incredible promise to produce elegant wines with sturdy tannins, vibrant acidity and concentrated, pure fruit. The red hued, well-drained, sandy-loam is specific to the uplands northeast of Bass Lake.
What sets this unique site apart is the two adjacent, southeast-facing hillsides. These slopes offer a considerably warmer microclimate as you climb in elevation and are littered with large chunks of granite and quartz – creating ideal conditions for Grenache and Mourvedre. Sheltered from the Sacramento Valley’s drying Delta breezes yet open to the cool mountain air flowing down from the Sierra Nevadas in the evenings, Wing Ranch experiences dramatic temperature shifts between day and night, contributing to its potential for producing structured, expressive wines.
DETAILS
Red Varietals: Grenache, Mourvèdre, Cinsault, Counoise
White Varietals: Grenache Blanc
Appellation: El Dorado
Elevation: 1,400-2,000 feet
Acres: 37 acres, 5 planted
In contrast, neighboring Green Valley Ranch lies uniformly in the flats. Though it shares a similar red-hued, sandy-loam soil composition with Wing Ranch, its lower elevation and flat terrain provide a different growing environment. The absencee of hillside exposure and the more open setting contribute to a less varied microclimate, differentiating the character and style of wines produced from this site.
DETAILS
Red Varietals: Grenache, Mourvedre, Syrah, Petite Sirah White Varietals: Viognier, Roussanne, Vermintino, Granache Blanc, Bourboulenc, Picpoul Blanc. Appellation: El Dorado Elevation: 1,214 feet Acres: 25 acres, 13 planted
SUSTAINABLE WINERY
The Skinner Winery embodies the adventurous spirit of James Skinner – a California Gold Rush pioneer and early wine maker – by blending old-world craftmanship with forward-thinking, environmentally conscious practices that honor our land and safeguard its future.
Our 12,000 sq ft. winery, constructed with 80% recycled steel, was thoughtfully designed to support small lot, chemical-free fermentations in an energy efficient space. Powered in part by solar energy, the facility features night-air cooling, humidity-controlled work bays orientated to the north, and other innovations that allow us to work in harmony with our environment.
Native, drought-tolerant landscaping surrounds the winery and is sustainably irrigated with recycled grey water from the winery.
Winemaker
I'm a valley native with a Fresno State enology education, and joining Skinner marked a turning point in my journey - a move away from production agriculture and toward a more intimate pursuit of my passion for grapes and wine. Here at Skinner, we're fortunate to work with small lot, mountain grown fruit nurturing it through native fermentations to truly express a time and place. I have never been more connected to my craft, and I've never been prouder of the wines we create.
Manager
With a heart as big as El Dorado County, Trisha brings warmth and a true passion for hospitality to her role at Skinner. She's dedicated to creating memorable wine experiences and building lasting connections with guests and club members alike. Off the clock? Look for a Jeep full of Great Danes by the lake - that's Trisha enjoying her day off.
