I read once "everything in the world began with a yes." Think about that. Each decision we make to move forward accepting a challenge and opportunity is with a yes. I will say with the greatest pride and admiration, my dad said yes to a voyage to America for the first time in 1959 to study agronomy as a student. His name is Nils Olov Wärnelius and was born in 1940. He has shared many tales of growing up on a large dairy farm in Björsätar, Sweden in the county of Östegötland south of Stockholm by two hours. Over 600 hectares (over 1400 acres) of forest and grazing land alongside their own lake. Not just a lake but vast and for miles. As a young child, he plowed the fields alongside his six brothers and two sisters by horse as there was a petroleum rationing during World War II. Sweden was neutral and had little power over natural resources.
His hands are large and strong and something I have always admired as his daughter. Working hands and something I wanted in my husband. He was never afraid of a long days work and this is something he has instilled in me since I was child. Today he is 85 years old with Alzheimer's. I will share his story as it is the basis of who I am.
As the only sibling in his family to leave the home country, he was born with adventure and confidence with the an innate urge to discover new challenges were in his blood. He never doubted himself and knew how to open doors without knowing a soul on the other side. Back in his day, most farming knowledge was passed down through the family. Children learned by working the land alongside their parents in the fields. This is also how I grew up in Alexander Valley. He decided to go to Agronomy School in southern Sweden. There he met a student who quickly became his best friend. His name was Göran. His uncle was a freight line captain with Copenhagen to New York City as a common route. The two decided to hop on board and venture to America. They apprenticed under a farmer in Iowa for six months and then ventured to the west coast for the next six months when they worked on a farmer's land named Carter in Lodi, California with peach orchards and vineyards.
He returned to Sweden and the home farm with things a bit of disarray. His dad, my farfar (grandfather in Swedish) - was getting older and business was becoming more difficult. My dad is a man of independence and frankly very stubborn. He wanted to purchase the old family farm from his father. With the deal nearly complete, a group of other family members decided it was too good of a deal and offered my grandfather more money.
This was the defining moment for my dad (and mom) decided it was time to return to the great land of America in 1974 with four young children, a dream to succeed and fearless determination. What great courage this took. Think of leaving what you know, moving to a foreign country and making a new life for your family. I also have great admiration for my mom, Monica. She loved my dad and believed in him and herself. It was not easy fitting in when they arrived in this new country yet both my parents shared it was important to be yourself and slowly people would accept you for who you are. We made the best of friends in Geyserville, California where we landed serendipitously moving to the Miller's ranch and vineyards at Garden Creek Ranch.
Many have asked how did you get into winegrape growing and winemaking? My dad had traveled through Europe's old vineyards, tasted inspiring wines as a young man and said to himself I will farm winegrapes one day. He learned from the farmer in Lodi, California. Living at Garden Creek for five months and becoming friends with the Miller's with our first introduction to Sonoma County. The greatest advice as we were seeking permanent residency from a close friend of theirs who happened to be an Immigration Lawyer stated "become an entrepreneur". Back in the 70s, a cash down payment was feasible when you worked hard, saved every penny and we had also brought savings from our life in Sweden. In 1976 my family purchased 20-acres of vineyards, north of Geyserville in Alexander Valley off of Chianti Road next to the old Seghesio ranch, of an old field blend vineyard planted in 1915 of mostly Zinfandel, Carignan, Petite Sirah, and Alicante Bouschet. The old world style of a field blend believed fermenting grapes from a single vineyard creates a wine that is a truer, more seamless expression of a specific vineyard's identity or sense of place, rather than a reflection of individual varietal characteristics.
I will admit I was daddy's girl and a farmer's daughter. He always included me in on walking the vineyards, tasting wines, and his business meetings with our lawyer, banker and accountant. I loved every conversation and intrigued by what they were talking about. I listened and learned. Now I realize this was my greatest education. I learned to drive a tractor at 7-years-old to plow the fields before I could drive a car. My siblings and I had to work in the vineyards every weekend and summer vacation with long days under the warm Alexander Valley sunshine. Working in the vineyard taught us the meaning of hard work alongside the intimacy and fundamentals of growing winegrapes and vineyard operations. In 1980, we were delivering winegrapes (as we sold all of the raw grapes at that time) to the Frey Ranch in Dry Creek owned by Gallo Family. It was a cooler year than most. Back in those days, the important indicator of when to pick was sugar or brix level. Hit 24 and you were golden. Our load was refused.
This was the beginning of Warnelius Vineyards as a family winery. (Jess Jackson has the identical story with how Kendall-Jackson began in 1982 with his refused by Barney Fetzer.) A no becomes a strong yes in another direction.
It was not always easy growing up and working with a stubborn father as my dad. Many times we would argue and not see eye to eye. Again he taught me my opinion mattered and to always stand up for what you believe in. My dad and I are also so much alike in many ways. He also taught me what not to do. His approach to business is not mine or Justin's. Everything Justin and I do today is for the future and our family. Our winemaking is a reflection of our life's ideals in craft and the meaning to life. Patience and remaining true to simplicity.
My dad had a second stint in the wine business in 1989 by starting one of Sweden's first wineries named Hässlo Vinmakare in Västerås, Sweden. No... winegrapes do not grow well in the cold climate of Sweden. He, his Italian business partner and my older brother Carl decided to import winegrapes from across the globe namely Argentina, Chile, South Africa, Hungry and Bulgaria. At the height, the case production hit 30,000 cases with sales in all four Scandinavian countries including Norway, Finland and Denmark alongside the United Kingdom. My brother Carl Wärnelius was the winemaker.
Courage doesn't mean you aren't afraid. Courage means you don't let fear stop you. My dad had great courage. I am deeply thankful he and my mom made the decision to leave beautiful Sweden to the land of opportunity and great freedom to the United States. I grew up speaking Swedish in our home and learning the beautiful traditions of the Swedish culture with food, dance and holidays. I am a Swede in my heart and soul and proudly an American too.
Justin and I will celebrate 25-years of winemaking at Garden Creek next year in 2026. We said yes to each other 28 years ago as a young couple falling madly in love in our vineyards and were inspired and determined to begin making wine together and deepening our family legacy at Garden Creek. Wine is in my blood and is my life's passion next to my husband. I love the daily hard work behind it, working your own land and making precise decisions behind each and every move.
My dad is alive and living his last chapter quietly with a smile as he reminisces about his life. He did not always make the best decisions. Many did not agree with him. He has done things many people dream of. I understand now as an adult we must accept people who they are. I love my dad and thinking of him makes my heart swell with pride and love. Justin and I produced our first vintage of WärneliusMiller Pinot Noir, Golden Fleece Estate Vineyard with the 2018 vintage and released it last year. This wine is dedicated to my dad and for giving me this passionate love for winegrowing and farming. The viking ship has set sail again.
Justin and I combined our last names at marriage. WärneliusMiller is our family umbrella holding our home ranch and vineyard Garden Creek in Alexander Valley, Sonoma County and our new estate Golden Fleece Vineyard in Anderson Valley, Mendocino County. Family holds it all together.
Don't be afraid Karin. I believe in you says my dad. I believe in you too.
