Willowbrook Cellars

Willowbrook started in 2001 as the dream of winemaker Joe Otos, then 26 years old. This dream became a reality after he teamed up with retired technology executive John Tracy and retired sales executive Ed Sillari. Sillari and Tracy had recently moved to the wine country and had begun separately to explore opportunities to pursue their passion for wine. Sillari was involved in wine sales and Tracy and his wife Deborah had acquired a hilltop vineyard in Forestville. The experience of all three founders was the combination needed to get Willowbrook Cellars started.
During the first two years, production was about 500 cases total, split between Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, and utilizing all of the fruit from Tracy’s vineyard in Forestville. In 2003, Willowbrook increased its production of vineyard designated wines, seeking out small high-quality vineyards, each with its own microclimate and unique flavor profile. In recent years, while the principal focus has primarily been on Pinot Noir from the Russian River Valley, Willowbrook has begun to explore interesting vineyards and different varietals from adjacent wine growing regions. In 2008 Willowbrook expanded into Syrah and 2011 saw the first Zinfandel production.