About Terra Dorada and Esteemed Wine Grower, Andrew Kerr
Founder, Winemaker & Viticulturist – Terra Dorada & Dorval Estate Winery
Andrew Kerr is not only the founder of Terra Dorada Vineyards and Dorval Estate Winery, but a relentless force in redefining what California’s Central Valley is capable of. With nearly a decade of boots-on-the-ground viticulture experience, Kerr has earned a reputation as one of the most innovative and insightful vineyard stewards in the region—blending rigorous field science with instinctive terroir expression.
Holding the esteemed title of Founding Winemaker and Viticulturist, Kerr’s approach is deeply rooted in regenerative farming, clonal precision, and soil-driven site matching. He is known for his obsession with detail—from the alignment of vine rows to the interplay between rootstock, microclimate, and slope—and for his commitment to building wines in the vineyard first.
But what truly sets Andrew apart is his visionary mission: to disrupt the long-dismissed image of the Central Valley and elevate it into a world-class powerhouse for Bordeaux and Mediterranean varietals. While many looked to Napa or Paso, Kerr dug deeper—both into the decomposed granite hills of the Sierra Foothills and into the untapped potential of the land. His Bordeaux-style blends, clonal Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, and single-vineyard Syrah are already turning heads—and turning the narrative.
Andrew Kerr is not just growing grapes. He’s building legacy, rewriting regional history, and proving that with intention, Central Valley wines can command the respect they’ve always deserved.
​
​
Andrew makes fruit selection in the field with the intention to
A Vineyard-First Philosophy: Handcrafted from the Ground Up
At Dorval and Terra Dorada, Andrew Kerr leads with his hands—in the soil, in the canopy, and in the rhythm of the land itself. Every vine is hand-selected and nurtured through a regenerative agroforestry approach that goes beyond sustainability. Cover crops, native flora, beneficial insectaries, and biodiversity corridors are all integrated into the vineyard ecosystem, allowing the vines to thrive naturally in harmony with their environment.
This method isn’t just about stewardship—it’s about building resilience, complexity, and character into every cluster. Kerr’s commitment to regenerative viticulture is matched only by his precision: vine by vine, block by block, he shapes the raw material that defines each vintage.
The result? Premium Bordeaux-style wines that echo the varietal structure of France but speak fluently in the dialect of California’s Sierra foothills—elegant yet powerful, fresh yet grounded, always expressive of their place.
From field to barrel, Andrew’s work is rooted in integrity, driven by a deep respect for the land, and focused on crafting wines that honor both tradition and transformation.
