Inspiration comes in many forms but a visit to a winery in Temecula was all Jeff George and Cindy Schult needed to start their venture in home winemaking several years ago

While Cindy thought a vineyard in their newly purchased home near Lake Matthews in Riverside County would be aesthetically pleasing that would replace the eyesore of overgrown weeds in their backyard, Jeff knew that he would have to research what varietals would thrive the best in the area’s searing heat.

Jeff, a former Marine, got to work and discovered that Grenache and Cabernet Sauvignon would suit the 2.5-acre property the best. One hundred vines were planted for each varietal, and after some additional thought, the couple planted Chenin and Grenache Blanc for the burgeoning white fans they were becoming, upping their total amount of vines to 300.

The couple aptly landed on Gavilan Hills Vineyard for the name of their wines based on the area where they live.

Jeff says the Grenache has flourished so much that he’s constantly cutting growth to have the vines mature and bear the best fruit. While the first vintage of Grenache and Cabernet is being readied to bottle in August, Jeff expects to get 1,000 pounds of Grenache this fall and 500 pounds of Cabernet.

“The most challenging part of wine making so far for us is learning about it,” Jeff said. “The biggest issue is you don’t know if it’s going to be any good.”

That’s where the home winemaking group at the Orange County Wine Society has assisted the couple on the first steps of their journey. In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, the couple was referred by an OCWS member to the non-profit organization. Since that time, they have not only tapped into the wealth of knowledge among the OCWS winemakers but also have taken courses at Mt. San Jacinto College to learn more about the winemaking process.

“The message from the (OCWS) winemakers has been ‘take your time,’” Jeff said. “’Be patient.’”

Jeff has meticulously charted the vineyard’s progress on an Excel spreadsheet, even labeling each row in alphabetic order. A green thumb at heart, Jeff can often be found monitoring what is happening in the vineyard to ensure the end result is the best result.

The couple also has tastefully redesigned their backyard to also host rustic, intimate weddings. What better way to toast a newly minted marriage than providing wine made from grapes only a few feet away?

The couple also has been experimenting like most newly minted winemakers often do. They have made fruit wine – blackberry and pineapple, respectively – and they plan to pull about 20 percent of the upcoming Grenache yield to make a rose.

Given the amount of grapes they plan to harvest this fall, Jeff and Cindy said they plan to sell half of it, most likely to the OCWS home winemakers group.

“This has been about doing something we enjoy,” Cindy said. “It has opened up a new door for us. It’s very satisfying.”

Jeff and Cindy are eagerly anticipating how their wine will be received. They were encouraged when one of the instructors at Mt. San Jacinto College got a recent preview and was impressed how the wine tasted.

Jeff and Cindy have embraced the process of making wine, enjoying the journey along the way – and chronicling it on a YouTube channel — which is a testament to passion and that aforementioned patience.

“You plan and you build something and get to see the fruits of your labor – literally,” Cindy said.