Raymond Burr Vineyards

Raymond Burr Vineyards is located in the rolling benchland at the foot of Bradford Mountain in the Dry Creek Valley. The winery produces estate-grown Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Chardonnay. However, there is more here than just wine.

There are over a thousand varieties of orchids raised on the ranch in a
2,400-square-foot nursery. Tours are available on the weekends at 11am. When in bloom, these varieties are displayed in the tasting room, transforming the rustic cottage into a tropical paradise.

The tasting room itself is a small, simple affair with lots of Hollywood memorabilia from Raymond Burr’s career. A beautiful deck overlooking the Dry Creek Valley sits out in front, with large wooden tables under enormous oak trees.

Winemaker Phyllis Zouzounis is a great believer in balance. “My focus is balance. Balance of the vine, balance of the fruit and balance in the wine.” She oversees this boutique operation, crafting handmade estate wines.

Raymond Burr (1917- 1993) was an actor who made a name and a fortune for himself in the 1950s as Perry Mason and starred in many other television and movie roles. He also shared the hobby of cultivating orchids with fellow actor and creative consultant Robert Benevides. They founded Sea God Nurseries, with ranges in Fiji, Hawaii, the Azores Islands and Southern California. Burr and Benevides were responsible for the hybridization of over 2,000 new orchids. The two also owned and managed an island in Fiji, where they raised copra and cattle.

In 1980, Burr and Benevides moved their orchid-growing operation to a ranch in Dry Creek and continued to grow their fragrant flowers. In 1988, they planted grapes on the ranch, with their first vintage in 1990.