Greetings to all my fellow wine lovers,

I wanted to be certain to express my deep gratitude for all of your kind support of our winery, and to let you know that you can always reach me at andrew@thewithers.com. It has been an amazing ride for 12 years and I couldn’t have written the script any differently.

From our public debut in 2014, which featured wines we made while goofing around from 2009-2013 and which caught the eye of many wine writers, restauranteurs, retailers, and of course you kind folks, I have enjoyed every moment and savored the opportunity to have a hand in making wines that many have enjoyed and shared. I messed up our very first labels, but we made it work, got off the ground and found our way into the flow. We have dodged catastrophic fires, droughts, rampaging bears, biblical downpours, and various other challenges, and I have learned from all of them, even if some hurt or scared the crap out of me in the moment. One thing has been constant, which was the 24/7/365 effort we applied to creating something of meaning. I have never applied so much effort to a business of such modest size, but it has been worth it due to the passion behind it. Sleepless nights and endless road trips somehow didn’t deter us and we kept on plugging away trying to improve everything we did every step along the path.

It’s truly an honor, and a rare privilege all the way around, from managing our estate vineyard to making all the subtle winemaking and blending decisions that yielded the understated yet expressive style for which we are now known. My goal has never been to shock and awe, but rather to pique curiosity and give something to think about without any diminishment in pleasure. I always wanted the wines to taste great on their own, but really sing with food. I wanted them to taste beautiful in their youth and even better in the long run, without any sacrifices in between. I wanted the last glass of your bottle to taste the best.

We have been fortunate to receive many awards and distinctions, including being named one of the Top 100 Wineries, having our Rosé named #1 in the United States, seeing our wines praised in The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Burghound, Wine and Spirits, Wine Spectator, WIne Enthusiast, Vinous Media and various other publications. Our wines also found homes on the wine lists of many highly regarded restaurants nationwide and on shelves in some of the top retail shops in the country.

However, that is not what drives us; it’s the process and the result that matter the most – the true nature of making something with care and concern for someone else to savor. I can’t sing, paint, or fix a dishwasher, so all I have is my palate and intuition to guide me. Fortunately, I have been lucky to be helped along the way by those who know more than me, which is how I like to roll. I have some strong suits, but where I don’t excel, I have always tried to surround myself with people who have greater expertise and who can help translate my vision into a reality. I’m a frustrated creative with no talent, but what I can do is communicate to talented people the things that mean something to me, such as texture, flavor profile, and mouthfeel, and then ask for help interpreting my aspirations into a finished work.

Many things and people inspire me. I’m a stop and smell the roses kind of person and feel everything viscerally. My wife Kathleen is my heart and soul and what she loves, I love. This is why our cherished family member Mr. Burgess graces the label on our bottles and why I named the winery The Withers, the place of measurement on a horse’s frame and a symbol to me of reaching for height in quality.

I’m feeling a little wistful as the calendar turns, remembering those who helped me along the journey and celebrating our achievements together, not in terms fleeting notoriety from critic scores or the like, but rather from the satisfaction of making wines I would actually want to buy and drink at the prices we set for everyone else.

The wine business is undergoing radical change and is very challenging, but as always, I am so very grateful for your generous support over many years. It means the world to me. We have been fortunate to be able to share with you the product of our passion and hopefully it brings some happiness into the world. May you and your family be safe and healthy for the new year and beyond.
We never forget how lucky we have been to be able to make something that brings joy to others. Wine is a communal effort, shared around tables and with those about whom you care. It has been an honor to be a part of this circle of joy and we take what we do very seriously, always focusing on quality and reasonable prices above all.

All my best

Andrew Tow
Founder and Proprietor
The Withers Winery