Tom Leonard was first exposed to wine by his grandmother who owned a very successful catering business in St. Louis and then at her French Restaurant, Chalet de Normandie. While working towards a B.S. in Finance at the University of Colorado in Boulder, Tom pursued his interest in fine wine by finding local mentorship at revered restaurants with extensive wine lists. After graduating from college, Tom and two of his best friends travelled throughout Europe for eight months in a Volkswagen van, covering 26 countries and indulging in more than a few bottles of wine. On this trip, he developed a deep appreciation for the ‘old world’ wines of Europe. The experience abroad would drive Tom to a lifelong dream of producing his own wine in the classic style.