Two very close friends with a common dream of producing a fine wine founded Karl Lawrence Cellars in 1991.  The name "Karl Lawrence" comes from combining the middle names of the two founding partners: Michael Karl Trujillo and Bryan Lawrence Henry.  Our venture together will have the common goal of producing a unique and outstanding Cabernet Sauvignon wine from the wonderful Napa Valley. 

Michael Karl Trujillo   

Michael's background in the wine industry goes back to 1982.  While involved in his college studies in Colorado, a spring break from school had him traveling to Napa Valley to visit his friend, Jim Allen.  Jim and his Brother Steve were busy replanting vineyards and constructing their winery, Sequoia grove Winery.  With Michael's farming and ranching background, working in the vineyards and in the construction of Jim's winery fit right in.  A short visit soon turned into a few weeks, and a few weeks turned into months and before long Michael ventured into his new career of winemaking.  Along with the academic studies from the University of Davis and Napa Valley college, Michael had the great opportunity to work closely with many great winemakers such as Andre  Tchelistcheff.  Today, Michael is the Winemaker for Karl Lawrence Cellars as well as the Winemaker for Sequoia Grove Winery. 

Bryan Lawrence Henry   

Bryan was born in Napa and raised in Santa Rosa, which is just over the Mayacamus mountain range from Napa. At times he worked in the vineyards while majoring in biology at Napa's own Pacific Union College, where he graduated in 1973. He went on to study medicine and specialized in obstetrics and gynecology, joining partners in Glendale, where he had completed his residency training. Bryan returned to the Napa Valley, in 1986, to open his own practice in St. Helena.  Being back home and having a successful practice soon had Bryan planting his own vineyards and talking of producing great wine.

Richard Aldin Henry

Bryan's younger brother, Ric (he's actually bigger), joined the winery a few years after it started. He was also born in Napa and raised in Santa Rosa. And like Bryan, he graduated from Pacific Union College in 1973 with a degree in social work. He moved away for graduate and doctoral studies and took a position as the administrator of the social work department at Loma Linda University Medical Center. While there, his wife, Cheryl, graduated in medicine and specialized in obstetrics and gynecology at Glendale. Ric's and Cheryl's return home, to partnership with Bryan, coincided with the birth of their third child. So after thirteen years of work, it only seemed natural that Ric become a full-time househusband. This also gave him the opportunity to write screenplays, several of which have won awards at film festivals. Today, Ric continues to raise the kids, write, and ship Karl Lawrence wines to our customers.

Following our tradition, the release of the 2000 Chardonnary was named after Ric's middle name, Aldin. This name has become our second label as evidenced with the 2000 release of our Aldin Red Table Wine, a year later.

It is only through great friendship that you can make great wine.

Photos by Judith Topolinski