Toulouse Vineyards

Vern and Maxine Boltz’s path to the Anderson Valley and evolution as wine producers was a journey taken after completing very successful careers in other professions.

Vern Boltz is a highly respected, retired Captain of the Oakland Fire Department. During his 27-year career, Vern experienced some of Oakland’s most challenging fires and medical emergencies. Despite the excitement of his chose profession, Vern always maintained a creative focus outside his Department life. During his off duty time, Vern designed and built several estate homes. Upon retirement from the Oakland Fire Department, Vern, with support from his wife Maxine, a former flight attendant and successful real estate salesperson, decided to explore their passion for the wine industry and the possibility of developing a vineyard and producing the finest quality fruit possible.

The Boltz’s research and travel led them to the beautiful Anderson Valley. Vern and Maxine located to a bucolic site approximately one mile from the town of Philo. Vern cleared the land, prepared the site and planted 17 acres of Pinot Noir, naming the vineyard Toulouse. This two-year project was a backbreaking 14-hour-a-day undertaking. However, Vern fondly remembers that Maxine would sometimes give him Sunday afternoons off.

In the middle of the 2002 growing season, a winery was forced to cancel its contract for the Toulouse fruit. The emerging issue for the Boltzs was to find another buyer or to make wine themselves. During the first few harvests, Vern bonded with his neighboring vintners and learned everything he could about the wine making process. So the answer came easy during a dinner discussion as Vern and Maxine chorused simultaneously, “Let’s make wine.” The Boltzs hocked the family heirlooms and family dog (kidding of course about the dog) to lease and purchase all the equipment they would need to produce wine. With assistance from a neighboring winemaker, Vern and Maxine produced the 2002 Anderson Valley Toulouse Pinot Noir.