About Holly’s Hill Vineyards

Holly & Family

Tom and Holly Cooper fell in love with the varieties of Southern France’s Rhone Valley when they shared a bottle of Chateauneuf du Pape on their honeymoon. Years later, Holly decided she wanted to live on a hill and convinced Tom to move to his family’s cattle ranch in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada. She got her hill and he got to fulfill his life long dream of planting a vineyard.

As the vineyard was being planted, their daughter got drawn to the idea of making wine. She learned the craft at a local winery and met another aspiring winemaker along the way. They not only fell for each other but with the idea of crafting Rhone varietal wines too. It’s been a love affair ever since.

"I love living and working within the vineyard; seeing the full transformation of grapes to wine."
Carrie
co-winemaker

Meet the Creators

owners

Tom & Holly Cooper

Tom and Holly Cooper fell in love with the varieties of Southern France’s Rhone Valley when they shared a bottle of Chateauneuf du Pape on their honeymoon. Years later, Holly decided she wanted to live on a hill and convinced Tom to move to his family’s cattle ranch in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada. She got her hill and he got to fulfill his life long dream of planting a vineyard.

co-winemaker

Carrie Bendick (Cooper)

Carrie grew up in Davis and after completing a BA in Romance Linguistics at the University of Washington and exploring other career paths, she turned her attention to wine. She began working and learning under a winemaker in El Dorado, the same area where her parents had planted their vineyard. Together, they created Holly’s Hill Vineyards, focusing on Rhone-style wines.

co-winemaker

Josh Bendick

After graduation, and a couple home winemaking vintages of UC Davis Cabernet grapes, he got a job at a local winery and met his wife (and current boss), Carrie Bendick. A mutual friend introduced them and they were married seven months later! Josh is Past-President of the board of directors for the Rhone Rangers and is an active member of El Dorado Search & Rescue.

Join Our Wine Club

Enjoy great wine discounts and attend fabulous member events.

Our Assistants

Marin, Isabel & Esme

The Bendick girls enjoy welcoming new friends to the tasting room and playing with their cats and dog.

Drake

Drake is a rescue dog from Sacramento’s Homeward Bound

 

Navidad

“Navi” and her two sisters were born from a cat rescued from Montana’s wildfires.