Paul Toogood

Paul Toogood was born and raised in Southern California. His two professional loves always played tandem roles in his adult life. At Cornell University, he studied Biochemistry and Animal Science in the Agriculture College and Wines of the World in the School of Hotel and Restaurant College. At the University of California at Davis, he obtained a degree in Veterinary Medicine and a minor in Viticulture and Enology, before establishing his veterinary practice in Northern California.

Then the winery bug came back! After taking drives in El Dorado County in the fall of 2000, he investigated the feasibility of establishing a vineyard and winery in the Fairplay Appellation. In May 2001, Paul founded the Toogood Estate Winery on a beautiful 40-acre parcel of rolling foothills. Its one-quarter-mile square offers microclimates uniquely perfect for his hand-selected varieties. The winery includes over 5000 square feet of winery production and aging space, all underground in the delicately controlled atmosphere of the only wine cave in the Fairplay area.

The first crush of the Toogood Estate Winery, the 2002 vintage, was first bottled in January of 2004. The vineyards currently have 12 acres planted with varieties including Zinfandel, Primitivo, Tempranillo, Pinot Noir, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petite Sirah. The 2002 vintage wines available are Sangiovese, Primitivo, Tempranillo, Merlot, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Walker Vineyard Zinfandel, Claret and Paul’s signature wine, Foreplay, which is a robust, provocative red wine.