Thomas Rivers Brown

How a South Carolina native became a wine legend: Thomas Rivers Brown

A serendipitous journey

WWMD What would Margaret drink?

Margaret Pearman is a certified sommelier under the Court of Master Sommeliers and is responsible for curating the award-winning wine list at Charlie’s Coastal Bistro. Here are her sipping suggestions for August:


Schrader Double Diamond Cabernet from Oakville
Mending Wall "Mortar & Stone" red blend
Rivers-Marie Pinot Noir

As South Carolinians, we can take pride in the fact that one of California’s most successful winemakers hails from nearby Sumter. Thomas Rivers Brown didn’t set out to be the best, but his fortunate life path and exceptional talent led him straight to the top. He holds the record for crafting the most 100-point wines in the past decade. 

Thomas’s path to wine greatness began at the University of Virginia, where he studied finance. A fateful evening at his girlfriend’s parents’ house introduced him to fine wine through a single-vineyard Kistler Chardonnay, igniting a passion that would redefine his career. Working as a waiter, Thomas climbed the ranks to become a wine director, traveling to major wine regions to deepen his knowledge.

In 1996 Thomas moved to California to work in a wine shop. There, he met Ehran Jordan of Turley Wine Cellars, who mentored him and helped him secure his first lead position at Outpost on Howell Mountain. His reputation quickly spread through Napa’s close-knit wine-making community, catching the attention of Fred Schrader. Together they founded Schrader Cellars, rapidly achieving critical acclaim and earning Thomas perfect scores from renowned wine critic Robert Parker.

Today Thomas crafts wines for over forty labels, including Revana, Maybach and Schrader. These wines are cult favorites, particularly his Cabernet Sauvignons from top-tier vineyards like Beckstoffer To Kalon. Thomas also creates accessible wines for everyday enjoyment. I recommend trying the Schrader Double Diamond Cabernet from Oakville($50-75), the Mending Wall “Mortar & Stone” red blend($60) and theRivers-Marie Pinot Noir, made from some of Sonoma’s oldest Pinot Noir vines ($50).


Thomas Rivers Brown, a native of Sumter, has been making his mark in Napa Valley since 1997, starting his career at Turley Cellars. Today he crafts wines for over 40 premium labels and has earned more 100-point scores over the past decade than any other winemaker in Napa Valley.

Similar Posts