Rachel’s Story
Rachel’s journey into the world of becoming a winemaker took a delightfully unconventional path. Having grown up in the vibrant city of New Orleans, LA, Rachel Bordes found herself drawn to the allure of the “California Dream.”
In 2010 the Bordes family embarked on a cross country voyage leaving behind their life in New Orleans to live out their dreams of being near the beautiful Pacific Ocean. The journey ultimately lead them to their home in Sausalito, Ca.
Fast forward to 2015, the Bordes family acquired a 25 acre Sonoma Vineyard predominately growing Pinot noir and Chardonnay. Having no background in winemaking, the Bordes’ decided to retain one-ton of Pinot noir fruit to embark on an adventurous home winemaking endeavor.
And so Rachel, alongside her family, trucked 30 miles south with their fruit to their Sausalito home. It was through this venture that Bordes first fell in love with winemaking. Coincidentally, Rachel was just beginning her college applications where she stumbled upon Wine and Viticulture in the drop down menu.
In the fall of 2016, Bordes embarked on a new chapter venturing southbound to Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. Over the course of four years Rachel went on to earn her B.S. in Wine and Viticulture with an emphasis in Enology.
Nestled on the Central Coast, Rachel’s journey lead her to Tolosa Winery for the 2019 Harvest. It was then that Bordes truly fell in love with the harmony between the science and art of winemaking. She has never looked back since.
The following year, Rachel headed back back to the embrace Northern California, where she began a Harvest Internship for the 2020 vintage at Ram’s Gate Winery in Sonoma.
It was during that same time that Rachel wanted to start a passion project of her own. So she created boRn. boRn is Rachel’s vision of great beginnings and for the wild journey ahead. Bordes hopes that boRn will become a small part of your story, as it has hers.
Bordes attributes her journey to becoming a winemaker to her parents, Stephen and Carolyn Bordes, and says this would not be possible without their unwavering love and support.
Her Wines
Rachel firmly believes that the magic of exceptional wines begins in the vineyard. For the Bordes family, this means a wholehearted commitment to cultivating premium Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grapes from the family’s meticulously tended, sustainably farmed vineyard. Nestled within the gentle slopes of the Sonoma Coast, the Bordes’ Ranch at Champlin Creek Vineyard enjoys the soft embrace of misty mornings, the warmth of California sunbeams, and the playful whispers of the Pacific Ocean's breezy afternoons – the perfect stage for cultivating grapes of distinction.
Rachel's winemaking style is an embodiment of her unwavering dedication to creating wines that are truly one-of-a-kind. She believes in minimal intervention winemaking, allowing the grapes to tell their story authentically. The result is a series of small batch wonders that embody the true spirit of the land from which they hail. Crafted in the heart of California’s wine country, Bordes currently produces one single barrel of both Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, a select 300 bottles produced.
Drink today or savor for years to come. Bordes crafts all of her wines to age beautifully for the years ahead. We sincerely hope you enjoy.
