Matt and Kelly Austin made their bold move into the wine industry five years ago when they left California and their respective careers as a tax attorney and a fashion designer for Washington state. But their journey became more daring than a career change with a winning bid a year and a half ago on a winery, vineyard and lodging property off the Old Milton Highway. “That kind of fast-tracked all our plans,” Matt Austin said.

Today, at the launch of the Spring Release wine tasting tradition, they open Grosgrain Vineyards for the first time. Their wines reflect an equally bold step — a focus on uncommon Italian varieties, which they make into sparkling wines, whites, rosés and lighter bodied reds. “It’s a lot of what we like to drink on our own,” Kelly Austin said.