Loma Prieta Winery

Paul Bruce Kemp was born on September 3, 1945, in San Francisco and passed away on July 1, 2018, at his home in Los Gatos from complications following surgery. He was a graduate of Santa Clara Law School and a practicing attorney for 48 years in Santa Clara County. He also owned Loma Prieta Winery in Los Gatos, which he turned into the nation's largest producer of a rare grape called Pinotage. He is survived by his wife, Amy, and their sons Logan and Axel, as well as his son Brandon, Brandon’s wife Isabella, and granddaughter Samantha. He also leaves behind siblings, Bob, Sandy and Linda. Paul is predeceased by his sons Justin and Cameron. Paul’s successful career as a personal injury attorney, combined with his interest in wine, inspired him to purchase acreage on a ridgetop overlooking the Monterey Bay. Here, he and his wife, Amy, built their home and established Loma Prieta Winery, naming it for the flat-topped mountain that towers to the east. Paul initially planted Pinot Noir, Cabernet and Merlot, finding the 2600 ft. location best suited to Pinot Noir.

The winery made Gold medal winning wines from its inception, and was Paul’s pride and joy. Fans and collectors of a New Orleans artist, Martin LaBorde, Paul and Amy commissioned him to create the label for the winery, which features a magician flying over Loma Prieta Mountain with a glass of wine. The red line at the base of the mountain represents the epicenter of the eponymous 1989 earthquake. When Paul discovered Pinotage in a vineyard in Lodi where he was sourcing white varieties, he fell in love. This signature grape of South Africa, where it was created in the 1930s as a cross between Pinot Noir and Cinsault, is rare in California. It became his Holy Grail. He began buying Pinotage from every vineyard in California that grew it, even grafting over all of his own estate vines to make the highest elevation Pinotage in the state. Loma Prieta makes more Pinotage than any other winery in North America, and has the nation’s first Pinotage only wine club. In lieu of flowers, please buy a case of Loma Prieta Pinotage and drink a toast to Paul. He’d like that more than anything.