Sherman Thacher grew up on a citrus orchard in Ventura County where his family has well established agricultural roots. His great, great uncle started the first commercial avocado grove in the 1880's and his great grandfather was an orange and olive rancher in the 1880’s before turning to education. Sherman’s maternal great, great-grandparents started farming in Ventura and Santa Barbara County in the same period. Their ranches are still farmed today and have combined with other pioneer families to form the Limoneira Company, a diversified agricultural business and the largest avocado producer in the United States.

After graduating from UC Davis, Sherman began his professional career as a brewer and became an award winning brewmaster. He continues to hold that responsibility at the Los Gatos Brewing Company in Los Gatos, CA. Since 1994 Sherman has been making wine professionally in the Santa Cruz Mountains and in Paso Robles. He has worked under the loose tutelage of distinguished  winemakers at wineries such as David Bruce, Mariani and Savannah- Chanelle.