In 2014, Jim and Carol Gonzalez purchased their first vineyard La Esperanza (The Hope) a little over a mile from Lake Michigan. Their intention was to be good farmers and sell their grapes to local wineries. But when those wineries started to win awards with their fruit, they decided to take things to the next level.

In 2016, they purchased 75 acres of farmland in Fennville, christening her La Gracia (The Grace) and began to realize their vision of not only crafting quality Michigan wines but restoring the land to a state of health and vigor. They hired Northern California winemaker Andrew Backlin (previously at Steele Wines and Duckhorn), broke ground for the production site and winery, and officially opened in 2019.