From Indiana to Sonoma County

Erik Miller of Kokomo Winery in Dry Creek Valley is one Hoosier who knows how to make great wine

Erik Miller didn’t name his winery Kokomo after the Beach Boys song. He gets that question a lot. Rather, he took the title from his hometown: Kokomo, Indiana. 

So, how did a boy from Kokomo, with little connection to wine in his youth, go on to start a brand producing consistently impressive reds and whites in Dry Creek Valley? It’s a long story, but I’ll tell you the short version …

Learn about Erik Miller and his lineup of wines from Kokomo Winery in Sonoma in senior editor Tim Fish’s column from the Feb. 28, 2026, issue!

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