How a backhanded compliment, decades of collecting wine, and lifelong friendships became one of Sonoma’s most sought-after boutique wineries.

Some wineries begin with generations of vineyards.

Others begin with investors and business plans.

Innumero began with a joke.

Or at least, something close to one.

After spending the day tasting wine throughout Sonoma, Brian Thornsberry asked his oldest son, Jack, whether he and his wife Sheree should start a winery of their own.

Jack didn’t hesitate.

“Of course you should. You guys are above average people.”

As Sheree laughs today, it wasn’t exactly the compliment he intended.

“It was kind of a backhanded compliment.”

But it was enough.

Months later, Brian came home, announced he’d registered the LLC, and gave it a fitting name.

Above Average Ventures.

Neither of them knew it then, but that conversation would become the first chapter of Innumero.

Twenty Years Before the First Bottle

Long before they became winery owners, Brian and Sheree were passionate wine collectors.

Or, as Sheree prefers to say,

“Grand consumers.”

For nearly twenty years, they traveled the world’s wine regions, collecting bottles, visiting producers, and building friendships one tasting room at a time.

Corporate travel frequently brought Sheree to California, and business trips slowly turned into weekends exploring Sonoma together.

Those relationships would eventually become their greatest asset.

Friendship Before Fruit

When Above Average Ventures officially launched in 2021, the Thornsberrys owned no vineyards.

No winery.

No grapes.

No winemaker.

What they did have was something much harder to buy.

Trust.

After years of drinking wines from the Bacigalupi family, they finally asked a simple question.

Could they purchase a little Pinot Noir fruit?

The answer was yes.

The second question changed everything.

“Who’s making your wine?”

The Bacigalupis introduced them to consultant winemaker Ashley, whose philosophy immediately matched their own.

It was the beginning of a partnership that continues to define every Innumero vintage.

One Pinot Noir. One Hundred Fifty Bottles.

Their first harvest was intentionally small.

Just 2.5 tons of Pinot Noir.

About 150 bottles.

Then Ashley mentioned she planned to bleed juice from the Pinot to increase concentration.

There were only two options.

Bottle the Rosé.

Or pour it down the drain.

The decision was easy.

The bottling day wasn’t.

Sheree and Brian hand-filled every bottle.

Hand-corked every bottle.

Hand-labeled every bottle.

Today she laughs while calling it,

“Probably the worst day we’ve ever had in the wine business.”

Ironically, that tiny Rosé has become one of Innumero’s most sought-after wines.

Around thirty cases are produced each year.

Released in April.

Sold out within days.

Staying Small on Purpose

From the very beginning, the Thornsberrys made one promise to themselves.

Growth would never come at the expense of relationships.

Experienced vintners gave them two pieces of advice they still follow today.

Don’t grow grapes unless you’re prepared to become a farmer.

And don’t build your business around traditional distribution.

Instead, Innumero became almost entirely direct-to-consumer.

Allocation only.

No wine club.

No mass retail.

Today the portfolio remains intentionally focused.

A handful of Pinot Noirs.

Two Chardonnays.

A Sauvignon Blanc.

That tiny Rosé everyone waits for.

Most importantly, they know the people buying their wines.

And they want to keep it that way.

The Chardonnay That Changed Everything

The wine that quietly transformed the winery wasn’t Pinot Noir.

It was Chardonnay.

Sheree knew exactly what she wanted.

Bright acidity.

Balance.

No heavy butter.

No overwhelming oak.

Working alongside Ashley, they searched vineyard after vineyard until they found the right fruit.

Just two tons.

Ninety-five cases.

The result exceeded every expectation.

Nearly 98-point acclaim.

Wine Enthusiast Editor’s Choice.

Sold out in four months.

“I guess we’re in the Chardonnay business.”

She wasn’t wrong.

Two new Chardonnay bottlings arrive this fall, including a Montrachet clone from a brand-new vineyard partner.

Travel Is Still Their Greatest Teacher

Perhaps the most remarkable part of Innumero isn’t found in the vineyard.

It’s found in their passports.

Every year, Brian and Sheree travel somewhere new.

Burgundy.

Croatia.

Champagne.

Sicily.

South Africa.

Italy.

Rather than returning home trying to copy what they’ve tasted, they bring back stories.

Each year, one special bottle from those travels is selected and gifted to their allocation members with a handwritten note from Brian explaining why it mattered.

It’s not about exclusivity.

It’s about sharing discovery.

The same philosophy that inspired Innumero from the very beginning.

More Than a Winery

The name Innumero comes from the idea that life’s greatest experiences are connected by countless threads.

Great food.

Great wine.

Great people.

Conversations around a table.

Friendships that span decades.

Unexpected introductions.

One seemingly ordinary conversation that changes everything.

Spend a few minutes with Sheree, and the meaning becomes obvious.

The wines matter.

The people matter even more.

Meet Innumero at Telluride Reserve

This summer, Sheree Thornsberry will personally be pouring Innumero wines throughout Telluride Reserve Food & Wine Festival.

You’ll find her at the Welcome Reception, Grand Tasting, and the festival barbecue, sharing the stories behind every bottle with the same warmth and curiosity that built the winery.

Because that’s how Innumero has always worked.

No sales pitch.

No marketing script.

Just great wine shared between friends.

Want to learn more about Innumero?

Explore their wines, philosophy, and story on their Telluride Reserve collaborator page.