California Woman Reclaims Winery Where Fiancé Was Murdered 30 Years Ago
In a poignant act of reclamation, a California woman has purchased the winery where her fiancé was tragically murdered by his own father over three decades ago. Karen Francis DeGolia, now 63, acquired Limerick Lane Cellars in 2022, a property located approximately an hour outside of Napa Valley, marking a profound return to a place of immense personal loss.
A Tragic History at Limerick Lane
The winery was originally owned by DeGolia's fiancé, Tom Collins. In the summer of 1993, just two weeks after the couple had completed their harvest, Tom's father shot his son before turning the gun on himself in a horrific murder-suicide. Michael Collins, Tom's brother and business partner, later described the incident to Northbay Biz as occurring in a 'fit of rage', though specific details surrounding the tragedy remain scarce.
Devastated by the loss, the then 31-year-old DeGolia fled California to rebuild her life. She moved first to Nashville, Tennessee, and later to Detroit, Michigan, where she forged a highly successful career in the automobile industry. Rising to become one of the few female executives at Oldsmobile, a division of General Motors valued at $8 billion, she immersed herself in work to cope with her grief.
'I felt that I had this beautiful movie playing, then someone took the scissors and cut the film, and all of a sudden, the screen went white,' she told the San Francisco Chronicle, reflecting on the sudden end to her life with Tom.
A Journey Back to the Past
Decades later, after marrying her husband Rick and establishing herself professionally, DeGolia felt compelled to revisit her past and transform a negative chapter into something positive. Her path back to Limerick Lane was not straightforward. After nine years in Detroit, she returned to California in 2004 when Michael Collins invited her to become his partner in the winery.
She learned the intricacies of the business but ultimately decided the timing was not right for her to commit fully. She later moved to San Francisco, becoming a CEO at an advertising agency, and purchased the adjacent Ricci Vineyard as a side venture while running a technology company in Silicon Valley.
The winery changed hands in 2012 when Michael, diagnosed with cancer, sold it to fifth-generation winemaker Jake Bilbro. Michael Collins passed away in 2020, a year after his other brother Eddie. When DeGolia learned Bilbro had acquired Limerick Lane, her interest in the original property was rekindled. The proximity of her vineyard fostered a close relationship with Bilbro, and she even considered selling her land to him.
Reclaiming a Legacy
In 2021, DeGolia and her husband bought another home with a vineyard on Limerick Lane. Simultaneously, Bilbro put the winery up for sale. Initially, an exclusive contract prevented DeGolia from purchasing it. However, the situation changed when a prospective buyer demanded alterations, giving Bilbro an opportunity to exit the deal and offer DeGolia the chance she had long awaited.
'He said, "Karen, I haven’t slept for weeks because this should be yours. I think my role for the last 10 years has been keeping it until you’re ready to come back",' she recalled Bilbro telling her.
Nearly three decades after Tom's death, DeGolia finally became the owner of Limerick Lane Cellars. The property still holds a special carving with her and Tom's names, dated 1993. 'It didn’t cross either of our minds that I’d buy it,' she said of the unexpected transaction with Bilbro.
Looking to the Future
Now at the helm, DeGolia is focused on revitalizing the winery, acknowledging she purchased it during a challenging period for the industry. 'My timing could have been better,' she admitted, but she is committed to working harder than expected to ensure the business and her fiancé's legacy reach their highest potential.
Although the vineyard is situated in a region known for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, Limerick Lane Cellars has built its reputation on its distinctive Zinfandel wines. 'We’re staying with Zin. We know how to make it in a way that’s elegant and lovely and beautiful,' DeGolia stated. 'Once people experience our Zinfandel, they understand that it’s not all the same.'
Leveraging her extensive background in marketing and executive leadership, she aims to attract new customers and create memorable experiences. 'When people leave here, we want them to feel like they got to experience it, not that they were just a visitor,' DeGolia explained, outlining her vision for the winery's future.
