What does the name “Bokisch” have to do with Spain? Markus Bokisch has a love for Spanish wines because of his family heritage. His mother is from Spain and his father was from Germany. Although Markus was raised in California, he and his brother spent every childhood summer in Spain with their relatives. It's not surprising that he pursued a degree in plant pathology and from there began specializing in viticulture. After spending several years at Joseph Phelps Vineyards specializing in Rhone Varieties, he and his wife, Liz, moved to Spain where he worked in the Spanish wine industry. Upon their return, they purchased their property in the Lodi area and planted their first vineyard.