6/20-Michael Horn visits with Steve McIntyre & Rudi Bauer

Steve McIntyre - Winegrower and Winemaker at McIntyre Vineyards

Steve McIntyre stands out, even among the unique personalities of the Santa Lucia Highlands. He is a rare combination of grower and winemaker, having earned degrees in both viticulture and enology. After years as a winemaker at Smith & Hook, he purchased a neighboring estate in 1987 that was to become McIntyre Vineyards. Along with consulting winemaker Byron Kosuge, he has been able with his own McIntyre label to bridge the traditional disconnect between grower and vintner - employing a minimalist approach, allowing the vineyards true character and terroir to shine through in the finished wine.


The McIntyre Family


Through three decades, the McIntyre family has been setting the standard for winegrowing on the Central Coast and in Monterey County. Steve McIntyre graduated with a Masters degree in Enology from CSU Fresno ("Initially I studied music – but I found out I didn’t have any talent!")  He has planted and managed vineyards for numerous wineries including Galante, Smith & Hook, Mondavi, Joseph Phelps and Bonny Doon. Steve met his future wife and partner Kim in high school, Steve and Kim’s vineyard management company, Monterey Pacific, has grown grapes for such prestigious wineries as Williams Selyem, Morgan, Artesa, Jordan, Bernardus, MacRostie, and Marilyn Remark to name a few. As managing partners in the Monterey Wine Company, they have produced wines for Bonny Doon, Caymus, Hess Collection, Hahn Estates, and many others.


Their own McIntyre Vineyards was founded in 1987, with Steve’s purchase of eighty acres in the Santa Lucia Highlands. With all of his acquired experience, it was only natural that he should begin making wines under the family name and label. The first, limited McIntyre wines debuted with the 2005 vintage, combining Steve’s dedication to his craft, his passion for the land, and his love of art and music . As Steve puts it, “Musicians are servants to other people’s emotions, giving folks pleasure. With our family of wines, we strive to create something sensual, like music, which brings joy and inspiration and is an artistic statement of our vineyard.”


Steve and Kim McIntyre, daughters Kristen and Kassandra and son Matthew reside in Monterey County, along with Petrus, Jura, and Quintessa, their Bernese Mountain Dogs.





Rudi Bauer - Winemaker At Quartz Reef New Zealand
Named after New Zealand’s largest quartz rock deposit that underlies the company’s vineyards at Bendigo, Central Otago, Quartz Reef wines exhibit a symphony of flavours that capture attention and entertain, so that you forget everything else.

• The only southern hemisphere winemaker awarded nomination for International Winemaker of the Year at the ‘Oscars of Wine’, the prestigious Der Feinschmecker Wine Awards.
• Awarded Winemaker of the Year at the New Zealand National Wine Awards 2010.
• Awarded Winemaker of the Year at the New Zealand National Wine Awards 1999.
• The only Central Otago Winemaker ever to have been awarded this distinction and honour twice.
• A far-sighted Pioneer of the outstanding world-recognised Central Otago Viticultural Region of southern New Zealand.