Tracy Cervellone - CWE Wilson Daniels
Tracy is a native of Colorado. She has been employed in the wholesale wine business throughout California and the southwestern United States for over 25 years. Her love affair with the Paso Robles AVA and its wines dates back to the 1980’s. A Certified Wine Educator (C.W.E.) since 2005, she also holds the Advanced Certificate with Distinction from the Wine and Spirits Education Trust (WSET). She resides in southern California with her husband, Michael. Tracy is an avid free diver, horiculturist, history, literature, philosophy and muscle car buff. She has published another year-2007 literary work, “Mommy Nation: the Decline of Dignity, Common Sense and Self Reliance in our Everyday Lives.” Tracy also writes a regular national column for Dining Out magazine.
David Hirsch - Winemaker Hirsch Winery
BUG:Bought property in 1978; planted Old Vineyard to pinot noir and Riesling in 1980. Quit day job 1987 to develop vineyards: 44 acres planted 1990-1996; 25 acres planted 2002-03. Responsible for reminding everyone ad nauseamour goal always to focus on the site; that important developments are fruits of mistakes made with a serious attitude; and to never forget that we don’t know what we don’t know.
Hirsch Vineyards was established in 1980 on a ridge overlooking the ocean at Fort Ross, Sonoma County. It was the first vineyard in the region planted to the production of premium pinot noir. From the start all efforts have been on the growing of fruit that makes wines profoundly characteristic of the site vintage after vintage. Time is our most valuable asset, and as only time can judge a wine to be a valid expression of its site, we have focused our vision on the long term. To this end we have dedicated ourselves to live and work on site in order to discover by farming and, more recently, winemaking, a valid philosophy of viticulture that will harmonize our inputs with the constantly changing effects of a dramatic geology and problematic climate.
