12/29 DEAN BUSQUAERT, SEQUOIA GROVE WINERY, MICHAEL JORDAN, JACKSON FAMILY WINES

DEAN BUSQUAERT – WINE EDUCATOR/PAIRING EXPERT, SEQUOIA GROVE WINERY

About Sequoia Grove Winery 

Founded in 1979, Sequoia Grove is a small family winery located on Route 29 in the heart of Rutherford, Napa Valley's most prestigious Cabernet Sauvignon appellation. For more than 30 years, Sequoia Grove has been recognized for its commitment to crafting award-winning wines that emphasize finesse and balance from its Estate vineyards as well as through decades-long relationships with top Napa Valley growers. Wines are made from the 22-acre estate vineyard and newly-acquired Tonella vineyard, both located in the heart of Rutherford, as well as other premier Napa Valley growers. Sequoia Grove wines emphasize richness, structure, balance and varietal expression.

Sequoia Grove Winery launches new take on food and wine experiences 
in the Napa Valley with "Taste for Cabernet" 

Pairing expert Dean Busquaert teaches the foundations of pairing food with Cabernet Sauvignon. Sequoia Grove Winery has launched "A Taste for Cabernet," a private and elevated tasting room experience which presents the winery's limited-production wines in the context of pairing Cabernet with food. The 75-minute seminar, led by Sequoia Grove Wine Educator Dean Busquaert, guides guests through a tasting of Sequoia Grove's single-vineyard Cabernet Sauvignons, and the top-tier Cabernet blend, Cambium. Instead of matching food and wine by weight and color, Dean demonstrates the elements of pairing flavors with Cabernet by using ingredients that offer the basic components of taste: salt, sweet, sour, bitter and umami. "Guest will find that some popular pairing rules are best broken," he says.

"A Taste for Cabernet" presents a wide spectrum of Napa Valley Cabernet alongside detailed maps, soil samples, and photos designed to illustrate how a vineyard's environment is reflected in the wine. The tasting begins with a sample of four single-vineyard Sequoia Grove Cabernets from sites like Lamoreaux (Oak Knoll District), Stagecoach (Atlas Peak AVA), Morisoli (Rutherford AVA), and Healy (St. Helena AVA), followed by Cambium, Sequoia Grove's iconic Cabernet-based red wine blend.

"A Taste for Cabernet" takes place in Sequoia Grove's private tasting room, located at 8338 St. Helena Highway, Rutherford, CA 94573. The price is $50 per person, which is waived for those who join the Sequoia Grove wine club. The experience is offered daily for groups from two to fourteen at 10:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m. or 3:00 p.m. Advance reservations are required and can be made by contacting Dean Busquaert at 707-494-0905 or dbusquaert@sequoiagrove.com.

WWW.SEQUOIAGROVE.COM



MICHAEL JORDAN – MASTER SOMMELIER, RADIO HOST – YEAR END WRAP-UP 

Director of Global Key Accounts, Jackson Family Fine Wines

Veteran Restaurateur and “Sommelier for the People” Michael Jordan is Director of Global Key Accounts for Jackson Family Fine Wines.    Jordan also chairs the Los Angeles International Wine Competition – now 75 years running and the oldest competition in America.    Previously Jordan served three years as vice president of food & beverage for Anaheim’s award winning restaurant and live music venue, THE RANCH Restaurant & Saloon (Zagat 28-29-28). Prior to opening THE RANCH, Jordan was president of The Beachcomber Restaurant Group. Before that he served as Global Manager of wine sales & standards and wine education for Walt Disney Parks and Resorts® Worldwide – and also nine years as general manager of the world famous Napa Rose restaurant at Disneyland Resort® in Anaheim. In his career Jordan has been involved with the opening of seventeen restaurants including Pinot Provence in Costa Mesa and was general manager/sommelier of Pavilion at Four Seasons Hotel Newport Beach when it received AAA’s Five Diamond Award.

Jordan holds a Master Sommelier diploma from the Court of Master Sommeliers as well as a Certified Wine Educator diploma from the Society of Wine Educators and is one of only 15 people in the world to hold both these diplomas. Jordan has taught comprehensive wine and beverage courses to well over a thousand students.

Jordan also hosts a weekly radio show, What’s Cookin’ with Wine on CRN Digital Talk Radio and many AM radio markets across the country since 2002.

Personal recognition & awards:

2012 Food & Beverage Director of the Year – Southern California Restaurant Writers
2008 Sommelier of the Year – Whitefish Wine & Food Summit
2008 General Manager of the Year – Southern California Restaurant Writers
2006 Restaurant Professional of the Year –  Orange Coast Magazine
2005 American Sommelier of the Year  – Cordon Du Vin World Society
2005 Wine Educator of the Year –  STARWINE
2005 General Manager of the Year –  Orange Coast Magazine
2002 Sommelier of the Year – Southern California Restaurant Writers
2001 Sommelier of the Year – California Restaurant Writers Assn.

“Michael Jordan is one of just 15 people in the world awarded both Master Sommelier and CWE (Certified Wine Educator) titles. And if there were an equivalent for heirloom tomato expertise, he’d have that, too.” – Priscilla Mayfield’s column “Taste of Orange County” Orange Coast Magazine – August, 2013

WWW.JACKSONFAMILYWINES.COM

12/15 ERIC JOHANNSEN, CHAMP DE REVES, STEVEN PEPE, CLOS PEPE VINEYARDS

ERIC JOHANNSEN – WINEMAKER, CHAMP DE REVES

ANDERSON VALLEY

Terroir and Culture
As a winegrowing region, there is no other Pinot Noir AVA in America that has more potential. The features of the valley are a Mecca for the cultivation of Pinot: here one finds daily, cooling maritime influence, dramatic geological contours with high mountains on either side of the valley, rocky soils and a mix of classic California flora and trees.

The ensuing range of Pinot Noir flavor profiles and firm structural elements leave no doubt that the Anderson Valley is qualitatively superb.

Culturally, Anderson Valley is entirely unique. Isolated, eccentric, rugged and populated by artists, winegrowers, orchardists and long-time residents, it has its own flavor and a colorful, much-beloved history.
CHAMP DE RÊVES
Inspired focus on a single wine
We make only one wine—Pinot Noir. Characterized by aromas and flavors of blue/black fruit, floral and spice elements, earth and a distinct minerality, Champ de Rêves’ calling card is its mouthfeel, which exhibits both a silky textural trait and a firm, gravelly structure that's a testament to its high altitude origins.

Champ de Rêves winemaker Eric Johannsen has over a decade of experience in Pinot Noir winemaking throughout the vineyards of California.

“Anderson Valley is like nowhere else. The region manages to express the quintessential nuance and complexity of Pinot Noir, while at the same time conferring optimal ripeness. Add an epic vineyard with dozens of tiny, unique blocks, and there's plenty of cause for excitement.”— Eric Johannsen

CHAMPDEREVESVINEYARDS.COM


STEVEN PEPE – CLOS PEPE VINEYARDS  - DEFINING THE EDGE:  A SURVEY OF THE EASTERN BOUNDARY LINE OF THE STA. RITA HILLS AVA.

Clos Pepe Vineyard was purchased by Steve and Cathy Pepe in 1994 as a horse ranch, and established the 9th vineyard in what would become the Sta. Rita Hills AVA. Specializing in cool-climate, small production, craft-based Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, Clos Pepe is now recognized as a leader in local and national wine culture, wine education and providing fruit to some of the best winemakers in California.

The Italians say, ‘Il vino e' la Poesia della Terra.’  Wine is the poetry of the earth.  There is nothing that can obfuscate Pinot Noir’s ability to speak of a time and place.  Of every plant on earth, Pinot Noir is unique in its ability to show every angle of a vintage, every silt particle in the soil, and every drop of morning dew that wet its leaves. Tea, coffee, white truffles—these can tell a story and confound us with their deliciousness, but the uncontested Queen of Natural Complexity must be Pinot Noir. We anticipate each vintage with a proper mix of anxiety and hope, knowing Mother Nature and the Sta. Rita Hills have a plan that will allow time and effort to fill a glass.

VINEYARD PHILOSOPHY

There are no secrets at Clos Pepe. We don't hide our cultural practices, yields, harvest chemistry or our winemaking methods. We believe that the combination of climate, people and dirt combine to make a quality of fruit and wine that is perfectly unique and impossible to reproduce.

Great wine is about place, but without the hard work and planning of our crew and staff, Clos Pepe would be a hillside covered with weeds, grasses and a few flowers. So there is some 'magic' to the way we farm, but it is more like taking the tarnish off of a silver chalice than building the chalice itself. The key to enable this piece of land to express itself naturally through the wines we grow--to let the Vintage's voice emerge in harmony with vineyard and varietal.

CLOSPEPE.COM

12/08 MIKE TRUJILLO, SEQUOIA GROVE WINERY, BRIAN TALLEY, TALLEY VINEYARDS

MIKE TRUJILLO - PRESIDENT, DIRECTOR OF WINEMAKING, SEQUOIA GROVE WINERY    

OUR  HISTORY
Sequoia Grove is a family-owned winery founded in 1979 in a 110-year old barn beneath a grove of Sequoia trees in Rutherford, Napa Valley. It is here where we’ve honed our craft of creating world-class Cabernet Sauvignon and other Napa Valley wines that emphasize elegance, finesse, structure and balance.  Our consistent philosophy of making wines with varietal character that are reflective of the land helped establish Sequoia Grove as one of the premier Cabernet Sauvignon producers in Napa Valley.  Our 24-acre Estate Vineyard and 50-acre Tonella Ranch Vineyard are both located in the heart of Rutherford, where the superb climate and gravelly-loam soils impart distinct flavor in the Bordeaux varieties.

NAPA VALLEY WINES
Our Napa Valley Wines represent the core of our wine.  Sourced from our own Estate vineyards and other A-list vineyards, our Napa Valley Wines are made in a food-friendly style that emphasizes structure and balance.  Our limited-production top-tier red blend, Cambium, is crafted from the very best barrels to capture a portrait of the vintage in a luxurious and elegant frame.

ABOUT MICHAEL TRUJILLO - PRESIDENT, DIRECTOR OF WINEMAKING
With more than 30 years of winemaking experience in Napa Valley, Michael Trujillo has continually enhanced the quality of the wines at Sequoia Grove, among other projects initiating important expansion of Estate vineyard holdings and creating Cambium, an iconic new wine in the Sequoia Grove portfolio.

Trujillo’s introduction to winemaking occurred in 1982 when, on spring break from his engineering program at Colorado College, he took a road trip to California and dropped by Sequoia Grove to visit family friend Jim Allen, who then offered him a job. Trujillo learned his craft in the vineyards and winery from Jim Allen, as well as from consultants André Tchelistcheff and Tony Soter; “André taught me the importance of balance, and Tony taught me modern techniques and ways to avoid winemaking problems,” he says.

COMING UP:
A TASTE FOR CABERNET – SELECT DATES

For 2 to 12 people
1 hr 15 min
$50.00 per person

"A Taste for Cabernet” is a private experience that uses Sequoia Grove’s vineyard-designated Cabernet program to illustrate how what’s in the vineyard gets into the glass. Cabernet is meant to be enjoyed with food, so after the tasting, it’s time to demystify the rules of food & wine pairing—because while some of the popular pairing rules work, others are best broken. Instead of matching food and wine by weight or color, we offer a different approach to optimize your enjoyment of Cabernet.

WWW.SEQUOIAGROVE.COM


BRIAN TALLEY – OWNER/WINEGROWER, TALLEY VINEYARDS - GREAT ROBERT PARKER REVIEWS FOR TALLEY VINEYARDS

BIO
Brian Talley is a third generation farmer born and raised in Arroyo Grande.  While attending UC Berkeley, where he earned degrees in History and Natural Resource Economics, he worked in a wine shop called Curds and Whey where he fell in love with wine.

Brian began his career in the family business at age 12 when he started harvesting vegetables at Talley Farms.  He became General Manager of Talley Vineyards in 1991 and now serves as President of Talley Vineyards and Talley Farms.  Brian is recognized as a leader in the local wine industry and was cofounder of the World of Pinot Noir, has served as President of the San Luis Obispo Wine Country Association and been recognized by both Robert Parker and the local wine industry as a Wine Industry Person of the Year.

Brian loves cooking, wine and travel as well as running, cycling and golf.  He lives at the edge of Talley Farms with his wife Johnine and daughters Elizabeth and Olivia.

HISTORY
For three generations the Talley family has farmed in the Southern San Luis Obispo County. The tradition began in 1948 when Oliver Talley founded Talley Farms and started growing specialty vegetables in the Arroyo Grande Valley. During the 1970s extensive planting of winegrapes began in the neighboring Edna Valley and Santa Barbara County areas.  After observation and extensive analysis, Oliver's son, Don Talley, was convinced of the potential to grow high quality chardonnay and pinot noir on the steep hillsides above Talley Farms.  Don planted a small test plot in 1982 on the west hillside of the Rincon Vineyard that included chardonnay, pinot noir, riesling, sauvignon blanc and cabernet sauvignon. Over time the varietal and clonal selections were refined and planting expanded to a total of 165 acres in the Arroyo Grande and Edna Valleys.

Talley Vineyards produced its first wine in 1986 with the production of 450 cases. The winery's first five vintages were produced in a small winery adjacent to one of Talley Farms’ vegetable coolers. In the fall of 1991, a state-of-the-art winery was completed at the foot of the Rincon Vineyard. A 12,000 square foot barrel and case goods storage building was added in 2000, followed by a new tasting room in 2002. Talley Vineyards currently produces about 30,000 cases annually.  Brian and Johnine Talley own and operate Talley Vineyards, while Brian, Todd, Ryan and Rosemary Talley manage Talley Farms.

**IN THE NEWS**
Robert Parker's New Reviews  - We are thrilled to share our excellent scores from Jeb Dunnuck of Robert Parker's Wine Advocate.

"I was blown away by this latest set of releases from winemaker Brian Talley. Across the board, the wines have fabulous typicity, purity and class, and are some of the greatest expressions of the varieties coming out of California today. I can't recommend them enough. Note, the Bishop's Peak release comes from purchased grapes from a variety of Central Coast Vineyards."

WWW.TALLEYVINEYARDS.COM

12/01 MORGAN MCLAUGHLIN, SANTA BARBARA COUNTY VINTNERS ASSOCIATION, KEY TO WINE COUNTRY, CLAY MAURITSON, MAURITSON ESTATE WINES

MORGAN MCLAUGHLIN - EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE SANTA BARBARA COUNTY VINTNERS ASSOCIATION – KEY TO WINE COUNTRY 

The Key to Wine Country is your opportunity to unlock  unique and exclusive experiences in Santa Barbara Wine Country.

• MEET THE WINEMAKERS
• FOOD & WINE PAIRINGS
• BARREL TASTINGS
• BLENDING SESSIONS
• OPEN HOUSES
• DISCOUNTS
• & SPECIALS

It's like a wine tasting passport...a passport that gets you in the VIP line no one knows about.

Your Key will allow you into special experiences and events, along with giving you special offers and deals,  at 38 participating wineries and at 10 restaurants throughout Santa Barbara County December 5 - 7.  Once you purchase a Key, you will receive a secret password that will enable you to make reservations to attend these experiences and events. There is no limit or maximum amount of events you can attend. Don't forget to book a transportation package on Saturday and Sunday, so you don't have to worry about wine tasting and driving. Keys are limited, so purchase yours today!

WWW.SBCOUNTYWINES.COM


CLAY MAURITSON - OWNER AND WINEMAKER, MAURITSON ESTATE WINES

Six generations of farming has taught us a few things about choosing premium fruit! Each harvest, the best from our 230 acres throughout the Dry Creek and Alexander Valleys is reserved for our Estate Wines. These wines, which include our signature Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Zinfandel and Cabernet Sauvignon, showcase the fruit-forward, floral and spice-driven characteristics attributed to these appellations.

BIO

Up and coming young winemaker, Clay Mauritson, is the sixth generation in a family of grape growers. Born and raised in the Dry Creek Valley, Clay was destined for the wine business.

In college Clay exhibited his prowess on the gridiron, playing outside linebacker for the University of Oregon Ducks in the 1995 Rose Bowl and the 1996 Cotton Bowl. Clay graduated in 1997 with a degree in Business Administration, with an emphasis in Marketing and a minor in Economics. Armed with his new degree he came back to Sonoma County to officially enter the wine industry.

Clay worked for 5 years at Kenwood Vineyards in the Sales & Marketing Department (starting even before he graduated from college), spending much of his time traveling and making sales contacts as Assistant National Sales Manager. After leaving Kenwood, Clay had the opportunity to work with the winemakers at Taft Street Vineyards and Dry Creek Vineyards, allowing him to hone his winemaking skills and gain additional knowledge of winery operations. From the 1998 vintage Clay produced his first bottling of Dry Creek Zinfandel under the Mauritson label, and in 2002 he began devoting his efforts full-time to the Mauritson Family Winery project.

Clay's winemaking philosophy is simple…you need exceptional fruit to make exceptional wine. This is where the advantage of having a family heritage of grape growers becomes obvious…270 acres of family vineyard and strong relationships built over the years with other growers have given Clay access to some of the best fruit that Sonoma County, Dry Creek Valley and Rockpile have to offer. Devoted to making exceptional wines, Clay is on his way to becoming one of California's foremost young winemakers.

Clay lives in Healdsburg with his wife Carrie-Anne and dogs SoHo and Chelsea.

WWW.MAURITSONWINES.COM

11/24 STEVE TONELLA, S. R. TONELLA CELLARS

STEVE TONELLA OF S. R. TONELLA CELLARS                 

S. R. Tonella Cellars is the culmination of over 100 continuous years in the wine business in Rutherford, Napa Valley.  It all started with an earthquake.  In 1906 after the great San Francisco earthquake, a huge demand for workers to rebuild the city brought Joseph Ponti, Steve’s great uncle, from Italy to San Francisco.  Shortly thereafter, Ponti became the superintendent and initial winemaker at the iconic Beaulieu Vineyards in Rutherford, where he stayed for 43 years.  Ponti’s nephew, Steve’s grandfather, Louis Tonella, joined his uncle at Beaulieu when he was just 17 and worked there for several years.  Louis inherited from Ponti vineyards located in the Rutherford viticulture region and passed them on to his son Raymond Tonella, Steve’s father.  Over the years, Raymond purchased additional vineyard acreage, as well as managing other Rutherford vineyards.  Grape growing and wine production have been a part of Steve’s life and family history.

Bringing us to the present, we endeavor to continue this heritage and spirit with
S. R. Tonella Cellars. Our purpose is simply to make history by crafting the best premium Cabernet Sauvignon that represents the best of Rutherford and Napa Valley.  A lot of historical events have been written down after-the-fact on the pages of books; but in truth, living history is made every day with family, friends, co-workers and casual coincidental encounters both near and far. It’s those relationships, the real events in our own histories, which have a meaningful impact on our lives.  S. R. Tonella Cellar’s aspiration is that our wine is shared to create some small but memorable piece of history with everyone who crosses paths with us.  And so it begins.

BIO:

Steve Tonella was born in Napa Valley and grew up living in Sonoma and Rutherford.  From an early age he worked in the vineyards with his father and grandfather.  Enjoying the hot sun and helping in the vineyard by suckering vines (removing unwanted shoots) tying, training, and irrigating formed his early encounters in vineyards.  He says he is amazed to have survived as the mode of transportation was the infamous 3-wheeler motorcycles that were accident prone and tipped easily.

Fast forward to the turn of the century when Steve began making wine and produced small quantities of Cabernet Sauvignon.  College took him to Cal Poly San Luis Obispo where he earned a degree in Business Administration.  After college, Steve entered the high-tech industry and quickly moved into sales leadership positions that took him around the world.  Fluent in both Italian and Spanish, he’s lived and worked in Rome, Italy, and Barcelona, Spain, besides stints in England and Japan.  During all his travels, the dream of cultivating Rutherford wine never left.  After working across three continents, the time had come to resurrect the dream of producing Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon into a reality:   The 2010 is the ‘first’ of many vintages to come.

WWW.SRTONELLACELLARS.COM

11/17 PETER WORK, AMPELOS CELLARS, ERIC STIEFELING, ARIL WINES

PETER WORK – WINEMAKER, AMPELOS CELLARS

OUR STORY
Some dream of spending the rest of their lives on golf courses and cruise ships, but with a taste for business and a love of Santa Barbara wine country, we chose a different retirement plan.

In 1999 we purchased 82 acres in what would later become the Sta. Rita Hills appellation, and named it “Ampelos”, which is the Greek word for vine. The name has a two-fold purpose. First, we believe that all great wines start in the vineyard.

Secondly, we have close-ties with Greece; we were married there and own a small bed and breakfast, called Ampelos Resort, on the island of Folegandros. We bought the land with dreams of someday watching the nightly sunset over the hills and our dogs running through the vines.

At the time we were still working long hours in corporate America, and delegated our son Don (now winemaker at Sea Smoke) to get the vineyard started. Our vineyard consultant assured us that the land could produce a great vineyard with patience and care, but we had little time to focus on the vineyard with non-stop business travel, meetings and conferences.

In 2001, the first 15 acres were planted in the Ampelos vineyard. That same year, we landed in Newark on the morning of September 11th. Peter had a meeting in the first tower of the World Trade Center, and interrupted his plan to board Path 1 of the New York Subway when his meeting was canceled. If he had gotten on the train, 8:45 am would have found him under the towers as the first plane hit.

When we finally got out of the city five days later, we went straight to our safe place—the Ampelos vineyard. That is when we made the life-changing decision to quit our corporate jobs and focus all our effort into pursuing our dream of full-time viticulture. “Someday” was no longer part of our vocabulary.

We moved to the Santa Ynez Valley in January of 2002. We began to learn to nurture the soil and prune the vines to prepare for the first harvest, and purchased one ton of Pinot Noir and two tons of Syrah in order to learn winemaking as we waited for the vines to mature. We toiled under the tutelage of our son Don and several expert consultants.

2004 marked the inaugural Ampelos vineyard harvest. The first harvest yielded 15 tons of Pinot Noir and 6 tons of Syrah. In 2005, we planted 10 acres on top of the original 15, totaling 25 acres. Pinot Noir and Syrah remain our primary varietals, with a line of Viognier and just under two acres of Grenache—the unsung hero of the Sta. Rita Hills. We persist in experimenting with different grapes and winemaking styles, as we are major believers in the journey being the destination.

With the efforts of family and friends, wise guides, and a twist of fate, we have come to create our small, sustainable vineyard and winery. We have gone from expanding big businesses to focusing on creating a limited release of high-quality product that people can afford to share with friends and loved ones. For us, sharing those gifts is what makes it all worthwhile.

OUR PHILOSOPHY
You can depend on Ampelos wine to present the essence of each varietal in its purest form. Our winemaking processes are minimalist, meaning no added yeast, no artificial tannins, no artificial malolactic bacteria, and no artificial coloring. Every sip evokes cool ocean breezes and sunny afternoons wondering at the beauty of the rolling Sta. Rita Hills.

We experiment with both old and new winemaking processes, with eyes always fixed on eco-friendly, natural winemaking. With respect to longstanding winemaking traditions coupled with flexibility, we believe our results will be improvements to the cellar resulting in intriguing and complex wines.

WWW.AMPELOSCELLARS.COM


ERIC STIEFELING – NATIONAL SALES DIRECTOR, ARIL WINES                  

OUR STORY
The history of Aril wines is a love story. A love story about a beautiful little vineyard perched above the Napa Valley. And a love story about a wine that changed their lives.

Joanne and Harmon met in Telluride, Colorado, where he was running a popular restaurant, and she was heavily involved in the Telluride Foundation. They began to talk of food and wine, and then of many other things. What started as a romance grew into a strong partnership and a dream. Harmon had run a winery in Napa, and Joanne had always loved the classic Syrahs of the Rhone Valley and Provence…wines enjoyed by connoisseurs and French Kings.

The dream grew into reality via a small property in the hills above the Napa Valley with just a tiny block of the finest Syrah vines. As a symbol for the winery, Joanne selected the pomegranate tree that they planted there in the garden. Aril is the deeply red cover of the seeds of the pomegranate, a color that Joanne finds in the heart of their Syrahs.

The wines are not products, but journeys from the vine to the bottle, and each journey is a unique experience to be enjoyed with friends and loved ones. Aril is our passion, and we are pleased to share it with the world.

ABOUT ERIC
Eric Stiefeling is the Managing Director for Aril wines. Born in New York City, he developed a love for wine after moving to California in the mid-1980s. He is a past president of the Golden Gate Wine Society, and the wine director for the Pine Creek Sporting Club in Okeechobee, Florida. Making frequent trips to Napa Valley, Eric soon became a fixture at commercial wine tastings.

Prior to his pursuits in the wine industry, Eric worked in the securities industry at Chapdelaine and Company, a municipal bond brokerage firm in New York, before joining Rauscher, Pierce, Refsnes Inc. in San Francisco. At the age of 26, Eric’s entrepreneurial spirit gave him his first taste of the food and drink world when he purchased The Attic. He turned that small restaurant in New York into a thriving business.

In addition to his work at Aril, Eric remains active in the Napa Valley’s wine culture. He served as Chairman of the Beverage Committee for Auction Napa Valley in 2010 and co-chaired the organization’s Barrel Auction for Auction in 2014.

ARILWINES.COM

11/10 LISA RIGISICH, PINOT DAYS, GARY PISONI, PISONI VINEYARDS

LISA RIGISICH – PRODUCER, PINOT DAYS

Pinot Days Southern California is our fastest growing event, and it makes sense! People who enjoy blue skies and an easy, breezy lifestyle gravitate to pinot noir because it is easy to pair, easy to drink, and fascinating to talk about. Couple that with the area's innovative food, and you have a fantastic coupling of place with pinot. Enjoy Winemaker Pinot Pairings at restaurants and wine venues around town in the days preceding our Grand Festival, which is back on the West Side at the Skirball Cultural Center. Meet our winemakers, hear their stories and enjoy the most diverse, lovely wines on the planet....

Where - Skirball Cultural Center
When - Saturday, November 15th, 2014.
Trade Tasting: Noon-2pm.
VIP Tasting: Noon - 5pm.
Public Tasting: 2-5pm.
Price - $75 - Grand Festival. $120 VIP Tasting and Seminar.
Tickets - Tickets are on sale for the Grand Festival and Grand Festival VIP Tasting.

MORE ABOUT PINOT DAYS:

OUR MISSION: As a non-profit, the Pinot Days mission is to educate those who wish to learn more about pinot noir, from seed, to vineyard, to winemaker, to winery, to bottle, to table. This has been our purpose from our inception, one which we fulfilled from our first year, and one which we continue to fulfill in novel and innovative ways. How do we educate? The Pinot Days festivals bring winemakers and attendees together, creating a venue for communication between the two and enabling attendees to learn, both intellectually and aesthetically. As those in the wine industry well know, those who pursue pinot noir don’t follow it simply to drink it; they want to understand it on various levels. It is a notoriously difficult and expensive grape to grow, drawing the most skilled and knowledgeable winemakers, and offering the broadest stylistic and regional range of all the grape varieties. Thus it presents itself as a compelling avocation and area of study. Increasingly, it's the genuinely boutique producers who come and pour at our events. They're the ones who don't have a marketing department to promote them, the ones who want wine lovers to discover who they are and what they craft. They're the real deal, the visionaries. It's Peter Cargasacchi who will show up with vineyard dirt on his knees because that's where he spent his morning. Or Rickey Trombetta (Trombetta Family) who will tear up when you mention a great pinot vintage. Or Kathleen Inman who, I’ve heard, refers to her grape clusters by name. “Hand-crafted” is a literal term with these folks, and you can taste the difference. You’ll hear it in their stories. And you are going to want to hear more than they have time to tell you, and taste more than you can in an afternoon.


OUR HISTORY: In 2004, pinot noir was an after-thought in the California wine world which, from our perspective, was a shame. We sought to rectify this by producing an event dedicated to exposing those who would listen to pinot noir, educating them about the industry as a whole. 100 wineries exhibited at the first Pinot Days in 2005, and fewer than 1,000 people attended. The event, however, rapidly became a linchpin of the industry, connecting producers with prospective customers via education. We also became the leading voice of the industry, providing access to “insider” views into wineries and winemaking, giving exposure to new producers, assessing wines and answering questions on influential internet wine boards (Robert Parker, Wine Spectator, Wineberserkers), serving as panelists and guest speakers at wine events and wine-related productions (plays, movies), producing industry-focused newsletters, emceeing pinot noir-focused dinners and pairings, and taking part in radio (KGO, KABC) and television (ABC) interviews wherein pinot noir and its production was the topic. The public, clamoring for information, began to turn Pinot Days as their source of information related to pinot noir. Along with other influences, Pinot Days’ various efforts translated into an incredible increase in interest in pinot noir. Pinot Noir’s market share increased from less than 1% of the total grapes crushed to over 4% from 2004 to 2010. Pinot Days was a chief contributor to ushering new wine aficionados to the variety’s doorstep. Pinot Days also grew considerably. Again, in 2004, 100 exhibitors and 1,000 attended the Grand Festival in San Francisco. In 2010, 220 producers and 3,500 attended the Grand Festival. And in response to popular demand, we have ventured beyond California, producing 4 festivals annually. It's nice to see pinot getting the groupie following it deserves!

WWW.PINOTDAYS.COM


GARY PISONI – PISONI VINEYARDS                                                  

A special place, Pisoni Vineyards expresses the land and climate of the Santa Lucia Highlands and the spirit of the Pisoni Family. The site is a source of exceptional Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Syrah.

First planted by Gary Pisoni in 1982, Pisoni Vineyards consists of small vineyard blocks arranged on and around the ridges of the mountainous landscape. Ranging in size from one-half to seventeen acres, the vineyard blocks perch at an altitude of 1,300 feet in the granite-laced mountains of the coastal Santa Lucia Range.

Inspired by the Burgundy tradition of having several wineries source fruit from the same vineyard, Gary Pisoni has formed relationships with some of the most prestigious Pinot Noir producers in California. With agreements based on handshake alone, these wineries are guaranteed specific rows and blocks each year. They purchase grapes at a per-acre price rather than a per-ton price, which maintains the focus on quality and not yields.

In addition to supplying fruit to artisan producers of vineyard-designated wines, the Pisoni Family retains a portion of the vineyard for the production of Pisoni Estate wine.

THE PRACTICE
Vineyard management is meticulous. Under Mark Pisoni's leadership, a long-time permanent crew of 18 skilled individuals perform all the work by hand. Every decision implements sustainable farming practices and long-term considerations. This commitment, combined with the rocky soils and cold Monterey Bay weather, produce serious and compelling wines.

THE FAMILY
In 1952 Jane and Eddie Pisoni began farming vegetables in the fertile Salinas Valley. A celery-crop profit in 1979 provided the down payment for the Santa Lucia Highlands property that became Pisoni Vineyards. Their love for the land provided the place where their son Gary could realize his dreams. Gary developed a love of wine while attending college. He started collecting fine French and German wines, and he made his first wine in his garage in 1978 at the age of twenty-five. In 1982, Gary broke ground and planted the first vines at Pisoni Vineyards. He was up against many obstacles, including not having a water source at the time.

Mark Pisoni, the vineyard manager, completed a B.S. in Agricultural Economics at the University of California, Davis, and an M.S. in Farm Business Management at Cornell University. He oversees the meticulous care of both Pisoni Vineyards and Pisoni Farms.  Jeff Pisoni is the winemaker. He earned a B.S. in Enology at California State University, Fresno, and got hands-on experience at premium wineries before becoming the Pisoni Estate and Lucia winemaker in 2002.

THE WINE
The Pisoni Family produces one wine each year under the label bearing its name: Pisoni Estate Pinot Noir. Although actual quantities vary with fruit yields, typical production is a mere 500 cases annually. Often noted for their deep color and intensity, wines from Pisoni Vineyards offer complex flavors and layers of undulating texture. The rocky mountain soil and the long, cool growing season provide the fundamental character of the wine, and the tannin and acid structure contribute to the age-worthiness.

LUCIA
Lucia vineyard designated Santa Lucia Highlands AVA wines. Lucia is the sister label of the Pisoni Estate wines. Whereas Pisoni Estate is committed to a single expression of the Pisoni Vineyards, Lucia represents the collection of vineyards that the Pisoni Family farms: Pisoni Vineyards, Soberanes Vineyard and Garys' Vineyard (the latter two farmed in partnership with Gary Franscioni).

The wines of Lucia are vineyard designated Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Syrah from these vineyards and eponymous Santa Lucia Highlands AVA cuvées with varying percentages of each vineyard blended together. Lucia wines are made alongside the Pisoni Estate wines using the same exacting standards for quality. They are sold via mailing list and high-end restaurants and retailers. If you are on the mailing list for Pisoni Estate wines, you will automatically have the opportunity to purchase the Lucia offerings.

WWW.PISONIVINEYARDS.COM

11/03 BRANDON SPARKS-GILLIS, DRAGONETTE CELLARS, ROSS COBB, COBB WINES

BRANDON SPARKS-GILLIS – PARTNER, DRAGONETTE CELLARS

OUR MISSION
Inspired by the great wines of the world, and following in the footsteps of our mentors, we formed Dragonette Cellars a decade ago. We are committed to getting our hands dirty; personally executing each step in the winegrowing and winemaking process, from vineyard management decisions, to harvest (often in multiple passes through the blocks), to fermentation, and finally to blending and bottling. We know that only through our constant and meticulous attention to detail, underpinned by experience and overriding passion, can our wines reach their full potential. Dragonette Cellars is located on the Los Olivos Promenade.

Principal Varietals: Grenache, Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc, Syrah

UPCOMING EVENTS:

Thursday 11/20 6-9pm Winemaker Dinner at Meritage, Encinitas
MERITAGE WINE MARKET, ENCINITAS, CA
Join us at the newly remodeled Meritage Wine Market for an intimate winemaker dinner. SOLD OUT!

Friday 11/21 4 - 8 pm Winemaker Pouring
THE WINE CRUSH, LONG BEACH, CA
The Wine Crush was one of the first merchants in California to showcase our early wines, and remains a favorite of ours; their Central Coast wine selection is top notch. Join us as we return to pour our latest releases and share stories of our recently completed harvest season.

DRAGONETTECELLARS.COM


ROSS COBB – WINEMAKER, COBB WINES

ABOUT ROSS COBB
Since founding Cobb Wines with his father in 2001, Ross Cobb has guided Cobb’s winemaking program, championing a complex, cool-climate style of pinot noir that captures the sophistication of the Sonoma Coast. Approaching his work with an extreme dedication to craft—in both viticulture and winemaking—Ross has quietly earned a reputation as a pinot noir specialist, producing benchmark single-vineyard wines. In the winery, Ross applies traditional techniques and a gentle hand to capture the personality of each vineyard, while emphasizing quality and complexity at every stage of winemaking.

Ross was born in Northern California, and traveled widely with his family throughout his youth, visiting Europe, Asia, Africa, and living in the Middle East. While working toward a degree in biology at the University of California, Santa Cruz, Ross began helping his father David with the planting of Coastlands Vineyard on the Sonoma Coast. Working in the vineyard on weekends and summers, Ross fell in love with the process of growing grapes and switched his major to agroecology and sustainable agriculture.

After earning his degree, Ross joined the team at Ferrari-Carano Vineyards and Winery in Dry Creek Valley, where he established a soils laboratory and winery research team. At the same time, Ross remained deeply involved at Coastlands Vineyard, making his own non-commercial, small-lot pinot noirs each year. He also regularly tasted barrel samples, alongside Bert Williams, of wines being made by Williams Selyem from Coastlands fruit. “As I was making my own wines and tasting what Bert was doing with our fruit,” says Ross, “something happened. I realized how deeply I wanted to make the best wines possible—beautiful wines. To do this, I dedicated myself to learning everything I possibly could about pinot noir viticulture and winemaking.”

Over the next decade, Ross honed his winemaking skills. At the same time, he also narrowed his focus, developing a special talent for crafting Sonoma Coast pinot noirs. Following a stint as the enologist and lab manager for Randall Grahm at Bonny Doon Vineyard, Ross joined the Williams Selyem team as viticulturist and enologist. At Williams Selyem, Ross was able to work alongside Bert Williams and Bob Cabral, while at the same time working with grapes from Coastlands Vineyard. In 2000, Ross joined Flowers Vineyard and Winery as assistant winemaker. While at Flowers, Ross further refined his approach to Sonoma Coast pinot noir, and ultimately took over from Hugh Chappelle as winemaker in 2004.

During his tenure at Flowers, Ross and his father, David, founded Cobb Wines, crafting 130 cases of their inaugural Coastlands Vineyard pinot noir in 2001. As the winemaker for Cobb Wines, Ross divides his energies between the vineyards and winemaking to create singular wines with a clearly defined style. This style highlights a more complex and aromatic, lower-alcohol expression of pinot noir, picked at lower Brix and aged with a modest amount of new French oak. At the same time, Ross is constantly striving to enhance his knowledge, and has traveled to Burgundy eight times in the past eight years, meeting with as many as 100 different winemakers and numerous French coopers to expand his understanding of pinot noir, enhance his barrel program, and further refine his palate.

The Cobb Wines Story
In 2001, two generations of the Cobb family came together to explore a shared passion for pinot noir wines with the founding of Cobb Wines. Focused exclusively on crafting single vineyard, Sonoma Coast pinot noirs, Cobb Wines combines the winegrowing expertise of David Cobb—one of the pioneers of pinot noir viticulture on the far Sonoma Coast—with the winemaking talents of his son, noted Pinot Noir specialist Ross Cobb.

The original seeds for Cobb Wines were planted in 1989, when David began cultivating pinot noir vines at his sustainably farmed Coastlands Vineyard. A marine ecologist by trade, David spent years studying soils and climatological charts in his search for the ideal place to found his vineyard. His search led him to the ridgetops of the Sonoma Coast, where he believed he would be able to grow grapes perfectly suited to a more complex and graceful style of California pinot noir. On weekend and summer breaks from college, David would be joined in the vineyard by his son Ross, who quickly grew to love the hands-on work of growing winegrapes.

After graduating with a degree in agroecology and sustainable agriculture, Ross embarked on a winemaking career, learning his craft from an array of pinot noir winemakers on two continents. At the same time, Ross and David began making small, homemade lots of noncommercial pinot noir from Coastlands fruit. “We dug a little cellar out under the porch of our house at Coastlands,” says Ross. “We would punch down the wines in little open-top fermentors on the porch and then gravity flow the wine into barrel. Even though it was all very primitive, the wines showed promise, and each year we learned more.”

Though David’s original plan for Coastlands Vineyard was simply to sell grapes to artisan vintners, Ross had a different vision for Coastlands’ exceptional fruit. After spending nearly a decade developing his winemaking skills, he approached his parents with the idea of founding Cobb Wines - a goal that would allow David, Diane and Ross to guide every step of the winemaking process, from the planting of the vineyard to the crafting of sophisticated, cool-climate pinot noirs. This goal was realized in 2001, when David and Ross crafted 130 cases of Cobb Wines’ inaugural “Coastlands Vineyard” pinot noir.

Released in 2003, the wine sold out almost immediately. The following spring, their 2002
“Coastlands Vineyard,” along with 31 pinot noir wines from France and elsewhere around the world, were combined in an “In Pinot Veritas” blind tasting. The event was organized in France by Arnaud Orsel des Sagets of Tonnellerie Francois Freres, one of the world’s most respected producers of wine barrels. When the “Coastlands Vineyard” won First Place, the Cobbs knew they were on their way.

Since then, the Cobb Wines vineyard program has evolved to include four other handtended, independently owned vineyards on the Sonoma Coast. Though these vineyards share certain essential Sonoma Coast characteristics, they each have individual soil types, subtly different microclimates, and unique combinations of pinot noir selections. Not only does this diversity distinguish the Cobb Wines portfolio, it also ensures Ross and David access to excellent fruit every vintage.

In the winery, Ross focuses on a style of pinot noir that authentically reflects the terroir of each vineyard, striving for a more complex, aromatic, lower-alcohol expression of the varietal picked at lower Brix and aged with a modest amount of new French oak. By remaining true to this elegant and complex style, Cobb Wines has earned a reputation for crafting benchmark single-vineyard, Sonoma Coast pinot noirs.

COBBWINES.COM

10/27 DEBORAH CAHN, NAVARRO WINES, KATRIN NAELAPAA, WINES FROM SPAIN, SPAIN'S GREAT MATCH EVENT IN L.A.

DEBORAH CAHN - NAVARRO WINES

Navarro bottled its first wine in 1974. A surprise gift for our fortieth birthday was being named the 2014 Winery of the Year at the California State Fair. Accolades are nice but what is even better is the long-standing support of our mailing list customers which allows us to continue to produce exciting wines at reasonable prices. Navarro has eleven new wines this release: four dry whites, four vigorous reds, two luscious late harvest nectars and a sparkling Brut as a special holiday treat. Three yummy varietal grape juices are also available, so the whole family can celebrate. The case special on the 2013 Chardonnay Table Wine works out to only $12.42 per bottle, which explains why it will grace the holiday tables of so many of Navarro's friends. Pennyroyal's six cheeses, from our sister farm, can enhance your celebrations even further. One-Cent ground freightand reduced air freight for all case orders, as well as bargain prices on case specials and samplers, will be available until December 31, but some wines may sell out sooner.

Navarro Vineyards has been growing grapes sustainably and bottling wine in Mendocino's Anderson Valley since 1974. For almost 40 years our family has produced value-driven wines that have received numerous accolades in wine books & magazines, and wine competitions. You won't find Navarro wines in stores as we prefer to sell our hand-crafted wines directly to the people who enjoy them and welcome our "farm-direct" prices.

WWW.NAVARROWINE.COM


KATRIN NAELAPAA – DIRECTOR, WINES FROM SPAIN - SPAIN'S GREAT MATCH EVENT IN L.A. ON 11/10/14 AT THE BAZAAR BY JOSÉ ANDRÉS

THE TRADE COMMISSION OF SPAIN ANNOUNCES SPAIN’S GREAT MATCH 2014 IN LOS ANGELES

Prominent Spanish Wine and Food event to be held at Renowned Restaurant, The Bazaar by José Andrés

The Trade Commission of Spain announces the Spain’s Great Match event will take place on November 10th in Los Angeles at the renowned restaurant, The Bazaar by José Andrés. This collaborative extravaganza of Spanish culture celebrates the distinctive wines, food and design of Spain. Over 200 wines representing the varietals and wine regions of Spain will be featured in a walk-around tasting format. American importers and distributors of Spanish wines will present their best products, including new wines and the latest vintages, to wine industry professionals and consumers.  Earlier in the day, members of the wine trade and press will also be invited to a tutored tasting seminar, showcasing Spain’s new power couple, D.O. Rueda and D.O. Ribera del Duero. In the evening, the event will open to the public as a ticketed lifestyle event and will feature, along with the wine stations, a selection of tapas by The Bazaar by José Andrés. A portion of event proceeds will benefit a Los Angeles charitable organization.

About Wines from Spain
The Spanish Institute for Foreign Trade (Instituto Español de Comercio Exterior, ICEX) is the authorized governmental platform for the promotion of Spanish exports and Spanish companies' international growth. Vinos de España - or Wines from Spain - is ICEX's brand for a wide range of promotional activities designed to inform trade and consumers abroad about quality Spanish wines. Wines from Spain has been promoting Spanish wines in walk-around tastings to press, trade and consumers in New York and the United States for nearly 30 years.  Each year, Wines from Spain hosts “Spain's Great Match”- an opportunity to sample and learn about a variety of the world’s most sought-after Spanish wines paired with tapas from the top rated area Spanish restaurants.

BIO:
Katrin Naelapaa was raised in Mexico City and studied at Georgetown University, which included a study-abroad stint in Madrid. After a successful finance career, Naelapaa decided to study wine and food, and enrolled at ICE. In her close to nearly 15 years at the trade group Wines from Spain, Naelapaa has developed a multitude of educational and promotional programs to increase American awareness of Spanish wines. She has expanded Wines from Spain’s presence in national food and wine events, and has launched stand-alone programs like Great Match: Wine & Tapas. Naelapaa also spearheaded the publication of Wines from Spain: Far from Ordinary Wine Guide. When she is not busy throwing one of her celebrated dinners, she practices her other passion and sings with the Oratorio Society of New York at Carnegie Hall.

WWW.WINESFROMSPAINUSA.COM

10/20 JASON PUGACH, NATASHA SWORDS, CALIFORNIA WINEMASTERS EVENTS, VINFORT 2014, KATRINA FREY. FREY VINEYARDS

JASON PUGACH  & NATASHA SWORDS - CALIFORNIA WINEMASTERS EVENT - VINFORT 11/7/14

THE CALIFORNIA WINEMASTERS launches vinfort 2014 for cognac, port and late harvest wine fans  a Charity Event Raising Money for Cystic Fibrosis Foundation!

California Winemasters is launching the inaugural VinFort event for those who appreciate Cognacs, ports and late harvest wines, this November 7th.

“The California Winemasters is excited to offer something a little new and different to wine-tasters who enjoy fortified wines as much as they do a bottle of wine. The timing is perfect too! Just before holiday season.” – says Barbara Balik, Director of Special Giving at Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

VinFort will pour Cognacs, ports and late harvest wine brands within the Jeanie Madsen and Hamilton Galleries on Ocean Boulevard in Santa Monica, on November 7th, 2014 from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.

“ From Norton Late Harvest Wines to Ye Olde King’s Head Shoppe Christmas pies – there will be an array of Cognacs and other fortified wine brands, as well holiday inspired foods to get us all in the mood,” says Natasha Swords of Swords PR, who is responsible for the event’s logistics. “Art for the eyes, fortified wines for the palate, and live jazz for the ears too! Local restaurants will be there too to keep our tummies satisfied with their signature holiday fare. It’s set to be an exceptionally unique evening!”

Tickets are available at www.vinfortsantamonica.com. Only three hundred will go on sale today and will likely sell out during September.

The California Winemasters is a perennial Wine Spectator Top 10 Charity Wine Auction set for May 16, 2015 at Warner Bros. Studios in Burbank.  This extraordinary event showcases 50 international chefs and 75 of California’s Finest Wineries.  “Winemasters” has raised over $27 million in support of the mission of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.
2014 marks the first year for its VinFort event.

The CF Foundation is a nonprofit donor-supported organization dedicated to attacking cystic fibrosis from every angle.  Its focus is to support the development of new drugs to fight the disease, improve the quality of life for those with CF and ultimately, to find a cure.

CALIFORNIAWINEMASTERS.ORG


KATRINA FREY - EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, FREY VINEYARDS            

Frey Vineyards – A History of America's First Organic Winery

Paul Sr. and Beba Frey grew up a few blocks apart in the gritty New York City of the 1930's and 40's. Paul relished his summer escapes to the Poconos Mountains, Pennsylvania. And Beba found bliss each summer on a Catskill Mountains dairy farm (see photo above). Each vowed to escape the city permanently. They later met and married in medical school. While their family grew, they longed for a life closer to nature and finally settled down in Northern California in the early 1960's on their ranch in Redwood Valley, Mendocino County. The 12 children grew up instilled with love and respect for the natural environment, and picked up gardening, farming, and agricultural skills, as their parents had dreamed.  Paul Sr. and Beba rounded out their children’s education by schooling them in the sciences, history, literature, classical arts and music, as well as appreciation for world cuisines paired with wine.

In the late 1960's, Paul and Beba and the older kids planted Cabernet Sauvignon and Gray Riesling on the ranch's old pastureland and sold the fruit to nearby wineries. A decade later, brothers Jonathan and Matthew realized the vineyards' potential when a Cabernet Sauvignon grown by Frey's grapes won a gold medal for a Santa Cruz winery. Frey Vineyards was bonded the next year, in 1980, and soon after became the first organic winery in U.S.

The eldest brother Jonathan and his wife Katrina studied organic agriculture under the tutorship of Alan Chadwick, a green-thumb guru of the California 70's. At the winery's inception, Jonathan introduced high integrity organic practices that are still in place today.  Brother Matthew, learned the mechanical and technical skills of the wine business when working at nearby wineries. A final touch to the new winery's credo was that the wine would be made not only from organically grown grapes, but without any added sulfites. In the late 1980's, Paul Frey Jr. returned from the University of California at Santa Cruz to help perfect the techniques for making wine without the synthetic sulfite preservative, and is today our main winemaker. In 1996, Luke Frey spearheaded the conversion of our estate vineyards to biodynamic cultivation, making Frey Vineyards the first producer of certified Demeter Biodynamic wines in North America.

We are pleased that many local wineries and grape growers have become certified organic and biodynamic as well, for the health of our common environment as well as our customers. Today, a third of all organic grapes in California are grown in Mendocino County, and 15 wineries making wines from organically grown grapes are located here – more than any county in the U.S. The trend of organic grape growing is rapidly spreading in Napa and Sonoma Counties, and across the U.S. Frey Vineyards is the largest of the very few wineries to have taken on the challenge of producing a true organic wine, made with no added sulfites – a practice that is now tradition for our family.

Today, more than 30 years since the founding of Frey Vineyards, many of the 12 children and spouses work for the family business. As organic food production is reaching new heights in the U.S., we hope the trend never stops, benefiting taste buds, planet, and the future generations.

About Katrina Frey:
There aren't many jobs Katrina hasn't worked at Frey Vineyards. She has worn the hat of grape-picker, bottler, saleswoman – you name it! Katrina developed our sales and marketing branch and acts as our office manager. In addition to her work at the winery Katrina is the President of the Board of Demeter USA (our national Biodynamic certification agency). She gives her time generously to organic issues such as non-GMO activism and food safety, as well as Mendocino County's local Phoenix Hospice.

Under Katrina's community minded guidance Frey Vineyards has generously donated product and funds to local and national environmental and social justice charities and non-profits. As a leader in the organic industry since day one, Katrina has been a featured speaker at Natural Products Expo East, the All Things Organic trade show and the Sustainable Brands conference.

WWW.FREYWINE.COM

10/13 STU SMITH, SMITH-MADRONE, GARY PISONI, PISONI VINEYARDS

STU SMITH - GENERAL PARTNER & ENOLOGIST, SMITH-MADRONE

Brothers Stuart and Charles Smith are the vineyard managers and winemakers of Smith-Madrone Winery.  Also in the family attic is the Fetherolf family, German farmers from the Palatinate region, who came to America on the Good Ship Thistle in 1730.  The name for the winery came as a tribute to the Smith brothers who pursued their dream and to the Madrone trees which distinguish the property.

In May 1971, with a partnership of family and friends, Stuart Smith bought the ‘terroir’ which today is Smith-Madrone Vineyards & winery. He was 22 years old and had just received his B.A. in Economics from UC Berkeley and was taking classes towards his Master’s in Viticulture at UC Davis. In trying to find land to plant vineyard in the Napa Valley, through a family friend he explored a forest on the remotest and highest part of Spring Mountain and discovered that the land had been a vineyard in the 1880s and in fact had been part of the wagon trail route between Napa and Santa Rosa. Today he is respected for his expertise and leadership as a mountain vineyardist.

Stuart was born and raised in Santa Monica.  While pursuing his master’s at UC Davis, Stuart was the first teaching assistant for wine industry pioneers Maynard Amerine and Vernon Singleton in 1970-1971. He taught enology at Santa Rosa Junior College and Napa Valley College; he has chaired the 1986 and 2006 Napa Valley Wine Auctions.  He is an active member of the G.O.N.A.D.S. (the Gastronomical Order for Nonsensical and Dissipatory Society), a group of Napa Valley vintners who started getting together for monthly lunches in the 1980s. He served on Napa County’s Watershed Task Force for several years, appointed by the Board of Supervisors; in 2006 he was appointed again by the Board of Supervisors to sit on Napa County General Plan Steering Committee, responsible for updating Napa’s General Plan, a three year project. Stu also serves as auctioneer for an Omaha (NB) charity auction every year.

Stuart served as Scout Master for St. Helena’s (Boy Scout) Troop One for many years. He is an avid canoeist, having canoed through the Quetico Wilderness in Canada many times and often canoes the Klamath and Trinity Rivers in California. He has five children and one grand-child; the family includes a photographer, beekeeper/artist, management information specialist, up-and-coming winemaker, distributor salesman and high school sophomore.

WWW.SMITHMADRONE.COM


GARY PISONI – PISONI VINEYARDS                                                    

A special place, Pisoni Vineyards expresses the land and climate of the Santa Lucia Highlands and the spirit of the Pisoni Family. The site is a source of exceptional Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Syrah.

First planted by Gary Pisoni in 1982, Pisoni Vineyards consists of small vineyard blocks arranged on and around the ridges of the mountainous landscape. Ranging in size from one-half to seventeen acres, the vineyard blocks perch at an altitude of 1,300 feet in the granite-laced mountains of the coastal Santa Lucia Range.

Inspired by the Burgundy tradition of having several wineries source fruit from the same vineyard, Gary Pisoni has formed relationships with some of the most prestigious Pinot Noir producers in California. With agreements based on handshake alone, these wineries are guaranteed specific rows and blocks each year. They purchase grapes at a per-acre price rather than a per-ton price, which maintains the focus on quality and not yields.

In addition to supplying fruit to artisan producers of vineyard-designated wines, the Pisoni Family retains a portion of the vineyard for the production of Pisoni Estate wine.

THE PRACTICE
Vineyard management is meticulous. Under Mark Pisoni's leadership, a long-time permanent crew of 18 skilled individuals perform all the work by hand. Every decision implements sustainable farming practices and long-term considerations. This commitment, combined with the rocky soils and cold Monterey Bay weather, produce serious and compelling wines.

THE FAMILY
In 1952 Jane and Eddie Pisoni began farming vegetables in the fertile Salinas Valley. A celery-crop profit in 1979 provided the down payment for the Santa Lucia Highlands property that became Pisoni Vineyards. Their love for the land provided the place where their son Gary could realize his dreams. Gary developed a love of wine while attending college. He started collecting fine French and German wines, and he made his first wine in his garage in 1978 at the age of twenty-five. In 1982, Gary broke ground and planted the first vines at Pisoni Vineyards. He was up against many obstacles, including not having a water source at the time.

Mark Pisoni, the vineyard manager, completed a B.S. in Agricultural Economics at the University of California, Davis, and an M.S. in Farm Business Management at Cornell University. He oversees the meticulous care of both Pisoni Vineyards and Pisoni Farms.  Jeff Pisoni is the winemaker. He earned a B.S. in Enology at California State University, Fresno, and got hands-on experience at premium wineries before becoming the Pisoni Estate and Lucia winemaker in 2002.

THE WINE
The Pisoni Family produces one wine each year under the label bearing its name: Pisoni Estate Pinot Noir. Although actual quantities vary with fruit yields, typical production is a mere 500 cases annually. Often noted for their deep color and intensity, wines from Pisoni Vineyards offer complex flavors and layers of undulating texture. The rocky mountain soil and the long, cool growing season provide the fundamental character of the wine, and the tannin and acid structure contribute to the age-worthiness.

LUCIA
Lucia vineyard designated Santa Lucia Highlands AVA wines. Lucia is the sister label of the Pisoni Estate wines. Whereas Pisoni Estate is committed to a single expression of the Pisoni Vineyards, Lucia represents the collection of vineyards that the Pisoni Family farms: Pisoni Vineyards, Soberanes Vineyard and Garys' Vineyard (the latter two farmed in partnership with Gary Franscioni).

The wines of Lucia are vineyard designated Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Syrah from these vineyards and eponymous Santa Lucia Highlands AVA cuvées with varying percentages of each vineyard blended together. Lucia wines are made alongside the Pisoni Estate wines using the same exacting standards for quality. They are sold via mailing list and high-end restaurants and retailers. If you are on the mailing list for Pisoni Estate wines, you will automatically have the opportunity to purchase the Lucia offerings.

WWW.PISONIVINEYARDS.COM

10/06 DAVID HUNT, HUNT CELLARS, FR. BILL NICHOLAS, THE 2014 SIMI VALLEY DREAM CUISINE

DAVID HUNT – OWNER & WINEMAKER, HUNT CELLARS

Our Story
It started over 20 years ago as a fantasy: living on a lush beautiful vineyard, producing your own style of favorite premium varietal wines that are well received and appreciated by those who have discovered the wines and shared them amongst friends.

Now, drive along the scenic Highway 46 West, about three miles west of the 101 Fwy at Oakdale Road, you will find this dream has become reality for David Hunt, Winemaker and owner of Hunt Cellars, a winery committed to producing “Memorable Wines”. We believe that great wines leave indelible impressions when poured with wonderful meals and great friends and scintillating conversations. Hunt Cellars was founded on the philosophy of producing wines that you will look forward to simply sipping by a cozy fireplace or pairing with your favorite meals to enhance that special event or moment in time.

How It Began
When The Hunt Family decided to pursue their dream they were uncertain where they would choose to build their vineyard. The Hunts spent exhaustive days and weekends traveling to various premium wine regions from Oregon, Washington, and throughout the State of California. They finally narrowed their decision down to the Central coast to San Luis Obispo County. Paso Robles was selected because of its rich diversity in soils, superb growing climate and unique styles of wine making along with the spirit of graciousness and traditional American values.

Eventually after looking at numerous parcels of vineyard potential property, they settled on uniquely beautiful property containing over 550 acres on Highway 41 in Creston. This unique property met their criteria in topography, soil composition and unparralled beauty. Within the 550 acres there are four terrior’s with varying elevations containing soil composites that mirror the great wine regions of the world. They were convinced that they could grow wonderful exciting intense fruit here on this property.

Destiny Hunt
The Hunt Family decided to name their vineyard, “Destiny Vineyards,” in honor of their new baby girl they named Destiny who was born in 1996. Just ask Destiny who has the best wines today and she will certainly tell you.

Destiny Vineyard’s first planting consisted of: Cabernet Sauvignon, Sangiovese, Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot, Syrah, Petite Syrah, Cab Franc, Viognier and Zinfandel. The Hunts decided to build a tasting room for their premium wines, which opened in October of 1999.

In 1997 they began producing their first releases of memorable wines… Experience has taught Hunts that in order to make great wines you must simply have the best fruit. At Hunt Cellars, we believe passion, hard work and never giving up until we have put together all the components and structure that will give our wine the varietal character, flavor and velvet finish that will become a trademark of our wines.

View of Destiny Vineyards
As you enter The Hunt Cellars Tasting room, the fun wine experience begins, as you are greeted with either live music or our white grand player piano, which can play any song. Stroll up to our Cabernet Bar, where our warm and friendly staff are eager to lead you through a light hearted and fun sampling of our wines. You may also choose to sip your wines on our spacious 1200 foot veranda, smoke your favorite cigar under our pavilion or simply stroll through our lush inviting landscaped lawns. We want you and your guest to simply have a wonderful time at Hunt Cellars and bring your friends and family back on your next visit to the Paso Robles Wine Country.

How Hunt Cellars Wines Differ from Others
There are many different wineries in the Paso Robles area; few compare to the quality of Hunt Cellars. Hunt uses only the best and rarest mountain grown fruit to produce the best harvest of grapes. Their vineyard’s location has been specifically chosen for its composition and diversity – every step of the production process is designed so Hunt Cellars produces the highest caliber of wine for you to enjoy.

HUNTCELLARS.COM


FR. BILL NICHOLAS - THE 2014 SIMI VALLEY DREAM CUISINE - OCTOBER 12, 5PM

Welcome to The 2014 Simi Valley Dream Cuisine. Sunday, Oct. 12, 2014 | 5 PM

Enjoy an exciting evening of delicious gourmet foods and beverages from many of the area’s finest restaurants, bakeries, wineries and breweries. Dine under the stars on a wide range of fine foods and beverages from the best restaurants in Simi Valley, Moorpark, Thousand Oaks, and the San Fernando Valley. And dance the night away to musical performances by wonderful live bands.

The Simi Valley Dream Cuisine gives you the opportunity to dine on gourmet foods from the finest restaurants in the Conejo and San Fernando Valleys—all in one place in one night! You can enjoy food from many different restaurants, sip on fine wines from some the most prestigious wineries, drink beer from well-known breweries and taste desserts, coffees and teas from outstanding bakeries, coffee houses and eateries.  The event offers just about any kind of food you can imagine.

“The Simi Valley Dream Cuisine is quickly becoming the premiere wine & food festival in Ventura County. Where else can you eat and drink to your heart’s content, plus enjoy entertainment, a silent auction and raffle drawing, all for one low price?” says Father Shea, pastor of St. Rose of Lima Church.

Guests enjoy the fact that they can sit and enjoy the food, drinks and entertainment while sampling food from the many vendors. Live music and entertainment is also provided throughout the evening, and a dance floor is available if the mood strikes you.

Contact St. Rose of Lima today to see how your restaurant, brewery, winery, coffee house, bakery or eatery can be featured at this year’s event.

This is a great way to attract new customers! Opportunities are also available for sponsorship and advertising in the full-color program, which is seen by the audience of almost 2,000+ people.
Amazing raffle prizes includes a large cash lump sum or a luxury automobile, a Hawaiian vacation and a flat-screen television.

A free shuttle service makes getting there a breeze. Special packages are also offered at local hotels. For more information, call (805) 526-1732.

Late Nite Catechism
Join us this year as we bring everyone's favorite nuns to the stage with the popular Late Nite Catechism show! This is part catechism class, part stand-up routine. It’s an interactive comedy, one of the longest running shows in Chicago and U.S. theater history. The New York Times calls it, "hilarious, well-written and inspired." Jeffrey Lyons from TV’s Sneak Previews calls Late Nite Catechism "something to savor and enjoy....one of the most intimate, rewarding shows in town." You, the audience member, are part of Sister’s class. She’ll take you back to the days of the Latin Mass, meatless Fridays, and remind you about that good old ruler across the knuckles!

Be True to Your School!
This year we're celebrating the 50th Anniversary of St. Rose of Lima Catholic School and are honoring all those who have joined in making it one of the finest educational institutions in the area. The school mission is to nurture students to discover their God-given gifts, to encourage them to use these gifts in the service of others, and to empower them to be models of integrity. With the help of gifted educators throughout the years, they continue to do just that!

WWW.SVDREAM.COM

9/29 BRIAN BRAKESMAN, SUMMIT LAKE VINEYARDS & WINERY, ROBIN KELLEY O'CONNOR

BRIAN BRAKESMAN – WINEMAKER, SUMMIT LAKE VINEYARDS & WINERY

Summit Lake Vineyards & Winery is a small, family owned and operated winery located high above the Napa Valley on Howell Mountain, established in 1971 by Bob and Sue Brakesman. The distinctive red soils and micro-climate produce distinctive and outstanding red varietals such as Zinfandel, Petite Sirah and of course Cabernet Sauvignon.

Brian was born and raised on Howell Mountain at Summit Lake Vineyards, a boutique family winery famous for its Zinfandel. Working alongside his parents and siblings, Brian developed an appreciation for the art and culture of winemaking, learning every step of the process from vine to bottle.

To formalize his education, Brian studied agricultural engineering at Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo. Here, he learned of his exceptional aptitude for identifying the intricate details of wine composition and terrior, and further developed his intuitive grasp of the elements essential to winemaking.

After graduation, Brian spent a year traveling the world to broaden and develop his knowledge of wine, stopping for a season of wine and rugby in New Zealand. Wanderlust abated, and palate for worldly wines temporarily satiated, Brian returned home to Napa Valley. He immediately began working with acclaimed consulting winemaker John Gibson, formally of Stags Leap Wine Cellars and Vine Cliff Winery. Here, Brian helped John make wines for celebrated clients including Snowden Vineyards, Andrew Geoffrey, and Salexis.

After apprenticing with Gibson for 3 years, Brian became the Assistant Winemaker for Duckhorn Wine Company's Paraduxx Winery. Under famed winemaker Bill Nancarrow’s tutelage, Brian learned to balance the complexities of large-scale winemaking with the high standards and intricacies associated with top-notch, legacy brands.

4 years later, Brian was hungry to run the show and accepted the Winemaker position at Ledson Winery in Sonoma. Employing the skills and unique enological insights developed over his lifetime, Brian made over 82 wines per vintage from a catalog of diverse growing regions over his 4-year tenure at Ledson, and significantly elevated the quality of wines and brand. .

Today Brian is the Winemaker at Summit Lake Vineyards & Winery, Consulting Winemaker, Owner at burgeoning Red Thread Wine Company, and lives with his wife and children just around the corner from his family winery on Howell Mountain.

WWW.SUMMITLAKEVINEYARDS.COM


ROBIN KELLEY O'CONNOR - WINE EDUCATOR, INTERNATIONAL WINE JUDGE, WINE WRITER, AND SOMMELIER

A leading wine educator, international wine judge, wine writer, and sommelier, Robin Kelley O’Connor joined Italian Wine Merchants (IWM), and its dynamic team where he has been adding his thirty years of experience, authority and passion to seminars, dinner events, sales, offerings and wine education. IWM is the leading purveyor of fine Italian wines in the country, as well as a specialist in providing great, rare and collectable wines of Burgundy, Bordeaux, Champagne, California and Rioja In his role at IWM, he has the occasion to offer an unparalleled spectrum of wine and collector services such as cellar management, IWM’s proprietary online wine cellar tracking tool, wine appraisal and consignment assistance--and more.

He was Head of Wine & Lead Specialist, Americas, for Christie’s Auction House. In his role at Christie’s, Robin was responsible for wine auctions and private sales of fine and rare wines for the Americas, and had the role as the department's lead business-getter in securing consignments for sale.  Mr. O’Connor is a Christie’s trained charity auctioneer. Prior to Christie’s, he was Director of Sales and Education for Manhattan wine and spirits retailer Sherry-Lehmann, winner of Wine Enthusiast Magazine’s 2010 Wine Retailer of the Year Award.  Preceding Sherry-Lehmann, he was Trade Liaison and director of trade and consumer education in the Americas for the Bordeaux Wine Bureau (Conseil Interprofessionnel du Vin de Bordeaux) for 20 years. As a Bordeaux International Educator he remains very active in teaching Bordeaux.

A native of Maryland, Mr. O’Connor began studying wine while still a student at the University of Maryland. He started his wine career in London as sommelier at Le Chateaubriand Restaurant in the prestigious May Fair Hotel and went on to earn a diploma from the Wine & Spirits Education Trust (DWS). He holds Certified Specialist of Wine (CSW) and Certified Wine Educator (CWE) certifications from the Society of Wine Educators and passed the Court of Master Sommeliers’ Certified Sommelier exam. As a popular wine educator and spokesperson, he has conducted over 2500 seminars around the world on a variety of topics within the world of wine. He has written for the Trenton Times, Santé Magazine, Wine & Spirit Magazine and was senior editor for Kevin Zraly’s Windows on the World Complete Wine Course 25th Anniversary Edition. For over a year during 2008-2009 he traveled around the world with Kevin visiting over 20 Countries, 80 wine regions, and 500 appellations and tasted more than 7,000 wines.

O'Connor served as president of the Society of Wine Educators from 2003-2007, is on the board of directors of the New York Chapter of the American Institute of Wine & Food, and has been a regular panelist at the Food and Wine Magazine Classic in Aspen for 20 years. He has put his palate to test as an International Wine Judge in Australia, Chile, France, and Italy. For many years he judged at the prestigious Los Angeles International Wine & Spirits Competition; San Francisco International Wine Competition and The Dallas Morning News Competition among countless others. For the past 16 years he has been a frequent lecturer on Crystal Cruises sharing his passion about wine and food. For the last four years he has been coaching DeVinimus-Columbia University Law School Wine Club competition team for international contests. In addition he is a regular lecturer at the International Culinary Center (formerly known as the French Culinary Institute). Among his many professional honors, Mr. O’Connor bears the distinction of having been inducted into the wine world’s most prestigious institutions, including the Commanderie du Bontemps de Médoc- des Graves et de Sauternes-Barsac, the Jurade de Saint-Emilion and Les Hospitaliers de Pomerol.

WWW.RKOVINE.COM   
WWW.ITALIANWINEMERCHANTS.COM

9/22 GREG LILL, DELILLE CELLARS, MORGEN MCLAUGHLIN, CELEBRATION OF HARVEST

GREG LILL - PRESIDENT / CEO, DELILLE CELLARS (WASHINGTON)

DeLille Cellars is a boutique artisan winery located in Woodinville, Washington. The winery was founded in 1992 by Charles and Greg Lill, Jay Soloff and celebrated winemaker Chris Upchurch. The mission at DeLille Cellars has always been to create a new Bordeaux blend using Washington State vineyards. From the beginning, the winery has looked towards the prestigious Red Mountain AVA as the foundation of its wines, using grapes from its own vineyards in combination with fruit from other top sites in the Yakima Valley.

In 1992, the winery pioneered its Chaleur Estate Rouge and D2, both blends of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc. The team at DeLille believed that blending Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot in the traditional style would create wines in which each varietal would contribute its own attributes and would create classically structured wines in which the whole is greater than the sum of the parts, wines that showcase the purity of fruit that defines Washington State terroir, a “first growth” wine from some of the oldest vines in the state. This belief remains one of the winery’s guiding principles today.

In 1994, DeLille Cellars was fortunate to acquire the rights to Harrison Hill vineyard which had some of the oldest vines in the Washington. Now, with vines over 50 years old, Harrison Hill has become one of the most sought after Bordeaux blends in the state.

Observing the Bordeaux tradition of blending varietals together, in 1995 the team at DeLille chose to make a barrel fermented blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon for our first white wine:  DeLille’s Chaleur Estate Blanc. We knew this would create a wine with more complexity, diverse aromas and classic structure than many White varietal wines and which would pair well with a wide variety of food.  From the first, we achieved nuances of white flowers, sweet grass, honey suckle, creamy crème brûlée, toasted almonds and more.  Over the years, Chaleur Estate Blanc has shown us all just how well a properly structured white wine can age.


WWW.DELILLECELLARS.COM


MORGEN MCLAUGHLIN - EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, SB VINTNERS CELEBRATION OF HARVEST FESTIVAL 2014 (OCT10-13)

The Santa Barbara Vintners is pleased to announce the dates and schedule of events for the 24th Annual Celebration of Harvest Weekend October 10-13, 2014 in Santa Barbara Wine Country. The popular fall weekend celebrates the grape harvest when the nearly one hundred and fifty members of the association come together to share harvest tales and pour wine at the Festival Grand Tasting, participate in collaborative events like the new Friday night kick-off La Paulée dinner, and host individual tasting room open houses and vineyard walks. Tickets for the Festival and related events are on sale now at www.celebrationofharvest.com.

The highlight of the Celebration of Harvest Weekend is the Festival... a Grand Tasting and Silent Auction on Saturday, October 11 at Old Mission Santa Inés. Taste wine from all 100+ winery members, enjoy food sampling from the area’s finest restaurants, caterers, and food purveyors, and listen to live music.

WWW.SBCOUNTYWINES.COM 
WWW.CELEBRATIONOFHARVEST.COM

9/15 JOE SHIRLEY, NAPA CELLARS, MARY ROCCA, ROCCA FAMILY VINEYARDS

JOE SHIRLEY - WINEMAKER, NAPA CELLARS 

In 1839, settler George Calbert Yount planted the first wine grapes in the Napa Valley where fruit and nut trees already flourished in the valley’s rare soils and mild Mediterranean climate. Other pioneers soon followed Yount’s lead and by 1861, the valley’s first commercial winery had opened its doors.  Destiny quickly found its course. Just 28 years later, more than 140 wineries had been established.

Two historic events led to the Napa Valley we know today.

In 1968, Napa Valley winery owners and grape growers joined forces to have Napa Valley declared the country’s first agricultural preserve. The timing couldn’t have been more perfect. City sprawl and freeways soon transformed nearby agricultural regions into bedroom communities for San Francisco. Napa was protected.

Then in 1976, a blind tasting held in Paris pitted a Napa Valley wine against the best wines of Bordeaux and Burgundy. The Napa Valley wine won, and the world’s perception of Napa Valley changed forever.

The same year that Napa was granted the status of agricultural preserve, self-made man Charlie R. Woods founded our winery on five and a half acres of prime Oakville soil. In the 1970s, he built a geodesic dome there to store barreled wine, and he concentrated on making reds, in particular Zinfandel and Cabernet Sauvignon.

The winery changed hands a number of times before being purchased in 1996 by Koerner Rombauer and Rich Frank. That’s when we earned our reputation for rich, buttery Chardonnay—a style that was becoming popular in the United States at the time.

A decade later, the Trinchero family was looking for a winery property that would capture the essence of Napa. Napa Cellars, with its ideal Oakville location and fame for luscious Chardonnay and authentic Napa reds, was the obvious choice. Winemaker Joe Shirley came on board a year later, in 2007. He has since introduced French oak to our Chardonnay for a more balanced and contemporary style of wine.

Though Napa Valley is small—30 miles long and only a few miles across as its widest point—its varied microclimates and soils make it possible to successfully grow a variety of wine grapes. That gives us the luxury to choose the best fruit for each wine we make without ever having to look beyond the Napa Valley.

BIO                                                                                                                                              
Joe is that rare bird known as a California native. He was born in Long Beach, raised in Napa Valley and after high school headed back down south to earn his Bachelor of Arts degree in Exercise Physiology from Occidental College in Los Angeles.

“I was pre-med and interested in sports medicine,” Joe says. “Then at a barbecue at Maynard Amerine’s house I met a few people from the wine world, drank some wine and thought, ‘Hmmm, this is fun’.”

Just a short time later, Joe enrolled at the University of California, Davis where he received a Master of Science in Enology. After college, Joe launched his winemaking career at Sonoma-Cutrer in 1997. He joined Trinchero Family Estates in 1999 as enologist and worked his way up to winemaker for Trinchero Family Selection and Trinchero Napa Wines in 2002. In 2007, Joe accepted the position as head winemaker for Napa Cellars.

“I don’t try to put a big winemaker signature on my wines,” Joe says. “When you’re fortunate enough to work with Napa Valley fruit, the vineyards add the character and sensibilities to the wine that I like to see.”

Beyond the artistic side of winemaking, Joe is also a leader in the technical aspects of his craft. His work on grape seed tannins was published in the American Journal of Enology and Viticulture. Joe also researched and a co-authored a letter published in the Lancet (the British equivalent of the Journal of the American Medical Association) on the phenolic content of chocolate.

Joe makes his home in Napa with wife Monette and daughter Savannah. In his spare time Joe follows baseball, enjoys beer and power tools, and does the NY Times’ Sunday crossword puzzle in pen. Joe once bowled a 252.

NAPACELLARS.COM



MARY ROCCA – PROPRIETOR, ROCCA FAMILY VINEYARDS

The idea for Rocca Family Vineyards began many years ago, in the minds of proprietors Mary Rocca and Eric Grigsby. Eric grew up with the stories of his father, a Tennessee farmer-turned-salesman, reminding him of their close connection with the earth and the bounty it bore. Mary, born in the rolling hills of northern California, spent many warm summer days working in her mother’s vegetable garden. Picking prunes and walnuts out of nearby orchards late each year inspired an awe for the bountiful harvest a carefully tended plot of land could produce. While launching their respective careers - Mary as a cosmetic dentist, and Eric as a physician - the pair dreamed of the day when they could re-establish this kind of connection with the land they loved.

In 1999, that dream came to fruition. A three-year search for the perfect vineyard finally yielded results: a 21-acre vineyard nestled deep in the heart of the Napa Valley, where the pair had made their home for over a decade. After renaming the new parcel The Grigsby Vineyard, Mary devoted her full attention to the new project, while Eric continued to cultivate a career as one of the nation’s most respected pain management physicians. Mary’s first years in the wine business were hectic, to say the least: With four children under the age of 13, a family grocery store on the West Marin Coast to manage, and the steep learning curve of running the world-class Grigsby Vineyard, just keeping it all together was an achievement in itself.

Mary called upon renowned winemaker Celia Welch Masyczek to produce the label’s first vintages. The debut bottling was the 2000 Syrah, a varietal which to this day garners praise and awards for the Rocca family. But Rocca really got on the map in 2002, when its Grigsby Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon came in #1 in a blind tasting of 12 Rising Star Cabernets at the Vintners Club tasting in the U.S. Later, the wine was taken with a group of 12 other Cabernets to show in France's 12 Best Cabernets from California. It came in #1 over there as well. Finally, those same 12 Cabs had another blind tasting competition in SF to see how they would rank by American consumers. We came in #1 again! Rocca’s star was rising fast.

The following year, Mary purchased the 11-acre Colinetta Vineyard, planted on a small hill in the Coombsville Appellation, several miles east of downtown Napa. These two vineyards produce some of the Valley’s finest winegrapes, and in turn, some of the Valley’s finest wines. In 2008, Celia passed the winemaking baton to Paul Colantuoni, who has continued to produce world-class wines under the Rocca label. His non-interventionist approach to winemaking allows the unique characteristics of each vineyard, and each growing season, to shine.“These sites have all of the pieces in place to make world-class wine, so my job is mainly to stand out of the fruit’s way,” he says.
Years of accolades in the press and popular opinion have established Rocca as one of the industry’s finest wine producers, a reputation the team is happy to uphold.

WWW.ROCCAWINES.COM