06/29 PAULINE LHOTE, DOMAINE CHANDON, DAVID HUNT, HUNT CELLARS

PAULINE LHOTE - WINEMAKER, DOMAINE CHANDON - LIMITED EDITION AMERICAN SUMMER BOTTLES 

As winemaker at Domaine Chandon, Pauline Lhote is responsible for the day-to-day cellar operations, including tirage, crush, blending and dosage trials. To say that Pauline is passionate about Champagne is an understatement. She grew up in Champagne, knew she wanted to make Champagne from an early age and chose her higher education based on attaining that goal.

While earning a National Diploma of winemaking in Reims, Champagne, Pauline gained hands-on experience at Moët & Chandon where she performed maturity controls, winemaking trials and cellar work. Her work there in 2004 coincided with the Champagne house’s increased focus on crafting rosé champagnes, so she spent time creating red wines used in producing rosé sparkling wines, including the coveted Dom Perignon Rosé.

In 2005, Pauline took her experience to another esteemed

Champagne producer, Nicolas Feuillatte, as consulting winemaker, making reds for rosé sparklers in addition to creating more base wines, performing dosage trials and learning the art of blending.

Pauline then felt an urge to have international winemaking experience—but remaining true to her Champagne roots, she set her sights on Domaine Chandon in the Napa Valley, the first French-owned sparkling wine house in California. Pauline arrived in Yountville for a three-month contract in late 2006, fell in love with Napa Valley and stayed.
Today, Pauline leads the winemaking team in crafting America’s premier sparkling wines.

WWW.CHANDON.COM


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

06/22 SANDRA NEWMAN, CEBADA WINE, FORBIDDEN FRUIT ORCHARDS, MICHAEL GREEN

SANDRA NEWMAN - OWNER & WINEMAKER, CEBADA WINE & FORBIDDEN FRUIT ORCHARDS

Cebada Vineyard is part of Forbidden Fruit Orchards, an award-winning boutique farm and winery located between Buellton and Lompoc, just west of the Sta. Rita Hills Appellation.  This working farm sits on 100 acres of stunning property and harvests everything from year round organic blueberries, homemade jams, syrups and applesauce, mulberries, hardy kiwis, avocados, currants, tea, apples, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay wine grapes to rare, amber-colored honey made by the honey bee hives which pollinates the crops.

All of our Estate Wines are grown on a southern slope just 12 miles from the Pacific Ocean and enjoys the cool, coastal weather which preserves the natural acids in the wine without accumulating high sugar contents.  The sandy soil adds a silkiness to the wines.  The east west mountain range of the farm funnels cool, temperate weather inland making Cebada Vineyard perfect terrain for producing great Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.  We are a small case producer, only making wines from fruit grown on our farm.  These are sophisticated Burgundian style wines.

To request a private, by appointment only wine tour and tasting, please go to our website http://www.forbiddenfruitorchards.com/farm#visit.  Let us know the time, date and how many persons will be coming. $45/person ($30 is credited toward a wine purchase). Reservations need to be made in advance; please contact the winemaker Sandra Newman at (805) 735-4648.

FROM SANDY NEWMAN
My passion for the land and being outdoors started early in my life when I learned how to plant my first vegetable garden from my Grandmother. Throughout my childhood, I was the producer of vegetables for my family and the ornamental gardener around the house. It was a given by all that knew me I was destined for Agriculture School. I received my B.S. and M.S. from the University of Delaware in Plant Science.

Years went by and as I painstakingly saved my pennies and was finally able to purchase my own piece of heaven. In 2002, I bought 100 acres in North Santa Barbara County with apple trees. The parcel needed a lot of tender care to get it back on its feet and by the spring of 2003, I planted 2 acres of blueberries on a southern slope about 12 miles east of the ocean under frost protection. I decided to farm them organically and hoped that the blueberry plants would stay evergreen through the winter. Our plants stayed evergreen and did not go dormant. This was important because we could produce fruit off-season and not compete with the large growers. Our season started in September and ended in July. So we planted another 4 acres.

As I watched how our plants preformed, I took note that our fruit had a very long ripening hang time on the plant compared to other blueberry locations. My parcel is located at the western edge of the Santa Ynez appellation (where the movie Sideway’s was filmed). The east west mountain range funnels cool, temperate weather inland making for great Pinot Noir and Chardonnay vineyards. This allows us to let the fruit hang and ripen slowly adding wonderful flavors but maintaining its crispness.
In 2005, we planted about 200 tea plants (Camellia sinensis) as a trial planting in conjunction with the University of California, Small Farms Co-operative Extension. In 2007, planted 6.2 acres of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay and made our first wines in 2011. In 2007-2008, we also planted Pakistani mulberries, currants, hardy kiwis and avocados.

WWW.CEBADAWINE.COM 


WINE CELEB MICHAEL GREEN                

ABOUT MICHAEL:
As wine consultant to Gourmet Magazine for 20 years, a highly sought after personality on national television (MSNBC, CNN, The Food Network, Today Show) and at major wine & food festivals worldwide, Michael’s range and depth of experience is unmatched in the industry.

Harnessing the power of food and drink to build relationships, Michael is able to articulate a company’s mission through the exploration of wine, cocktail mixology, and food, making him a favorite talent for blue-chip companies worldwide who want to create memorable brand-building events.

No one is more knowledgeable about wine, or the business and pleasure of food and drink, than Michael Green. And just as important, no one makes the subject as accessible and entertaining. Michael’s relentlessly energetic and utterly accessible style effortlessly blends information and audience engagement into an unforgettable experience that is low-pretense, high-impact, and supremely entertaining.

Uniquely, Michael Green understands the language of business as well as he understands the language of food and drink, and crafts customized tasting experiences in synergy with the goals and objectives of your business and your event. To be sure, his experience and knowledge in the epicurean world put him at the top of his field, but it is his ability to translate that knowledge into the vocabulary of his audience that sets him apart.

It is Michael’s unique combination of experience, energizing performances, and fluency in the language of business that has kept clients coming back, again and again, for 25 years.

WWW.MICHAELGREEN.COM

06/15 MICHAEL SILACCI, OPUS ONE WINERY

MICHAEL SILACCI – WINEMAKER, OPUS ONE WINERY

THE STORY
Château Mouton Rothschild winemaker Lucien Sionneau and Robert Mondavi’s son Timothy made the partnership’s first vintage at the Robert Mondavi Winery in 1979. The following year the partners officially announced their joint venture.

In 1981 a single case of the joint venture wine sold for $24,000 at the first Napa Valley Wine Auction – the highest price ever paid for a California wine. In 1982 Robert Mondavi and Baron Philippe de Rothschild began label design. The partners agreed to choose a name of Latin origin for the joint venture, allowing for easy recognition in both English and French. Baron Philippe announced his choice, “Opus,” a musical expression denoting the first masterwork of a composer. Two days later he proposed an additional word: “Opus One”.

The 1979 and 1980 vintages were simultaneously unveiled in 1984 as Opus One’s first release. Opus One then became known as America’s first ultra-premium wine, establishing a category of wine priced by the bottle at $50 and above.

Following Lucien Sionneau’s retirement in 1985, Patrick Léon joined Château Mouton Rothschild as winemaker and Timothy Mondavi as co-winemaker of Opus One.

Three years later, Baron Philippe de Rothschild died in France at the age of 85; and Baroness Philippine de Rothschild took the reins of the family wine business. This same year Opus One exported a share of its 1985 vintage – and became the first ultra-premium California wine to be sold in France, the United Kingdom, Germany and Switzerland. International demand for the wine continued, and in 1999 Opus One celebrated its 20th anniversary by holding vertical tastings and gala dinners in Oakville, New York, Paris and London. In 2001 the release of its 20th vintage – the 1998 – was met with gala events in Tokyo and Hong Kong.

The winery’s board of directors appointed David Pearson CEO in 2004, the first person singly responsible for Opus One. Michael Silacci was thereafter named winemaker, the first to assume full responsibility for viticulture and winemaking.

Constellation Brands, Inc. purchased Robert Mondavi Corporation and assumed 50% ownership of Opus One in 2005. Baroness Philippine de Rothschild and then Constellation Brands President and COO Robert Sands announced the Opus One Accord between Baron Philippe de Rothschild, S.A. and Constellation Brands, Inc. Opus One assumed operating independence in three key areas: vineyard management, domestic and international sales, and administration.

WWW.OPUSONEWINERY.COM

06/08 DAVE MOULTON, BURRELL SCHOOL VINEYARDS AND WINERY, SILICON VALLEY WINE AUCTION, GREG LILL, DELILLE CELLARS

DAVE MOULTON – WINEMAKER, BURRELL SCHOOL VINEYARDS AND WINERY – TALKING ABOUT THE SILICON VALLEY WINE AUCTION (JUNE 20)

Burrell School’s origins date back to 1854 when Lyman J. Burrell settled the rough wilderness that is now home to our winery and Estate vines. Carrying on the more than 130 year old tradition at the School, David and Anne Moulton began development of the Estate vineyard in 1973. At a 1,600 foot elevation, the site faces to the southwest. Soils are a complex mixture of loam and shale due to our close proximity to the San Andreas Fault. Nearby Monterey Bay brings warm days and cool nights. This results in a unique microclimate, perfect for long, slow ripening of cool climate grapes.

Initial plantings were to Chardonnay and Merlot, with Pinot Noir added in 2002. Cultivation and spraying are done with heritage Cletrac tractors; pruning, seasonal operations and picking are all done by hand. From growing to harvesting, the goal is toward the best wine grapes possible in order to produce distinctive, concentrated wines reflective of their mountain home. Once harvest begins, the sure hand of winemaker David Moulton begins its influence. Grapes are harvested at optimal ripeness, crushed in small lots, and fermented with select yeast strains. Barrel selection is tailored to each varietal. Long, slow aging (12 to 18 months in French or American oak barrels) and unfined, unfiltered wines are the key to our winemaking techniques. Bottling follows, with an additional six to twelve months of aging before any wines are released for your enjoyment. Our estate vines yield the Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Merlot, along with Estate Cabernet Franc, Syrah and the exclusive Valedictorian blend from the nearby Pichon Vineyard. Select grapes from other small Santa Cruz Mountains vineyards are also used.

We invite you to visit us and taste as well as experience our rich heritage and award winning wines. The winery is open for your tasting pleasure on Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Tasting Room, located on the site of the original Teacher’s Carriage House, is an intimate area dedicated to showcasing our premium wines. The outside veranda overlooks the Estate vines with spectacular views of the canyons and ridges of the Santa Cruz Mountains. Our Wine Sippers Club offers previews of new wines, as well as invitations to barrel tasting’s and “Back to School” wine tasting dinners. In addition, small private and corporate functions can be hosted during the warm weather months.

ABOUT THE SILICON VALLEY WINE AUCTION:
Join us for an evening of celebration, wine and philanthropy! Welcome to the  premier wine auction and grand tasting of the Silicon Valley benefiting the Silicon Valley Education Foundation (SVEF.) Produced in collaboration with the Santa Cruz Mountains Winegrowers Association, this new wine auction event will be held at Levi’s® Stadium, home of the San Francisco 49ers, on Saturday, June 20, 2015.  The multifaceted Silicon Valley Wine Auction kicks off with a Saturday grand food and wine tasting featuring over 50 vintners  and 150 wines from the Santa Cruz Mountains paired with epicurean delights as well as over 300 silent auction lots. The centerpiece of the Silicon Valley Wine Auction is the wine pairing dinner  featuring rare and exclusive wines from notable vintners of the Santa Cruz Mountains paired with a five course gastronomic experience. The wine auction dinner includes silent and live auctions hosted by the Gavel Girl, DawnMarie Kotsonis and emceed by CBS’s Foodie Chap, Liam Mayclem. Live entertainment to be provided by world-renowned artist Michael Israel whose work has been described as “Cirque du Soleil meets Picasso.” Paintings created at the dinner will be auctioned off and smaller works will be available during the silent auction at the Grand Tasting. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to see Michael Israel at work. The menu for the Wine Pairing Dinner can be foundhere. All proceeds will benefit the programs of the Silicon Valley Education Foundation.

SILICON VALLEY EDUCATION FOUNDATION MISSION
The Silicon Valley Education Foundation was founded on the belief that a new kind of organization is needed – one with a different philosophy and approach to the challenges in legacy systems. A nonprofit resource and advocate for students and educators, SVEF is dedicated to putting all students on track for college and careers, focusing on the critical areas of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM).

Grand Wine & Food Tasting – Saturday, June 20, 2 to 5 pm
Levi’s® Stadium Diginity Health Plaza, Gate C
Guests are invited to sip, sample and bid! This three hour event offers tastings from 50+ Vintners from the Santa Cruz Mountains pouring over 150 wines, an abundance of edible delights and silent auction featuring over 200 wine lots.  Ticket price is $150.

Wine Dinner and Live Auction – Saturday, June 20, 5:30 to 9:30 pm
Levi’s® Stadium United Club SAP Tower Gate B

The centerpiece of the Silicon Valley’s Wine Auction weekend is the charity auction, featuring a five course wine pairing dinner featuring with ten vintners from the Santa Cruz Mountains with both silent and live auctions hosted by the Gavel Girl.  Excitement builds in the stadium with lively bidding of over 12 live auction lots, featuring spectacular wines from the world’s most prestigious wine producers, rare vintages, large format bottles plus special vertical and horizontal collections. Live entertainment to be provided by world-renowned artist Michael Israel whose work has been described as “Cirque du Soleil meets Picasso.” Paintings created at the dinner will be auctioned off.

Other auction highlights include original art from acclaimed California artists, vacations packages and highly coveted international wine getaway packages. Rounding off the travel offerings are one and two night getaway trips to the West’s most romantic inns, resorts, and spas.  Coupled with the Wine & Food Tasting, the day can’t be beat…

WWW.BURRELLSCHOOL.COM
SCMWA.COM


GREG LILL - PRESIDENT, CEO & CO-FOUNDER OF DELILLE CELLARS

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.

DeLille Cellars is a portfolio company of Bacchus Capital Management, an investment firm providing strategic capital and making equity investments in United States wineries and wine businesses.

WWW.DELILLECELLARS.COM
WWW.BACCHUSWINEFUND.COM

06/01 HEATHER MURAN, SAN LUIS OBISPO WINE COUNTRY ASSOCIATION, HARVEST ON THE COAST, JOHN MACCREADY, SIERRA VISTA WINERY

HEATHER MURAN – EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, SAN LUIS OBISPO WINE COUNTRY ASSOCIATION - HARVEST ON THE COAST NOVEMBER 6-8(TICKETS NOW ON SALE) 

25TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION COLLABORATIVE WINEMAKER DINNER
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6TH
Details to be announced soon!

GRAND TASTING AND WINE AUCTION
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 7th, 2015
VIP Early Entry: 11AM

GENERAL ADMISSION 12PM
AUCTION: 2PM

GO COASTAL PASSPORT
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 8th

Free tasting in SLO Wine Country included with Saturday Grand Tasting ticket

A weekend on the coast with our winemakers!  That's what you will experience at our Harvest on the Coast Weekend, November 6-8th, 2015.  Your 2-for-1 Grand Tasting ticket for Saturday gets you into the main event and wine auction.  PLUS: enjoy free tasting at SLO Wine Country tasting rooms all day Sunday.

The outdoor Grand Tasting and Wine Auction will be hosted on Saturday, November 7th featuring wine tasting, artisan foods, and live music.  All food and wine is included in your ticket!  The auction features a broad selection of rare wines, culinary treats and SLO Wine Country destination experiences, with a full line-up of silent auction items.  We have VIP table seating available for groups of 8, so you can get a front row seat at the auction.  You'll also receive complimentary food and wine service throughout the live auction (limited seating available).

With your 2-for-1 grand tasting ticket, you have all day Sunday to "Go Coastal" and visit tasting rooms throughout SLO Wine Country for free!  There will be an array of events taking place all day SUnday with live music, food and wine specials at every location.  It's the perfect time to stock up your cellar for the holidays!  Event details will be listed in October 2015.

ABOUT SLO:
The wineries of SLO Wine Country boast an average distance of just five miles from the Pacific Ocean, resulting in prevailing marine conditions that are among the most pronounced of any wine region in California.

Collectively, these growing conditions forge a unifying wine quality that is native to SLO Wine Country: The reliable cooling effect of the nearby Pacific Ocean ensures a long growing season, enabling the grapes to achieve physiological ripeness and natural balance. Cool-climate varietals such as Chardonnay and Pinot Noir excel in the heart of SLO Wine Country, and even the warmest areas benefit from considerable marine influence.   The ocean proximity also exerts a moderating effect on the climate, minimizing temperature swings so that growing conditions are rarely hot or cold. The result is an extraordinarily steady growing season that fosters balanced ripening and consistent quality from vintage to vintage. The imprint of the ocean is also evident in SLO Wine Country's uncommonly complex soils, which are frequently riddled with ancient sea fossils. Soil variation enables the winegrower to mix and match varietals to specific soil profiles, or to add more "colors" to the palette of a single varietal, heightening overall quality and complexity.

WWW.SLOWINE.COM


JOHN MACCREADY - OWNER & WINEMAKER, SIERRA VISTA WINERY

FAMILY OWNED AND OPERATED the winery is on RED ROCK RIDGE, half a mile high in the Sierra Nevada Mountains thirty miles west of Lake Tahoe in the Sierra Foothills of California. A beautiful view of the mountains from our shaded picnic area sourounded by vineyards makes this a "must see spot of paradise" for visitors to this newest and fast growing wine region sometimes called the Gold Country. Our unfiltered "FIVE STAR" wines are a must for wine lovers. Open daily 10 to 5 except Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years Day, and Easter. Call 1-800-WINE-916 or locally 530-622-7221 for information and directions or look at the map on the "MAP PAGE".

In 1972, John and Barbara MacCready bought their property on the Eastern Highlands of the Sierra Foothills of California and pioneered the rebirth of mountain viticulture in the re-emerging premium wine region of El Dorado County. At that time all the Sierra Foothills were classified as Zinfandel country so when we planted Cabernet Sauvignon we were bucking tradition as we have ever since. Luckily we planted the cab on a site which produces great Cabernet Sauvignon.

The winery farms twenty-eight  acres of mountain vineyards on challenging slopes from 2800 to 2900 feet elevation. Mountain vineyards are low yielding with intense flavors, outstanding character and provide thrilling tractor driving. Extensive studies John MacCready made in the eighties showed the climate at Sierra Vista to be very similar to that of the Northern Rhone Valley of France. This was the deciding factor in determining which grape varieties to plant in our vineyards. Rhone wines have developed into the perfect grape for the area and develop in time to emulate the better wines of Cote Rotie and Hermitage in the Northern Rhone.

The first crush was in 1977, with grapes purchased from local Vineyards. Only 1,200 cases of wine were made that year. Annual production has grown gradually to the current 5000 cases. Several different wines have been produced since the first crush: these include Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel and Chardonnay, Viognier, Roussanne, Syrah, Grenache, Mourvedre and a Rhone Blend called Lynelle Reserve.

In 1979, Sierra Vista planted Syrah, whose lineage traces to Chapoutier's vineyards in the Northern Rhone appellation of Cote Rotie. Syrah wine was first produced in 1982 and is very competitive in taste and quality to wines from Cote Rotie and Hermitage. In 1990, John MacCready made a study comparing the northern Rhone Valley to El Dorado County. He found that much of the El Dorado appellation is very similar to the northern Rhone Valley in climate, rainfall and soil type. Because of this, Sierra Vista's emphasis in the future has been the development of Rhone varieties.  As discussed above in addition to Syrah we have introduced Grenache, Mourvedre, Cinsault, Viognier and Roussanne.  From these grapes we make varietals and Rhone style blends.

Sierra Vista Vineyards is located on the crown of a curving ridge at 2800 feet elevation. The vineyards cover four different terroirs or microclimates.

1. There is a western facing slope, just off our ridge top, with a 10% - 15% slope. The soil is basic loam with some sand and clay with a volcanic ash origin. It looks very much like the soil at Chateau Rayas in Chateauneuf-du Pape. This hillside at 2800ft (881 meters) and is our warmest slope where we have Grenache, Cinsault and Zinfandel planted.
2. The top of the ridge has a slightly south slope and is also at 881+/- meters. The soil is the same as that of the first terroir and the trees are similar to those at Hermitage and Cornas. We planted Cabernet Sauvignon here in 1974 and Syrah in 1979. The 1991 Syrah, for the first time, is showing some of the characteristics which make Hermitage a truly great wine. One wine writer compared our 1987 to a good Cote Rotie.
3. This microclimate-terroir is just off the ridge top with a slight north east slope of 10% to 15% grade where the soil is the same as that of 1. Here we have grafted Cabernet Sauvignon to Viognier.
4. This area has a  north slope of about 5% to 15% grade.   When we have snow it lasts here longer than any other part of the vineyard.   The vineyard is terraced volcanic loam on a bed of granite.    This is where we have our Chardonnay.

In the late '90s Sierra Vista was the first winery in the El Dorado AVA to install photo-voltaic solar panels at the winery.  A 14.4kw system was installed on the roof of the winery and reduced energy consumption from the grid by around 94% the first month it was fully operational.  We are proud to have done this before it became really politically correct.

Many years ago when we saw that erosion was taking place in the vineyard we started practicing sustainable agriculture by implementing methods to stop the erosion.  Since then we have developed methods in other areas of farming to allow us to be considered a sustainable agricultural operation.

About John MacCready: 

What are John's qualification as a winemaker?  He says "in 1982 when we wanted to expand the bank suggested that we get a consultant if we wanted a loan so I had as a consultant Dimitri Tchelistcheff - whose father, Andre, was the guru of the California wine industry.  Dimitri is great in his own right. And I learned a lot from the French consultant and author Emile Peynaud, his book that is.  Many people here consider our style as more French than American because I consider wine as a food and something that should accompany food.  It is generally has less alcohol than many California producers".

A native Californian and a graduate of the University of New Mexico, John was also  graduated from the University of Missouri in Columbia with a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering. In 1972 while he was pursuing his engineering career, he decided to start a vineyard in El Dorado County and grow wine grapes as an investment. John and his wife, Barbara, also felt that El Dorado was an ideal place to raise their two daughters. Sierra Vista Vineyards turned into Sierra Vista Winery and Vineyards in 1977. While waiting for Sierra Vista Winery to grow big enough to support the family, John commuted to Sacramento where he was a professor at California State University, Sacramento. Now at Sierra Vista full time he wears many hats. Among them are winemaker, vineyard manager, tractor driver, delivery boy and fork lift operator and most important Marketer and saleman.

At Sierra Vista John has been a pioneer in the establishment of the Rhone vineyards In El Dorado County with the planting of Syrah in 1979 followed later by Grenache, Mourvedre, Cinsault and Viognier. His two trips to the Rhone valley has, together with his experience, have given him valuable insight into the value of Rhone style wines.

Since being in the wine industry John has been the president and vice president of the El Dorado Winery association and has been inducted into the Knights of the Vine. Is a past and founding president of the Rhone Rangers, an organization dedicated to educating the public about Rhone style wines.

John MacCready comments "Winemaking satisfies my inclination toward creativity and art while my engineering training enables adoption of the latest technology, if needed, to our operation." John also states that "our research has shown that Sierra Vista's Vineyards have similar growing conditions to the Rhone valley from Cote Rotie to Chateauneuf-du-Pape. With vineyards well suited to Rhone varietals, our goal is to create outstanding wines from our El Dorado appellation and establish Sierra Vista as a premium producer of Syrah, and Viognier in the tradition of those from the northern Rhone."

WWW.SIERRAVISTAWINERY.COM