11/30 GARY PISONI, PISONI VINEYARDS, RICHIE ALLEN, ROMBAUER VINEYARDS

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


RICHIE ALLEN - DIRECTOR OF VITICULTURE & WINEMAKING, ROMBAUER VINEYARDS

HISTORY
When founders Koerner and Joan Rombauer moved their two children, two horses and five dogs to Napa Valley in 1972, they arrived armed with an appreciation for the intimate relationship between food and wine. Their appreciation stemmed from Koerner’s great aunt Irma Rombauer having authored internationally renowned cookbook the Joy of Cooking and his ancestors originating from the winegrowing region of Rheingau, Germany, where wine is considered an essential complement to a meal.

Appreciation bred passion, and Rombauer Vineyards was established in 1980. Thirty-five years later, the winery remains owned and operated by first- and second-generation members of the family.

ABOUT RICHIE ALLEN
Richie Allen was raised in Melbourne, Australia, in a leafy suburb about 40 minutes east of Australia’s famous Yarra Valley wine region.

Influenced greatly by his parents’ keen interest, Richie grew up with a greater appreciation of wine than the average young Australian male. Upon graduation from high school in 1996, Richie chose to explore his knowledge in an alternate area of interest: molecular biology. Always the model student, he graduated at the top of his class. He was not, however, convinced with the path he was laying down for himself.

Richie embarked on a four-month rock climbing holiday to the United States to clear his thoughts. It was on this adventure that fate came knocking in the form of an invitation to a day of wine tasting. Richie was so taken and inspired by the Californian wines he tasted that day that it was suddenly clear to him what he needed to do.

He promptly returned to Australia and spent the next few years engrossed in winemaking studies at Australia’s prestigious The University of Adelaide. After graduating in 2003, he set about gaining as much practical winery experience as possible from top Australian and New Zealand producers including Penfolds, Oakridge, Church Road and Vavasour.

He eventually found himself back in California, on the doorstep of Rombauer Vineyards to undertake cellar work for a single harvest. However, Richie’s enthusiasm, vast and growing knowledge, and attention to detail were keenly identified, and he was asked to continue on at Rombauer to see this potential expertly developed and nurtured. He became Assistant Winemaker in 2005, then was promoted to Head Winemaker in 2008.

Having worked his way from the ground up, Richie assumed the position of Rombauer’s Director of Viticulture and Winemaking in 2013. In this role, Richie strives to achieve consistency of style and continual improvement in viticultural and winemaking techniques by melding both traditional and modern approaches.

Away from the winery, you’re likely to find Richie pursuing his passion for photography and filmmaking. He lives in Napa with his wife, Nat, and their daughter, Violet, who is the frequent target of his lens.

WWW.ROMBAUER.COM

11/23 SEQUOIA GROVE’S SENIOR WINE EDUCATOR DEAN BUSQUAERT, ROBIN KELLEY O'CONNOR

SEQUOIA GROVE’S SENIOR WINE EDUCATOR DEAN BUSQUAERT OFFERS SOME THANKSGIVING WINE PAIRING TIPS 

According to a recent Nielsen study 50% of Americans over 21 are likely to drink wine for Thanksgiving, yet it’s hard to a meal more challenging for wine pairings due to the diversity of flavors as well as the sugar content in many of the dishes.

Dean currently works at Napa Valley’s Sequoia Grove, where he teaches guests how to pair Cabernet to food in an educational experience called “A Taste for Cabernet.” Some of the pairing tips Dean can discuss include:
• Have red and white wines on hand for a variety of different dishes
• Pair acid-driven white wines with sweeter dishes due to the wine’s lower tannin level and naturally smoother profile
• If you’re drinking a full-bodied Cabernet Sauvignon, add acidity and salt to foods to soften Cabernet Sauvignon’s robust texture

Dean is extremely personable, eloquent, and great for radio. He has over 20 years’ experience in Napa Valley food and wine education, is a Certified Specialist of Wine, and has worked with wineries such as Sequoia Grove, Robert Mondavi Winery, Grgich Hills Estate, and Beringer Vineyards.

ABOUT SEQUOIA GROVE:
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.

WWW.SEQUOIAGROVE.COM


ROBIN KELLEY O'CONNOR - WINE SPECIALIST, BLOGGER AND SOMMELIER – HOLIDAY WINE TREND

A leading wine educator, international wine judge, wine writer, and sommelier, Robin Kelley O’Connor is a leading wine expert. His thirty years of experience, authority and passion enable  captivating  seminars, dinner events and wine education and allows him to offer an unparalleled suite of services to corporations and individuals from around the world.

Robin serves as a guest wine instructor and examiner for the Intensive Sommelier Training program at the International Culinary Center. ICC is one of the leading culinary educational institutions in the U.S., with campuses in New York and Napa Valley. It is a world class institution dedicated to the culinary arts and vinous education.

Mr. O’Connor was previously Lead Specialist & Head of Wine, Americas for Christie’s Auction House. He 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. He remains intimately involved with the Bordeaux wine community and was the first American to be certified as an International Bordeaux Wine Educator.

Robin also has worked with Italian Wine Merchants (IWM), where he was the Director of Education, resident Bordeaux expert, weekly contributor to the IWM blog and "Expert Picks," as well as a member of the editorial team for the daily IWM e-Newsletter.

Robin 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. 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 over 25 years. He speaks annually at  Pebble Beach Food and Wine, the premiere epicurean lifestyle event on the West Coast.
As a popular wine educator and spokesperson, he has conducted over 2,500 seminars; written for the Trenton Times, Santé Magazine, Wine & Spirit; and served as senior editor for Kevin Zraly’s 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, 500 appellations and tasted more than 7,000 wines.

Among his many professional honors, Mr. O’Connor bears the distinction of induction 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

11/16 BOB CABRAL, THREE STICKS WINES, LARRY VAN AALST, THE SONOMA WINE REPORT

BOB CABRAL – DIRECTOR OF WINE MAKING, THREE STICKS WINES – HOLIDAY GIFT PACKAGES

There is very good reason Bob Cabral’s name is synonymous with great Pinot Noir. With decades of experience in Sonoma County, Bob’s passion, experience and following for his work with the varietal is second to none. From 1998 to 2014 Bob was winemaker for Williams Selyem. There, he led the winery into a new era, overseeing an expansion of new vineyard sources and bottlings for the brand, along with the construction of a state-of the art winery.

Bob’s interest in wine and farming began in childhood helping his grandfather make wine in a barn. Growing up pruning grapes, irrigating vineyards and harvesting grapes became routine on his family’s 70-acre ranch near Escalon, CA. A fourth generation farmer and grape grower from the great San Joaquin Valley, he took all he learned at the family farm and applied it to his degrees at Fresno State University.

While in college, his passion for Pinot Noir became evident as he spent every spare dime, and a good chunk of his student loans, on buying wines from all over the world—mostly Burgundy and Russian River Valley Pinot Noirs. After graduating in the mid-1980s, Bob knew that Sonoma County was where he could best hone his skills and make wines to rival the best in the world. He spent 11 vintages in various winemaking positions—associate winemaker at DeLoach Vineyards, custom crush winemaker at Kunde Family Estate, winemaker at Alderbrook Vineyards and winemaker at Hartford Court Winery—before taking his seminal position at Williams Selyem.

Bob’s winemaking philosophy has remained constant throughout his career—to source and farm the best fruit possible, with minimal intervention in the cellar. He was awarded the 2011 Wine Star Award from the Wine Enthusiast as “Winemaker of the Year.” He joined Three Sticks in 2015, with fervent enthusiasm. Bob lives in the Russian River Valley where and is a devoted husband and father to his wife and daughter.

CELEBRATE THE SEASON WITH THREE STICKS' GIFTS
We are pleased to offer you a selection of curated gift packages to celebrate the holidays. Reward your co-workers, thank your clients, surprise loved ones and simplify your gift list with Three Sticks wines. From single bottles to large formats, find the perfect complement for every recipient on your list. Each gift set arrives elegantly wrapped with a personalized holiday card from you. Place your order by December 4th to ensure your gift arrives on time!
• Magnum Gifts | Limited Availability
• Single Bottle Gifts | Three Options Available
• Two Bottle Gifts | Give the Gift of Durellhree Bottle Gifts | Pinot or Mixed Sets
• 2008-2013 Durell Vineyard Pinot Noir Vertical Only 3 available!

WWW.THREESTICKSWINES.COM


LARRY VAN AALST – HOST OF THE SONOMA WINE REPORT – FALL WINE TRENDS AND HAPPENINGS IN SONOMA

LARRY HOSTS A WEEKLY PROGRAM ON CRN AND ALSO IS AN EXPERT ON WINE WHO IS SOUGHT AFTER FOR EVENTS, TASTES AND MAJOR SOMMELIER EVENTS IN THE SAN FRANCISCO AREA. HE COMMENTS ON THE INDUSTRY AND HIS THOUGHTS ABOUT WINE.

11/09 WES HAGEN, J. WILKES WINES, LISA RIGISICH, 7TH ANNUAL SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA PINOT DAYS, THE SKIRBALL CULTURAL CENTER

WES HAGEN - CONSULTING WINEMAKER, BRAND AMBASSADOR, WINE LECTURER & HISTORIAN, J. WILKES WINES

Welcome to J. Wilkes. We are dedicated to producing only small lots of handcrafted wines from the Santa Maria Valley while maintaining the natural delicacy of the grapes. Over the past two decades, J. Wilkes wines have been made by sourcing high quality fruit from Bien Nacido and Solomon Hills Vineyards. We hope you enjoy the wines, and welcome your comments.

OUR STORY
Jeff was committed to promoting the Santa Maria Valley; a place he considered home and cared about deeply. By offering a Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Blanc under the J. Wilkes imprimatur of quality, we hope to introduce a new generation of wine drinkers to wines of typicity from a venerated appellation.

We hope these wines serve not only as ambassadors of an iconic growing region, but also as an introduction to three varietals that merit much pursuit and discovery.

The J. Wilkes brand was established in 2001 by Jefferson Wilkes, a widely respected wine industry veteran who loved the community of Santa Maria and sailing the Pacific Coast.  Since Jeff’s passing, the J. Wilkes brand has carried forth with a simple mission: to deliver wines of varietal character, at affordable prices, that highlight the virtues of the Santa Maria Valley appellation.

SANTA MARIA VALLEY
When one considers that Santa Maria Valley shares the same latitude (34 54N) as Charlotte, North Carolina and the North coast of Morocco, one begins to wonder how it is that such a place can produce wines of such delicate aromatics and liveliness as does Santa Maria Valley. After all, the very home of Pinot Noir, at least according to purists, is the damp, cool Burgundy region of France.

One need only turn to the East-West transverse valley that runs through Santa Maria Valley. This transverse valley acts as a funnel, channeling in cool maritime influences and depositing them throughout the wide valley that is Santa Maria. Ocean temperatures just off the coast of Santa Maria are typically about 15 degrees C (55 to 59 F). The Coriolis effect, an upwelling of deeper, colder waters, further cools the ocean breezes coming in off the coast of the Pacific and into the Santa Maria Valley. The cool winds coming in from the Northwest, coupled with the Coriolis effect, serve to push cold ocean water the surface. The transverse valley then allows these cold water winds to funnel into the Santa Maria Valley, cooling it substantially.

If the Santa Maria Valley was not situated at this southerly latitude, it would not be warm enough to ripen grape varietals to full maturity. It is, therefore, this singular combination of elements that allows Santa Maria Valley to produce wines of such distinction and typicity.

The number of days between bloom and harvest is approximately 125, on average. Though day time temperatures rarely exceed 75 degrees F, the long growing season provides substantial heat units throughout the year to fully ripen Pinot Noir, and other varietals that do very well in the Santa Maria Valley. Maritime fog usually cools the grapes in the evening, until approximately 10:00 am. When the sun breaks, the grapes receive substantial heat units to ripen, but it is never so warm in Santa Maria Valley that the grapes begin to “shut down” from excessive heat. These mild temperatures, coupled with a long growing season, allow for grapes that possess great aromatics, distinction, a lively fruit component and balanced acid levels.

Yields in Santa Maria tend to be average to low, due to excessively cool spring temperatures. Poor set on the vines often results from days that do not warm much past 65 degrees F. Pollination can be adversely affected by these cool temperatures. But, the strain of poor pollination on the vine, ironically, results in smaller clusters with intensely flavored berries. These small berries usually provide for greater color and complexity in the resulting wines.

The average annual rainfall in Santa Maria is approximately 14 inches. The rainy season begins in mid-November and continues until the beginning of May, when it lessens considerably to only about .2 inches of rain a month is the very first days of Spring.

The Santa Maria Valley appellation is the third oldest appellation in the United States and was established the same year as the Napa Valley AVA distinction; 1981.

JWILKES.COM


LISA RIGISICH – PRODUCER, PINOT DAYS - 7TH ANNUAL SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA PINOT DAYS – NOVEMBER 21ST @ THE SKIRBALL CULTURAL CENTER  

We were just a normal couple, software engineer meets English teacher, who loved pinot noir and its ability to stimulate and stun not just one’s palate, but one’s mind. When we moved to California and saw Cab events and Zin events and Rhone events...but nothing for pinot, we wondered why. Pinot was like the poor, ignored, red-headed stepchild, but the shame was this stepchild was the gifted, prodigy kid that everyone wants to have over. So eleven years ago we thought, "Hey, let's create Pinot Days." Our thinking was this: You don’t just drink pinot, you study it. You live its story.

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!

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA PINOT DAYS - NOVEMBER 21ST, 2015 

Where - Skirball Cultural Center 2701 N Sepulveda Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90049
When - Saturday, November 21st, 2015.
Trade Tasting: Noon-2pm.
VIP Tasting: Noon - 5pm.
Public Tasting: 2-5pm.
Price: $75 - Grand Festival. $120 VIP Tasting and Seminar. - See more at:

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....

WWW.PINOTDAYS.COM

11/02 BARBARA SATTERFIELD, STA. RITA HILLS WINEGROWERS ALLIANCE, ORANGE COAST MAGAZINE'S ANNUAL WINE AFFAIR, CHARLES SMITH, CHARLES SMITH WINES

BARBARA SATTERFIELD FROM STA. RITA HILLS WINEGROWERS ALLIANCE TALKS ABOUT THE UPCOMING ORANGE COAST MAGAZINE'S ANNUAL WINE AFFAIR IN COSTA MESA

ORANGE COAST MAGAZINE'S ANNUAL WINE AFFAIR

Saturday, November 14, 2015 from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM (PST)

EVENT: Orange Coast magazine's Annual Wine Affair featuring specialty and reserve wines from Sta. Rita Hills Winegrowers Alliance and tastings from select restaurant partners.

VENUE: Be amongst the first to experience Sub-Zero Wolf's expansive new showroom!

EATS: Enjoy a special afternoon of wine and food pairings from some of our favorite restaurant partner and continue your evening at one of our partner restaurants.

Participating Wineries: Fiddlehead Cellars, Hitching Post Wines, Ken Brown, Kessler-Haak, Lafond, Montemar, Pali Wine Company, Rozak, Wan Fiore, Zotovich

Participating Restaurant Partners: Mastro's Steakhouse, SkyLoft, El Torito Grill, O.C. Donut Bar, Sadie Rose Baking Company. More to be announced!

ABOUT STA. RITAL HILLS: The Sta. Rita Hills American Viticulture Appellation is located on California’s Central Coast in Santa Barbara County. The Pacific Ocean’s marine layer and afternoon ocean breezes traverse the coastal valley corridors between the Purisima Hills and the Santa Rosa Hills, creating the perfect environment for growing Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and other cool climate wine grape varieties.

ABOUT THE STA. RITA HILLS WINEGROWERS ALLIANCE: The Sta. Rita Hills Winegrowers Alliance was formed in 1997 to unify growers and winemakers in the Western Santa Ynez Valley for the purpose of developing their own American Viticulture Area and to promote this unique wine growing region.

The Sta. Rita Hills AVA status was granted in 2001 by the Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms Regulation Division. The mission of the Alliance is to support the viticulture and enological business interests of its 47 Members, as they relate to grapes and wine from our AVA.

WWW.STARITAHILLS.COM


CHARLES SMITH – OWNER AND WINEMAKER, CHARLES SMITH WINES - WINE ENTHUSIAST’S “WINE MAKER OF THE YEAR”

Charles is an all American success story. He is a former rock band tour manager that was able to turn a passion into a reality taking his brand from selling 330 cases in 2001 to more than 650,000 cases in 15 years.  He now reaches almost 55,000 people a day or 20 million people a year with his wine.  Charles Smith Wines is now the largest winemaker-owned winery in Washington State and third largest winery overall in Washington state with 44 wines that are sold in all 50 states. Most timely, he just opened Jet City – the largest urban winery on the west coast – that is a complement to his winery in Walla Walla and he is rolling out his fall release wines this month.  Additionally, he has been able to create an iconic brand that stands out from the rest.

Charles is the owner and winemaker of K Vintners, Charles Smith Wines, ViNO, Secco Italian Bubbles, SIXTO, Wines of Substance and one-half of Charles & Charles which are sold in all 50 states and 23 countries.

WWW.CHARLESSMITHWINES.COM