admin
Oakville, Napa Valley Vintner Tor Kenward was hired by Beringer Vineyards as a winemaker in 1977 and within three years he was promoted to vice president. He remembers early meetings with wine legends Robert Mondavi, Louis Martini, and Andre Tchelistcheff with great fondness, but it was his 1981 trip to France that was the impetus…
admin
Napa Valley Napa Valley residents Thomas tucker and George Burrage purchased the land that would become Vine Cliff Winery in 1870 from what was then the famous Yount Estate. Vine Cliff Winery was officially founded in 1871 but fell into disrepair and became what is locally known as a “ghost winery.” It was resurrected about…
admin
Napa Valley Truly a family affair, Stanton Vineyards was founded in the 1940s when Jesse Stanton purchased his first vineyards. He eventually turned them over to his son John, who moved to Napa Valley in 1971 with his young son Doug and took over all vineyard operations. Current winemaker and owner Doug Stanton started learning…
admin
Napa Valley Casey Stringer, owner and winemaker at Stringer cellars, tells 672 Wine Club that he was raised in Wisconsin, “where wine is consumed, but not grown.” His mother’s side of the family is from California, and he grew up visiting his grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins there always knowing he wanted to live in…
admin
Atlas Peak, Napa Valley Acumen estate was founded on Napa Valley’s Atlas Peak by Eric Yuan with the help of founding winemaker Denis Malbec. Eric then brought in well-known winemaker Phillip Titus and renowned viticulturist Michael Wolf. Today the team produces a small portfolio of estate grown wines focused on Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc….
admin
Carneros, Napa Valley Owner and CEO Denise McKahn started her career in the world of wine in 1992 when she worked in the export department at Wente Vineyards. There’s truth in the old adage that the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree: Her son Charles decided at the tender age of 15 that he…
admin
Napa Valley Gandona Winery’s vintner and proprietor Manuel Pires learned about winemaking from his grandfather in the Douro Valley of Portugal. He says, “Inspired by my grandfather’s legacy I became single minded in my need to work the land and more aware that farming was in my blood. I decided the life of a vintner…
admin
Pellet Vineyard, St. Helena, Napa Valley Pellet Estate’s history begins when Henry Alphonse Pellet was hired by John Patchett in 1859 and became Napa County’s second commercial winemaker. He followed in the footsteps of Charles Krug, who was the first and started the year before. H.A. Pellet purchased 45 acres of his own land in…
admin
Blanton Family Vineyards, Howell Mountain, Napa Valley Selah owner and vintner Joe Blanton is in charge of operations at the winery and he is also most likely the person who will pour your wine when you schedule a tasting in Napa Valley. He and Richard Smock, whom he calls “the Selah Road Warrior,” handle the…
admin
Calistoga, Napa Valley John Schwartz met the woman who is now his wife at a gathering in the French Alps when he loudly yelled “FEU” (fire!) to clear the room and catch her attention. He more than caught her attention: They eventually married and subsequently named their winery Coup de Foudre which roughly translates as…