By "taming" these grapes through the act of sustainable viticulture and thoughtful winemaking, we take something that at first might be a bit too rough and wild, and guide it into being an approachable, elegant expression of a small patch of mother earth. — Robert Pintacsi
Read MoreMy favorite is Pinot Noir, because each vineyard I source from is very different and that expresses itself in each wine. — Rick Davis
Read MoreI do everything myself. Every decision and mistake is mine to own. I can experiment creatively, take bigger risks and not have to worry about reporting to anyone but myself. — Alison Thomson
Read MoreSmall lot winemakers have the opportunity to craft unique wines that speak to people in an authentic way that big brands try to mimic with marketing, but can’t. Passion and enthusiasm come through loud and clear when small winemakers talk and customers feel it. — Patrick Kelley
Read More“ My favorite is Tempranillo. The wines are dark, full of tannins, and surprisingly acidic. When young they are fresh and fruity yet when aged have connotations of tobacco and leather. It’s great for blending. It’s very versatile variety and it ripens early!”
– Mark Welch
Read More“Cab Sauv is my fave as it's the wine that inspired me to start my own label.” — Dusty Nabor
Read MoreMy Favorite wine to make is Syrah. I love the heady aromatics, black and blue fruit flavors along with the tannic balance derived from the fruit. — Richard Krumwiede
Read MoreTo paraphrase Forest Gump, pinot noir is the box of chocolates, you never know what you are going to get. I like working with the same vineyard over several years to learn what changes and what stays the same. — Phillip Kaplan
Read More“Volatus means flight in Latin. My background is not wine but as a Navy pilot. I flew FA-18 Hornets and Super Hornets for the Navy and served two tours as a TOPGUN Instructor. When I started the wine label I wanted something aviation related but not immediately apparent. Over the years we have made the Volatus label more and more about aviation and flight and the branding works very well.”
– Hal Schmitt
Read MoreI believe that the world’s greatest wines are defined by place as opposed to winemaking manipulation.
— Eric Johnson
Read More“At Monochrome, we are focused exclusively on white wines. In 2016, we worked with Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Marsanne, Roussanne, Viognier, and Albarino. In 2017, we are planning to add Chenin Blanc to that list. We have enjoyed working will all those varieties, and don’t really have a favorite yet. In 2016, the Chardonnay was probably the most fun, as we broke it up into a lot of very small components, and took different approaches with each of them.”
Read More“A large part of what I love about Marin is the obvious maritime influence. I’m competing with cows, not condos, for my patch of ground.” — Stewart Johnson
Read MoreBeing small means you know every vine, every grape cluster that goes into the wine. We do it all, from the ground up. We planted the vines, grow the grapes, ferment into wine age and blend. The wine is truly a piece of us — it’s a personal expression of who we are in a bottle. — Steve Alden
Read MoreBeing a small-lot winery allows for the kind of winemaking control that preserves the flavor and allows complexity. —Ross Rankin
Read MoreWe never get tired of tasting our own wine, however, it is important to also taste other wines to keep our palate in tune. Dipping into our inventory is purely a form of quality control!
— Roger Nicolas
Read More“Grenache is my favorite. It loves to give. It is big fruited, bright when it’s not overripe, has guts but can be complex, and likes our sunny climate. “ — Dennis Sharpe
Read MorePaso Robles is very special to us not only because the climate allows us to grow top quality grapes; but also because Paso is rich with honest and hardworking families. — Enrique Torres
Read MoreThe more I learned about wine, the more I want to know. I fell in love with the nuances between different regions and different winemaker styles.
—Maria Stolo Bennitti
Read More“Pedro started by making small batches of wines with friends. He eventually studied enology at UC Davis and graduated with a Winemaker Certification.”
–Vicky Vargas
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