Rod Keeling and Jan Schaefer of Keeling Schaefer Vineyards in Pearce, AZ. Keeling Schaefer Vineyards is located on Rock Creek at the base of the Chiricahua Mountains at about 5000 ft. elevation, about a 45-minute drive from downtown Willcox in southeastern Arizona. They are proving to be key players in the Arizona wine industry in their relatively short time on the playing field. Their wines have been received with both national recognition and local praise. Rod has also been an influential factor in the industry through his actions as the President of the Arizona Wine Growers Association, heading into his third term. Having been instrumental in changing the wine laws which allow the smaller boutique wineries to have more control to self distribute and consequentially reach higher profits, Rod has seen the intense growth in the industry that such legislation has helped to provide.

Rod and Jan have harnessed their unique and individual abilities to create really great wine. In talking with the team, it’s clear that the success of their wines is due to the marriage of their strengths. As Rod explains it, he does most of the physical work, while Jan stays integral to the wine-making through her natural palate. “She’s got a palate that’s much better than mine. I can tell certain things about the wine. I can detect the flaws. I can tell whether it’s good or bad. But I can’t [pick up] the details she can.” Rod credits the blending as the step that takes the wine to the next level, making a good wine great. Humbly, he basically says he’s the physical labor and the chemist. His contribution is in growing the grapes, doing the crush and assisting the mechanical operations. He says, “I think a good wine-maker has to be a good wine drinker,” and although he likes wine and accredits basic tasting skills to himself, he doesn’t have the natural innate palate that he adoringly attributes to Jan. Not to say that the lines never cross, both partners are involved throughout the process, but Rod’s passion is the numbers and Jan’s talents are a key factor to the finish of the wine. It’s obvious that they’ve transcended their romantic love to the love of wine-making.

It all began for Rod when he fortuitously tasted a glass of wine with a friend at PF Chang’s in 1994. At that time in Arizona there were few wine bars, no real wine scene and even finding quality wines by the glass was difficult. His friend, Roger Egan, had worked in California through the 1970’s, during the initial boom of the California wine industry, where he had met Mike Grgich. Knowing that Grgich had produced fine wine he recommended that Rod splurge for the $9 glass of the Grgich Hills Zinfandel. Rod was blown away. “Oh my God! I didn’t know wine could taste like that . . . [it was] a big blockbuster Zin!” That’s when he said to himself that he had to figure this out. How could wine taste like that and how could he learn to produce it? Previously, he felt that if he was going to drink wine it would be inexpensive because it was “just OK”. White wine was fine because it was refreshing. But red wine, nothing had ever tasted like that glass of Zinfandel before. “But that got me going because I thought I could make it myself. I’ve got to try making this!” . . . plus he sheepishly admits that he really didn’t want the pay the $9 per glass.

Will Clark readily admits that his passion in life is California Foothill wines. He retired from investment banking in the early 1990’s, and with wife Jeanne, opened up his shop at 200 Main Street in Downieville. Jeanne runs the antiques and collectibles shop next door.

“We came here to do what we really wanted to do,” said Will. “People don’t expect us to be here. But really, Downieville is the first town north of Nevada City where you can find good food, lodging – and major historical lore about the area.” It all comes together in a mountain setting at the confluence of two rivers, with an enormous amount of Gold Country history. Will boasts a stock of around 50 wines. Here are some of my favorites from the tasting:

2006 Hatcher Cabernet Sauvignon, Sierra Foothills. Will believes this is his current best value in a Cabernet Sauvignon. The Hatcher winery is located in Murphys, Calaveras County, and they source most of their fruit from vineyards near Angels Camp. The fruit for this wine was sourced from the vineyard of Lori Kautz. Winemaker Matthew Hatcher has crafted this wine to have aromas of tropical fruit, volcanic minerality, anise and other exotic spices. Flavor is lush and ripe with flavors of melon, ginger, and spice, ending in a clean finish. Enjoy with spicy Asian foods, BBQ, lamb. 14.6% alcohol. $17.50/bottle at 49 Wines.

When a young Jon McDaniel began his studies in politics and corporate law, his goal was "to take over the world, in a good way," he jokes. During a brief stint at a lobbying firm in Washington, D.C., McDaniel realized the cutthroat political arena wasn't his scene. So when one of the firm's clients, a wine retailer, offered him a job, he dropped everything and reset his course.

In the dozen years since, McDaniel has tried his hand at almost every role in the industry, working in retail, export, distribution and even winemaking. In 2010, after beverage consulting for the World Cup in South Africa, he finally figured out where he fit most comfortably into the wine world: restaurants. McDaniel joined the team at Los Olivos Wine Merchant and Café in Santa Barbara, Calif., then was lured to the Midwest to work as manager and sommelier for the Purple Pig in Chicago.

Now 34 ("going on 85," he quips), McDaniel is the corporate beverage director for the newly renamed Gage Hospitality Group, which includes five Chicago-area restaurants: Acanto, the Gage, Beacon Tavern, Coda di Volpe and the Dawson. He also finds time to teach hospitality classes and make wine under his own label. Editorial assistant Lexi Williams caught up with McDaniel to check on his progress toward (wine) world domination.

• Family owned, led and managed business. When the whole family is involved to mold and solidify their ideals and pass them along through the generations, they have the possibility of advancing the family’s ideals and reputation.

• Owning a vineyard. Almost, if not all of the multi-generational winemakers have their own vineyard with family members taking care of it with passion and commitment to ensure making great wines all the time.

• Farming is key. The conditions of the vineyard and truly knowing it is  fundamental. A biologically balanced, healthy soil and farming is the foundation of a great and important wine.

• Great winemakers. A passionate, skilled winemaker involved with a burning desire to make great wine. Great winemakers create wines that have good balance, wines that are beautiful when young and becomes more elegant with age.

• Wines that are beautiful when they are young, then as they age a patina is developed without anything being removed from them. This is mastered by great winemakers and wine making families in the world.

Dawn Martella is currently winemaker for Karmère Vineyards and Winery, a 6500-case facility in the heart of California’s Shenandoah Valley. Dawn’s emphasis on vineyard expression and understanding of yeast attributes and barrel contributions results in carefully crafted, award-winning wines. A relative newcomer to the winemaking industry, Dawn’s passion for her art is evident in the subtle complexity of her wines. Prior to her relationship with Karmère, Dawn and her husband, Richard, were part owners in another local winery, where she served as both General Manager and Assistant Winemaker.

The wines produced by Karmère include Viognier, Syrah, Barbera, and Zinfandel varietals. Dawn and her husband, a winegrower, especially enjoy time with their family and friends. A farmer at heart and an avid gardener, she can often be found walking the vineyards to see what the grapes are doing. Dawn also enjoys hiking, kayaking, and motorcycling.

As a country girl growing up in Grass Valley, Dawn Martella always wanted to be a winemaker. Fate intervened in the most unlikely of places: While taking a college welding class. Martella recalls, “The instructor gave me a bottle of wine from his vineyard. Since I already had a crush on him, at that point the sky opened and a beam of light illuminated him. I think there were angels singing in the background, too.” The instructor became her husband; as a viticulture and plant science teacher, he helped spark her journey. After working on small productions, she initially turned down Karmère owner Marilyn Hoopes’ offer to become winemaker because of the sheer size, but a pep talk from her husband convinced her to reconsider. “And I’m glad I did,” says Martella. “I just love being here and doing what I do.” Martella is now approaching her 11th harvest at Karmère, and is deeply passionate about all aspects of winemaking.

Every winemaker does things a little differently; Martella says she likes to focus on varietal character. “I want to taste those elements that make Barbera, Grenache, Zinfandel, etc., taste the way they are.  When I walk through the vineyard, I taste the whole cluster, because it tells me what the wine wants to be.” Of all the aspects of winemaking, walking the vineyard prior to harvest is her favorite. Says Martella, “There’s a welcoming peace to the vineyard that draws me, and I’m always at my happiest touching the vines and watching their progress. Someone once quoted ‘how can one be an atheist in the vineyard, when you find yourself in the presence of the Divine?’”

Michael Long, son of Larry and Linda, and Head Winemaker- Michael graduated Magna Cum Laude from Fresno State University with a Bachelors of Science in Enology. Michael was just 15 years old when his parents purchased the land that Amador Cellars now sits on. His love and passion for grape growing and winemaking blossomed as he began to learn more about the process and gained an appreciation for what it takes to make a nice bottle of wine.  Michael began working in the vineyard as a teenager and gradually became more involved in other aspects of the business, including working side by side with father and winemaker, Larry.  Michael became the Assistant Winemaker in 2008 and held the position for 5 years prior to taking the reins from his father as Head Winemaker in 2013.  Michael is also very involved with the grape growing and farming, and you may find him pouring in the tasting room and at events from time to time.

 Light has more than two decades of experience in wine industry  communications. Prior to forming Nancy Light Public Relations in 2003, she  was Vice President of Public Relations for Robert Mondavi for seven years,  acting as chief communications strategist and managing public relations  programs for the company and its portfolio of 16 wineries and labels.  Light  was responsible for communications programs for the launch of ten new labels,  including international joint ventures, during a period of intense growth and  expansion in the US and key export markets.  She also managed press activity  for family and key company executives and served as spokesperson on  promotional, business and industry issues.      This direct experience augments the broad view of the industry that Light  gained as Wine Institute Communications Director and in her previous positions  as Account Supervisor for Shelly Berman Communicators, a public relations and  advertising agency, and as Public Relations Manager for Kobrand Corporation in  New York, where she started the company's first in-house PR department in the  1980s.      Wine Institute is a public policy advocacy group representing  637 California wineries and affiliated businesses responsible for more than  80 percent of the nation's wine production and 90 percent of U.S. wine  exports.  Light replaces Kari Birdseye who departs the organization and plans  to remain in the wine industry.    

Craig Palmer and Allen Habel, co-founders of the Experience Rosé Today. Experience Rosé brand, which aims to celebrate all things rosé. The new brand will host an array of events in 2018, all honoring the lauded “pink drink,” with the Experience Rosé: The 2018 Competition kicking things off in the Spring. Focusing exclusively on domestic and international rosé wines and directed by globally-renowned wine expert and educator Debra Del Fiorentino, the competition will take place on Wednesday, April 18 at Soda Rock Winery in Healdsburg. The Experience Rosé brand will offer a collection of curated consumer events beyond the competition as well, including The Great Rosé Pairing for Summer, to be held on Saturday, June 16, at The CIA at Copia in Napa, and The Great Rosé Pairing for Thanksgiving, which will take place Friday, October 19, at Jaxon Keys Winery and Distillery in Hopland.

Experience Rosé is all about providing extraordinary experiences for everyone who revels in our passion for Rosé and its infinite possibilities all year-long. Foodie to newbie. Wine maker to chef. Sponsor to volunteer. Because every day pairs better with Rosé. Fill your glass with us. We promise you a fulfilling experience that will be personal, passionate and perfect.

Celebrating a wide range of rosé winemaking styles and taking place on Wed, Apr 18 at Soda Rock Winery in Healdsburg, Experience Rose: The 2018 Competition will showcase the best of the best from both domestic and international producers in dry, sparkling and sweet categories.

“We’re excited to introduce these new elements around the Wine Competition,” states Del Fiorentino. “Our goal is to create an event that is beneficial to both our wine competition entrants and the attendees to the two consumer events, as we want everyone to have the best experience possible.”

The Brand will introduce two new wine events to the general public. On Saturday, June 16, 2018, Experience Rosé will debut The Great Rosé Pairing for Summer, to be held at The CIA at Copia in Napa. Event-goers will have the opportunity to sip winning wines paired with gourmet bites inspired by cuisine from the four major rosé producing regions (France, Italy, Spain and the United States/California). The bites will be prepared by teams of CIA students directed by Lars Kronmark, Professor of Culinary Arts at The Culinary Institute of America at Greystone in Napa Valley. This curated event will also include special arts programming and Experience Rosé Talks – an educational series featuring presentations, panel discussions and pairings.

Gabrielle and Anthony Poston are avid wine lovers and wine country explorers.

Their passion for wine, and knowledge of winery locations and attributes, caused friends and family to frequently ask for recommendations on “which wineries” to visit.

They began to realize that they, like so many others, were recommending and visiting the same wineries repeatedly. One serendipitous moment in France, with a map in hand, unable to find the champagne house that they wanted to visit, they realized there needs to be a better way.

Gabrielle proposed the idea of creating a website that shared their travel experiences and included a searchable tool that allowed friends, family and ultimately users to make more informed decisions on finding wineries that fit their preferences.

WhichWinery.com now boasts over 20K+ wineries across 47 countries and is the world’s first winery based, travel site that connects each winery’s unique qualities with user preferences, allowing users to find wineries, plan and share trips utilizing the trip planner tool, track their visits and continue to learn about the world of wine.

They’ve launched a VIP service to accommodate clientele who want an elevated experience of allowing us to plan their winery trip - whether that means winery visits, transportation, lunch, accommodations or all of the above.

Delia Viader was born in Argentina and came to the U.S. as a student. She holds a doctorate in Philosophy from the Sorbonne University in Paris, France. She pursued advanced business degrees at Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the University of California, Berkeley in the U.S.

Delia’s father helped her financially for the initial seven-year investment in her winery. As she fell in love with California when she was a student at Berkeley and was attracted to the wine industry.

After founding VIADER in 1986, Delia studied Enology and Viticulture at the University of California, Davis to learn the practical theory behind making fine wine Her first vintage was 1989, when she produced 1,200 cases of wine. Today, Delia has a production total of 7,500 cases under the Viader labels.

Delia found that she was decidedly more attracted to Old World wines. She was particularly impressed by the wines of Chateau Cheval Blanc in St. Emilion, from which she based the idea for her first blend, the 1989 VIADER comprising 40 percent Cabernet Franc and 60 percent Cabernet Sauvignon, a combination that is now her signature wine.

Always “daring to be different,” Delia decided to bring the Bordeaux style of winemaking and vineyard cultivation to the California hillside by planting the vines in rows going up and down the mountain, following the path of the afternoon sun down the steep slopes of Howell Mountain. At the time, she met strong opposition and criticism for planting her vines in this way, simply because it had never been done before. However, soon after successfully releasing her first vintage, it was clear that her efforts to develop the vineyard were worthwhile. With optimal sun exposure, and unique soil that allows for natural drainage, the vines struggle to survive in the rocky terroir and produce fruit of exceptional quality.

In 2002, her son Alan came on board, first to manage the vineyards and later to be the Director of Operations, joining Delia on the winemaking and production team. Her daughter Janet is Director of Marketing and Sales. Delia’s family (she has four children) and fascination with fine wines have been her primary motivations for starting her beautiful winery overlooking the Napa Valley.

Cork stoppers are the most famous product of the cork industry. It is the most produced and most exported. More than 12 billion bottles of wine are closed every year with cork, keeping all the qualities of this drink intact for centuries. The cork stopper has been the closure par excellence of wine for many years, chosen by more than 70% of producers. Cork’s relationship with wine began in ancient Egypt as a closure for amphorae. 

 According to Executive Director Peter Weber of the Cork Quality Council, consumers still need help understanding and appreciating the environmental and social benefits of natural cork over plastic stoppers and screwcaps.

“The fact is that cork is a 100 percent renewable and sustainable natural resource, harvested every nine years without damaging the tree. It not only provides important CO₂retention, a crucial tool to fight climate change, it also provides one of the world’s 36 most important biodiversity hotspots. In the era of climate change, education about natural cork’s environmental and social benefits is becoming more and more of a focus, and we still have work to do to fully engage the public on this topic,” 

In addition to cork being seen as an indicator of wine quality by the majority of wine consumers, surveys showed that natural cork is the closure of choice for wine purchased at a restaurant, wine purchased as a gift, and wine purchased to bring to a dinner party.

Some of the reasons people stated for preferring cork were led by the idea that natural cork evokes an important sense of heritage, while the enjoyment of opening wine sealed with a cork, the “pop” and the “ritual” creating a unique distinctiveness at the moment of consumption were also cited. 

Also importantly, wine lovers found cork to be conducive to wine aging, a marker to check the quality of the brand before purchasing, and an indicator of overall quality.

Gabrielle and Anthony Poston are avid wine lovers and wine country explorers.

Their passion for wine, and knowledge of winery locations and attributes, caused friends and family to frequently ask for recommendations on “which wineries” to visit.

They began to realize that they, like so many others, were recommending and visiting the same wineries repeatedly. One serendipitous moment in France, with a map in hand, unable to find the champagne house that they wanted to visit, they realized there needs to be a better way.

Gabrielle proposed the idea of creating a website that shared their travel experiences and included a searchable tool that allowed friends, family and ultimately users to make more informed decisions on finding wineries that fit their preferences.

WhichWinery.com now boasts over 20K+ wineries across 47 countries and is the world’s first winery based, travel site that connects each winery’s unique qualities with user preferences, allowing users to find wineries, plan and share trips utilizing the trip planner tool, track their visits and continue to learn about the world of wine.

They’ve launched a VIP service to accommodate clientele who want an elevated experience of allowing us to plan their winery trip - whether that means winery visits, transportation, lunch, accommodations or all of the above.

Rempfer Cellars was formed in 2014 with their first release of four wines in 2016 (Cabernet Sauvignon, Petite Sirah, Zinfandel, and Tetrahedron). Jeff has been a firefighter for 25 years. He started his wine passion many years ago, opening multiple wine bars and traveling the world tasting wines from some of the most prestigious regions. He uses that experience and knowledge in producing his wines. Jeff met his wife Allison, who is a Registered Nurse, while working at the Fire Department. They married in 2014. Jeff and Allison have two sons, Levi and Luke, along with the family dog Chloe. They hope to pass the art of wine making on to their sons.

Karen MacNeil is the only American to have won every major wine award given in the English language.

These include the Wine and Spirits Professional of the Year (James Beard Foundation) and the Global Wine Communicator of the Year (International Wine and Spirits Association).  In a full-page profile on her, TIME Magazine called Karen “America’s Missionary of the Vine.”

But deep global wine knowledge is only part of the story. Karen is considered America’s foremost wine presenter–a speaker who can enchant audiences from 5 to 500, and from wine novices to wine collectors alike. Her customized TED-like talks are accompanied by extraordinary wines which she personally selects for the event.

Karen is also the author of the award-winning book, THE WINE BIBLE, the single best- selling wine book in the United States, praised as “The most informative and entertaining book I’ve ever seen on the subject” (Danny Meyer), “Astounding” (Thomas Keller), and “A masterpiece of wine writing…the single best wine book written in years…” (Kevin Zraly).

The former wine correspondent for the Today Show, Karen was the host of the PBS series Wine, Food and Friends with Karen MacNeil, for which she won an Emmy. Karen is the creator and editor of WineSpeed, the leading digital “e-letter” in the U.S. for fast, authoritative information about wine. Her articles on wine and food have been published in more than 50 newspapers and magazines including The New York Times, Town & Country, Elle, and Worth. She was the first Food and Wine Editor of USA Today. Karen currently hosts #SipWithKaren, the leading Twitter tasting in the global wine sphere, which each month reaches 20+ million timelines from Indiana to India.

Karen’s firm, Karen MacNeil & Company, creates customized corporate events and wine tours around the world for companies and individual groups. Among Karen’s corporate clients are Lexus, Merrill Lynch, Disney, General Electric, UBS, and Singapore Airlines, as well as numerous law and biotech firms.

Karen is the creator and Chairman Emeritus of the Rudd Center for Professional Wine Studies at the Culinary Institute of America in the Napa Valley, which has been called “the Harvard of wine education.”

Matt Deller MW is the Chief Wine Officer for Wine Access, who are leading the online revolution in direct-to-consumer fine wine e-commerce. Backed by top-tier investor, Norwest Venture Partners, Wine Access with the help of Matt and his team is now bringing the wine world’s best kept secret to everyone in America.

Previously he was at Constellation Brands for five years, most recently as Director of Fine Wine Development for Constellation Brands, developing the sales strategy for Robert Mondavi Winery, The Prisoner Wine Company, Mount Veeder Winery and Ruffino Estates.

He judges international wine competitions such as Decanter World Wine Awards, TEXSOM International Wine Competition and the Sydney International Top 100 Wine Awards. He is an Instructor on the faculty of the Napa Valley Wine Academy, an expert panelist at several international wine events and writes for various wine publications.

Danni Lin (B.S., M.S.), CEO of GREAT WINE, Inc., would like to share her entrepreneurial journey. Under her leadership, GREAT WINE now has an online store, and understands that technology does not only make a product; it also creates an environment in which symbiotic parts of the wine world will thrive together to create higher product demand and supply.

Besides adopting groundbreaking technology in winemaking, GREAT WINE also collaborates with myVinotype – a smart wine recommendation platform for wine-related businesses and connoisseurs to learn more about clients’ wine preferences.

Launched in 2011, myVinotype first started as a website widget and a consumer survey. By 2016, the platform has launched an iOS app, and has become available in eight languages worldwide. All these features are supported by data analytics in order to be more client-oriented.

GREAT WINE is a huge success in the USA. In 2016, GREAT WINE opened its first tasting room in the Seattle Metro Area to offer wine tasting and vinotyping experiences to clients. It is ready to accept future challenges it may encounter during the expansion phase.

Our CEO Danni Lin is devoted to inspire more clients to engage in the global cultural exchanges of wine, with the opening of the first international satellite tasting room in China in September 2017.

Before becoming the CEO of GREAT WINE, Lin was a Data Scientist at Microsoft. Like many, Lin had experiences of going into a supermarket, and got lost in massive product lists and ads. She thought her likes and dislikes were related to how knowledgeable she was in wine – until she had a conversation with Tim Hanni.

Hanni is one of the first Americans to become Master of Wine, and introduced Lin to the scientific concept of “vinotype,” i.e. wine preferences and sensory abilities of people. Lin then transformed from a wine novice to a wine educator who encouraged consumers to speak their mind – what they really enjoy drinking and experiencing.

In 2016, GREAT WINE opened its first tasting room in the Seattle Metro Area to offer wine tasting and vinotyping experiences to clients. Lin did not let tasting and learning end in a brick-and-mortar store; she started a wine club for her clients so they can enjoy “vinotyped” selection of wines at home.

Craig McAllister, New Zealander spent his first 20 years in Christchurch, New Zealand and then lived in London for 6 years. He has travelled extensively throughout the world. He found himself drawn not just to the wine industry, but to the wine lifestyle due to his love of cooking, traveling and being outdoors. This led him to Lincoln University in New Zealand, where he received his Bachelor of Science degree in viticulture and enology.

While traveling around the world, he found himself drawn to wine industry. Cooking, traveling and being outdoors led him to received his Bachelor of Science degree in viticulture and Enology (which means study wines) at Lincoln University in New Zealand.

Craig’s passion for winemaking has taken him all over the world, from New Zealand to Australia, Chile and Cyprus. He first joined the La Crema team in 2007 as the Harvest Enologist. After gaining additional experience abroad, he joined the La Crema team full-time in 2009. He has been a steward of La Crema’s Monterey program and worked extensively on the Sonoma Coast Chardonnay. He also helped to further develop La Crema’s esteemed collection of single vineyard Chardonnay and Pinot Noir wines. He was promoted to head winemaker in 2017.

For Craig, there is never a dull moment in winemaking. From the rush and intensity of harvest, to bottling the wines and taking them to market, he continually strives to improve quality.

Howard Hian is an award winning journalist, affiliated with the North American Travel Journalists Association and the International Travel Writers Alliance. He was a long-time member of the San Diego Hotel Motel Association and served as an allied representative on their Board of Directors. In 2012 he was the San Diego hotel industry’s Allied Person of the Year. He served as a panel member of the City of San Diego’s Economic Development Division. Hian writes a monthly travel feature for The Military Press, a California semi-monthly journal with print circulation of 100,000 and 500,000 – 650,000 views/month at their website. His column also appears online at Travel Savvy West, Real Travel Adventures and Roadtrips for Couples. He believes his secret to writing a good story is having an in-house proofreader and editor (his wife). 

Hian has been playing poker for six decades. Over the past few years he has played 13,000+ hands of Omaha High/Low and 14,000+ of Hold ‘Em in home games, computer simulations, online and in casinos. In February 2014, he launched an app, Poker Tutorial: Omaha 101 – Improve Your Game and/or Learn the Basics. The app was downloaded in over 40 countries around the world. Its updated version Poker Tutorial: Omaha 101 Plus An Insiders Guide To Reno is now available in the iTunes store. It was recently won Gold in the app category in the North American Travel Journalist Association’s 2015 competition.

Do and check his site on: http://www.travels-with-hian.com

Moraga Vineyards is a wine growing estate in the Santa Monica Mountains at an elevation of 600 to 900 feet, five miles from the Pacific Ocean in the Los Angeles community of Bel Air. From the care of each individual vine, to the selection and blending processes, to the hand labeling of each bottle, every effort is taken to produce wine of distinctive style and quality.

This is where Rich works his magic. Hired by former owner Tom Jones, who created the vineyard two decades ago out of what was once the horse ranch of director Victor Fleming (of Gone with the Wind fame), Rich now makes wine that has earned the praise of such renowned critics as Robert Parker and the Financial Times’ Jancis Robinson (who cited it as one of her favorite California wineries).

“Most winemakers don’t have this opportunity in a lifetime,” says Rich, eyes twinkling above a small goatee that makes him resemble a young Frank Zappa. A native of Chatsworth, Rich studied enology at UC Davis. Since then, he has had a knack for nurturing vines in unusual places, starting with R.H. Phillips Wine Company, which hired him to create a vineyard north of Sacramento. He eventually launched his own wine label, Talisman, in Glen Ellen, and now splits his time between there and LA. “Look at how [rich in calcium] this soil is,” says Rich, scooping up the earth beneath a row of Merlot grapes ripening in the sun, reflecting off the Pacific glistening between the Santa Monica mountains. “This was all once under water, and the drainage makes it very similar to other great winemaking areas, like Burgundy.”

The constant sea breeze keeps things chillier here than in other local wine regions, lowering the high sugar levels typical to California grapes. “This temperate climate means that the wine is not a Napa fruit bomb type of thing,” notes Rich. “It has a subtle, herbal quality more associated with European wines.”

But it takes micro planning to grow grapes in this sort of environment. As we round toward the lee of the hill, grape clusters grow darker.

But it takes micro planning to grow grapes in this sort of environment. As we round toward the lee of the hill, grape clusters grow darker.“This is a little pocket that gets protected from the breezes, so we planted Cabernet here,” says Rich. “They thrive more in warmer spots.”

At this time of year, the juice of these grapes will be brought down to the large steel fermentation vats in the hypermodern stone and glass winemaking building at the bottom of the hill. Afterward, the red wine will be stored in French-oak barrels lining a 200-foot cave dug into the side of the hill. The vineyard even has its own bottling machine. “Most small vineyards hire mobile units to come and do their bottling for them, but we want to be able to time everything perfectly,” says Rich. “It might seem extravagant for such small batches, but that way we can best control the quality.”

Paolo is Pulp’s in-house sommelier and CEO. Prior to founding Pulp, Paolo worked in the financial industry, including the Singaporean sovereign fund GIC. Paolo is a WSET and UKSA certified sommelier and lifelong wine lover.

He is Italian and comes from one of the best kept wine 'secrets' of Italy - a region of Friuli, well known within Italy as the best white wine region. Will be happy to have a chat about wine, wine making, Pulp and what we are trying to achieve - ie desnobbify wine and the wine industry.

From Pulp Wine:

The wine tasting experience in the comfort of your own home. We've combined wine and technology to make wine tasting accessible to everyone, everywhere.

How does Pulp work? Every month, we deliver four great wines, carefully selected by our somm Paolo, to your door. Each box comes with an online lesson that talks about wine with a simple, no-nonsense approach. At the end of each lesson, you rate each wine you drink to create your own personalized taste profile.

Nestled in California’s beautiful Central Coast Region is the lovely Santa Maria Valley. Their unique micro-climate in the valley produces cool mornings and long warm afternoons.

A perfect combination producing some of the highest quality fruit Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Riesling and Syrah wines.

Ca’ Del Grevino is located in the Santa Maria Valley appellation of Santa Barbara County. The vineyard is located just 10 miles from the Pacific Coast and benefits greatly from cool, maritime influences. The vineyard is planted methodically and meticulously, with special attention paid to varietals best suited to the estate’s terroir. Taking into account the soils, the meso- and micro-climates, the coastal influences and the orientation of the sun upon the hillsides, you can find here Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Grenache, Dolcetto, Riesling and Syrah.

“Our vineyard produces some of the finest wines in California. The region’s cool climate, geology and topography provide the opportunity to create uncompromised, premium wines. Ca’ Del Grevino, meaning “House of Grewal Family Wines”, produces fine wines steeped in Italian tradition with a distinctive California style.”

“Ca’ Del Grevino is the signature wine brand of our estate representing regality, tradition and opulence. Nestled in California’s prestigious Central Coast is the lovely Santa Maria Valley. The unique micro-climate of the valley produces cool mornings and long warm afternoons. Together with us the best quality fruit produced and attention to detail produces our award -winning Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, White Riesling and Syrah wines.”

Ca’ Del Grevino wines are available to their Wine Club members and at their distinctive area Tasting Rooms. Each Tasting Room has a bit of a different character. The Orcutt Tasting Room is also a Café. The Los Olivos Tasting Room skillfully pairs their wines with cheese, charcuterie or chocolate plates. The Tasting Room in Santa Barbara is in the vibrant “Funk Zone” at the Santa Barbara Wine Collective. An attraction there is Helena’s Bakery with a menu of custom-baked sweet and savory goods.