Where is Our Winery?
I am asked this question fairly often and the simple answer is that we don't own a winery. (A friend recently commented that we have an 'on-linery'. We contract with various wineries to provide tanks and labor, I supervise the winemaking and it all works quite well. In 2007 I will move our pinot production from Kunde Estate to Moshin Vineyards in the Russian River Valley. I also produce zinfandel at Peterson Winery in the Dry Creek Valley, and will crush some small lots of Sonoma Valley fruit at Deerfield Ranch Winery, in Kenwood.

Most wineries have some excess capacity, and since tanks, bottling lines and labor are all expensive, they are glad to maximize the use of their facility. I, in turn, appreciate the ability to benefit from top quality equipment and professional services without the capital requirement to create the infrastructure myself. Beyond the basic business economics, I enjoy working with my colleagues; we all benefit from the exchange of ideas, information and new techniques.

It is my pleasure here to give you a brief introduction to each of 'our' wineries:

Moshin Vineyards
I recently signed a contract with Moshin Vineyards to host my 2007 pinot production. Rick Moshin realized a long held dream when he and his family crushed the first grapes at their new winery in 2005. Rick began his own label in 1989 after several years working with both Davis Bynum and Gary Farrell. The facility he designed contains all the elements necessary to produce absolutely top quality pinot noir: facilities to sort fruit, small open top fermenters, air activated punch down, great temperature control, gentle pressing and the ability to do gravity flow wine movement from start to finish. http://www.moshinvineyards.com

(I'll be in great company, in addition to their own wines Moshin Vineyards has handled production for Merry Edwards, Guy Davis-Davis Family wines and George Levkoff of George Wine Company.)

Peterson Winery
Fred Peterson and I shared a few classes at UC Davis, where he specialized in viticulture and I in enology. Later we worked as neighbors in the Santa Cruz Mountains, Fred as vineyard manager, and later winemaker/general manager for Mt. Eden Vineyards, and I as assistant winemaker for Ridge Vineyards. In 1985 Fred joined Ridge as vineyard manager and began Peterson Winery, in the Dry Creek Valley, in 1987. Fred's commitment to winemaking begins in the vineyard and he employs a 'no manipulation' approach to winemaking. Currently Fred's son James ably handles the day to day production of their wines. I am delighted to have my Dry Creek zinfandel, (also sangiovese, petite sirah and carignane), made by such a team, with their experience with and dedication to Dry Creek Valley wines. http://www.petersonwinery.com

Kunde Estate Winery
I helped design Kunde Estate Winery over 16 years ago, and over the years we attracted and trained an excellent, professional winemaking team. It's been my pleasure to work with them as I've made the transition from winemaker to my own business. My 2006 pinot will the last vintage made at Kunde. http://www.kunde.com

Deerfield Ranch Winery
Located just South of the small town of Kenwood, longtime winemaker Robert Rex and his wife P. J. began construction of their winery, complete with caves in 2001. A beautiful site with views across a protected marsh, I look forward to working with Robert and his team this year to produce my Sonoma Valley wines. For more information about Robert, P.J. and their dream, visit: http://www.deerfieldranch.com