WINE ENTHUSIAST
Matt Kettmann
DECEMBER 2020
From the late 1700s, when Spanish friars planted vines in Santa Barbara County, to the end of the 19th century, when French and Italian immigrants established nurseries and vineyards throughout the Santa Cruz Mountains, California’s Central Coast has played a prominent role in the rise of American viticulture.
As much of that history slips away with the march of time, a number of the region’s wineries embrace these chapters with pride. But the best of these brands aren’t content to remind us of yesteryear. They’re also focused on the future, evolving constantly to compete with the best wines in the world.
Few projects represent this better than Eden Rift in San Benito County, which has breathed new life into a bucolic property first planted in 1849.
WINEMAKER OF THE YEAR: FRANCOISE PESCHON
Esther Mobley
DECEMBER 2019
Francoise Peschon’s terroir-first attitude represents the best shot a changing Napa has at staying relevant.
In the dimly lit wine cave, Francoise Peschon is extracting small samples of wine from barrels. She bends over each barrel, removing the rubber bung, then plunges a plastic thief into the belly and lets it rest for a moment, acclimating. With a flick of her thumb, the thief’s chamber fills with deep, dark Vine Hill Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon.
All the barrels contain Cabernet — that’s pretty much all Vine Hill Ranch grows — and the first barrel she taps holds 2018 Cab from Block 4 of the Vine Hill Ranch vineyard in Napa’s Oakville AVA.
From some of the most storied vineyard sites to respected multi-generational family businesses, the brands we represent are truly unique but you don’t have to take our word for it. Explore all the recent press and recognition our brands have received.