Q How did you get into the wine industry?
A While working in tech started in 1994 by traveling to assist my cousin making home wine in Binghamton, NY. In 1998 made the decision to purchase the required equipment, and a 59 gallon oak barrel, to make wine at my home in Rochester, MN. Then in 2021 left tech, opened an LLC for the winery, and set sail for Wine Country.
Q How did you get into the Santa Lucia Highlands?
A Through a work connection was introduced to Mark Pisoni, which led to working the 2021 harvest at their custom crush facility, Gravity Wine House, in Santa Rosa, where I initially leaned about the Pinot from SLH. Then in 2022 through another connection was introduced to Joe Alarid, owner and vineyard manager for Tondre’ Grapefield, and have been fortunate to buy his Pinot Noir for the 2023 and 2024 harvests.
Q What is your earliest wine memory?
A On Christmas and Easter holidays my mother would make a classic multi-course Italian meal, and my father would open a bottle of the familiar Chianti wines with the wicker on the bottle. Since we were young, my father would serve the wine diluted with ginger ale. There were no complaints, as it sure made the ginger ale taste better!
Q Tell us about your family traditions.
A With my father being from a family of 5 children, and my mother from a family of 8, big family gatherings were a regular occurrence. Both sides of the family were also do’ers and would also help each other out, so I spent a lot of years going for this, and going for that, which turned out to be a good way to start learning the trades.
Q What do you do for fun when you're not working?
A Jumping into hard workouts, outdoor activities, construction projects and spending time in the woods near the water. Over the years I have also spent a fair amount of time coaching sports, and with being a manager in tech for many years enjoy helping people accomplish their goals.
Q What is your favorite part of being a winemaker?
A The electricity and out of this world sensory aspects coming out of the tanks during harvest.
