After earning a degree in Silviculture at the University of California, Berkeley in 1974, Lloyd made a career of nurturing and sustaining the timberlands of Washington State. In 2002 he followed his passion for fine wine and began studying Enology and Viticulture at UC Davis and at Chemeketa College in Salem, Oregon. Today, he continues to be a seeker of elegance and finesse in his winemaking style.

Walter Dacon Wines
Shelton, Washington

Visit: www.walterdaconwines.com home page of Walter Dacon Wines

2007 Sangiovese

2006 C’est Syrah Beaux

2007 Appanage

2007 C’est Syrah Beaux

2007 C’est Syrah Magnifique

2006 C’est Syrah Magnifique

2007 C’est Syrah Belle Blend

2007 Vin a Dessert (Port of Syrah) Dessert Wine

2008 Roussanne

2008 Viognier

After earning a degree in Silviculture at the University of California, Berkeley in 1974, Lloyd made a career of nurturing and sustaining the timberlands of Washington State. In 2002 he followed his passion for fine wine and began studying Enology and Viticulture at UC Davis and at Chemeketa College in Salem, Oregon. Today, he continues to be a seeker of elegance and finesse in his winemaking style.

Walter Dacon Wines
Shelton, Washington

Visit: www.walterdaconwines.com home page of Walter Dacon Wines

2007 Sangiovese

2006 C’est Syrah Beaux

2007 Appanage

2007 C’est Syrah Beaux

2007 C’est Syrah Magnifique

2006 C’est Syrah Magnifique

2007 C’est Syrah Belle Blend

2007 Vin a Dessert (Port of Syrah) Dessert Wine

2008 Roussanne

2008 Viognier

Sara Fowler’s passion for Bordeaux varietals and knack for innovative blending make her the perfect fit to lead Peju’s winemaking team.<br><br>Sara cut her teeth in the wine industry as a seasonal member of the Kendall-Jackson Winery staff during high school and college. But she was no stranger to agriculture. Her family has owned and operated a 400-acre organic ranch dating back to 1884. <br><br>Sara began to help plant wine grapes on their organic ranch, taking a very active role in their new venture – choosing the varietals and rootstock, installing the drip tubing and eventually pruning the vineyard. At the same time, she also served as an Enologist Assistant during crush at Kendall-Jackson. <br><br>Soon after, she began studying viticulture at Fresno State and doubled as a research assistant for the Viticulture Enology Research Center (VERC). She went on to work for seven-plus years as the Associate Winemaker at Franciscan and Mt. Veeder Winery and abroad during the 2002 harvest season in Chile for Veramonte.<br>She also played a role in the terroir-driven Bordeaux blends of Quintessa and Estancia from 1999 to 2002, where she was able to utilize her talent for blending and creating Meritage wines.<br><br>In September 2007, Sara headed Peju’s efforts to gain organic certification in the Rutherford Vineyard and she is overseeing the winery’s sustainable farming efforts in the Persephone and Wappo Vineyards with organic certification goals in the near future. <br>

Peju Winery
Rutherford, California

Visit: www.peju.com home page of Peju Winery

2006 Fifty/Fifty Red Wine Blend

Those who know David well were not surprised when he became a winemaker. His curious nature keeps him always trying to figure out how things happen and once he fell in love with wine, it was only natural that he began making some. He started as a hobby winemaker but it wasn’t long before David became obsessed with starting a winery. He studied winemaking at UC Davis, and you’re likely to run into him at a wine-related class these days, too. David likes to stay on top of winemaking trends.
David is thrilled to have the opportunity to locate the winery in Woodinville. He looks forward to meeting you and sharing his wine. Cheers!

Covington Cellars
Woodinville, Washington

Visit: www.covingtoncellars.com home page of Covington Cellars

2006 Tuscan Red Blend

2006 Starr Syrah Blend

2007 Dress White Blend

As the winemaker my goal is to create a truly personalized ultra-premium wine. My philosophy of winemaking stems from experiences working and mentoring with some of the most highly regarded winemakers in Sonoma County including the late Andre Tchelistcheff.
I believe the best wines exhibit the characteristics of the grape. Having balanced vineyards and a blending of winemaking techniques help to achieve that goal. Frank assists the growers and me to oversee the vineyards to achieve the best that the grapes can bring to the wines.

Coral Mustang Wines
Hopland, California

Visit: www.coralmustang.com home page of Coral Mustang Wines

2005 Vista Creek Tempranillo Rose’

Gordon Rawson

Chatter Creek Winery
Woodinville, Washington

Visit: www.chattercreek.com home page of Chatter Creek Winery

2003 Cabernet Franc

2001 Cabernet Sauvignon

2006 Clifton Hill Syrah

2003 Lonesome Spring Ranch Syrah

2005 Viognier

The truth is, I love wine. I also love making wine. Those are my best qualifications as the winemaker for Selby Winery.
My goal when I make Selby wines is to focus on the fruit; therefore I favor traditional minimalist principles of winemaking that yield elegant, sophisticated and accessible wines you can enjoy without lengthy cellaring.
If it’s possible to do it by hand, I do. I designed our winery to accommodate my handcrafted approach. We pick, ferment, process and even bottle by hand. On most of our lots, we use small, half-ton bins for extended maceration.
We use carefully selected coopers for our French and American oak, as well as insulated stainless steel fermentation and blending tanks. Our press is an extraordinarily gentle Puleo from Italy. This is an important part of the process and we don’t take shortcuts.
On the other hand, timing is everything. Knowing when to harvest, how long to age, when to blend, when to bottle and when to release is more than science; it’s an art that is based on experience and intuition.
People don’t often think of winemaking as a thrill-a-minute, fast-paced business. It is for me. As the winemaker, I’m in the thick of it, at all times. Winemaking is my life. So next time you visit Selby Winery, keep an eye out.
I’ll be the on the cell phone in the vineyards, taking sugars, arranging harvest, supervising crush, filling a barrel, assembling a blend or running the hand-bottler. Who knows? You might even find me on the forklift. Of course, if I’m lucky, I’ll be in the tasting room, raising a glass with you.

Selby Winery
Healdsburg, California

Visit: www.selbywinery.com home page of Selby Winery

2006 Merlot

2005 Syrah

2007 Selby Chardonnay

2007 Selby Sauvignon Blanc

Fortress Vineyards is proud to announce their new consulting winemaker, Nils Venge. Nils has over 30 years of winemaking experience in the Napa Valley, and now brings his expertise to Fortress Vineyards.
Nils graduated from UC Davis in 1967 with a BS in viticulture and a minor in enology. In 1970, after serving a tour of duty in Vietnam, Nils began his career in the wine industry as a vineyard supervisor for Charles Krug Winery and later, Sterling Vineyards. By 1973 Nils made the transition into winemaking by becoming winemaker and general manager for Villa Mount Eden.
In 1982, Nils joined forces with Dennis Groth to form Groth Vineyards and Winery. Nils served as winemaker and general manager. In 1985, Nils was bestowed the honor of being the first American winemaker to receive a perfect ‘100 Points’ from Robert Parker Jr. for Groth’s Reserve Cabernet. In that same year, Nils began making wine under his own label, Saddleback Cellars, from grapes grown on property he and his father-in-law owned together. Saddleback Cellars’ first vintage was released in 1982.
Nils parted from Groth Vineyards in 1993 to become a consulting winemaker and to make wine under his own label, Saddleback Cellars. Nils later added Venge Vineyards, a Venge family operation with his son Kirk. Envy Wines is his newest collaborative venture. In addition to now consulting for Fortress Vineyards, Nils’ winery clients include such prominent wineries as Keenan, Del Dotto, Plumpjack and Moss Creek

Fortress Vineyards
Santa Rosa, California

Visit: www.fortressvineyards.com home page of Fortress Vineyards

2007 Petite Sirah

2007 Sauvignon Blanc Musque Clone

2007 Novateur Blend

After many years studying at the prestigious Lycee Viticole de Beaune in Burgundy, France, and working for esteemed French winemakers and vineyards, Michael Shaps made his way home to study the potential for winemaking along the East Coast. In Virginia he saw a developing wine industry with promising viticultural conditions and the opportunity to make a difference in a young industry. In 1995 he moved to Charlottesville and worked at Jefferson Vineyards for six vintages. While there he earned over a hundred medals in local and national competitions. In the June 2000 issue of The Wine Spectator he received three 87 point ratings for his Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay, the highest average score of over thirty East Coast wineries. Michael Shaps continues to produce wines under his own label, Michael Shaps Wines. Shaps takes the winemaking approach of creating wines that are meant to age in the bottle and develop over time, therefore the wines are heavily extracted and oak aged. As a consultant, Shaps hopes to maximize each winery’s unique strengths by highlighting the characteristics of the individual vineyard site and representing the winemaking philosophies of the individual wineries. With this approach Shaps has been able to consistently produce award-winning wines in an industry that is rapidly becoming a national player in the wine world.

DelFosse Vineyards and Winery
Faber, Virginia

Visit: www.delfossewine.com home page of DelFosse Vineyards and Winery

2005 Cabernet Franc

2005 Merlot

2005 Grand Cru Olivier Blend

2006 Deer Rock Red Blend

2005 Cuvee Laurent Blend

2005 Meritage Blend

2004 Meritage Blend

2006 Grand Cru Olivier Blend

2006 Chardonnay

2005 Chardonnay Reserve

2007 Pinot Gris

2006 Viognier Reserve

2006 Viognier

2007 Deer Rock White Blend

2005 Reserve d’Oriane Blend

2006 Reserve d’Oriane Blend

2006 Rose’ Blend

2005 Ambrosia Dessert Wine

After a long and satisfying career as the founder of a restaurant and the wholesale baking company known under his own name – Alfaro’s Micro Bakery – owner/winemaker Richard Alfaro shifted gears in 1997, acquiring an aging 75 acre apple farm south of Santa Cruz in Corralitos, California, which he and wife Mary Kay subsequently transformed into Alfaro Family Vineyards & Winery.<br>

Alfaro Family Vineyards
Corralitos, California

Visit: www.alfarowine.com home page of Alfaro Family Vineyards

2006 Alfaro Family “Billy K” Estate Merlot

2006 Alfaro “A” Estate Pinot Noir

2006 Alfaro Family Estate Pinot Noir

2006 Alfaro “Lindsay Paige Vineyard” Pinot Noir

2006 Alfaro Family “A” Estate Syrah

2007 Alfaro “A” Estate Chardonnay

2007 Alfaro “Lindsay Paige Vineyard” Estate Chardonnay