It all started innocently enough. When I was 19, my older sister who was throwing a dinner party offered me a small glass of amber-colored syrup. “Ambrosia!” I exclaimed upon tasting the late-harvest Riesling. That was it. I was hooked. I started reading everything I could on the subject of wine. In college, I became a collector, attended numerous wine tastings, and even taught a course on wine appreciation.
After graduation, I settled into a software development career. But after three years of sitting in front of a monitor and keyboard, I realized I wanted to do something in which I truly felt passionate, something where I could still use my analytical skills and yet also be creative. I knew the answer would involve wine but in what capacity? Winemaking perhaps? Hmmm…
I started with five gallons of Zinfandel in my kitchen. Over the next several years, I made a barrel of Zinfandel each vintage with the help of some friends and my wife, Kendall Carlisle. The results were encouraging. Kendall and I moved to Santa Rosa in Sonoma County to be closer to the “source”. I found myself increasingly drawn to the old-vine vineyards of Sonoma County. There was something special, even magical, about those ancient, twisted vines with their deep roots and long histories. By 1997 we were producing over 300 cases of “garage” wine, mostly vineyard-designated old-vine Zinfandels, and winning numerous gold medals in amateur competitions.
