Winter Wine Producer Tour Highlights Wineries and Winemakers
Recently, I took part in the Winter Wine Producer Tour. I went to Fisher’s Island, FL and Orlando, FL and was able to have the opportunity to meet the people and personalities behind some of the wines that we offer at Wine on the Way.Â
Tasting with the Staglin Family Vineyard
Shari and Garen Staglin, presidents and founders of Staglin Family Vineyard talked about the direction and motivation behind their production.
The Staglin Family Vineyard is a family owned Napa Valley winery devoted to producing extremely limited quantities of the highest quality wines from its own vineyard. Staglin has been rated one of the top five vineyards in all of CA. The vineyard manager,  David Abreu, has over 20 years experience. Their commitment to farming the property as organically as possible has provided the winery an outstanding source of consistently high quality fruit which makes high quality wines, such as the 2005 California Cabernet that we carry.
Garen Staglin
What I loved most about this vineyard is that they formed a nonprofit organization for mental health. Since 1995, Staglin Family Vineyard has raised over $710 million for charitable causes.100% of profits from two of their wines go directly to the organization. Great wine, great people and personal ethical integrity makes for a winning combination!
Chehalem, Wine and Bacon
Harry Peterson-Nedry-president & founderof Chehalem came all the way from Northern Willamette Valley in Newberg, Oregon. He was kind enough to have dinner with the group of us in Fisher’s Island after the trade show was over and it was a great chance to get to know him personally. Can you tell by his face just how fun he was? If you doubt me, then just take a look at their website and be sure to check out the wine and bacon tasting for Valentine’s Day.
Harry Peterson Nedry
Shafer Vineyards and Doug Shafer
Doug Shafer
Doug Shafer from Shafer Vineyards is a legend in the wine world. Doug Shafer became winemaker in 1983 after graduating from the University of California at Davis with a degree in enology and viticulture. I have to admit, I thought he was going to be a jerk. I was so surprised at how cool he was.Â
His station at the Orlando show was right next to the golf course. When we tasted his wine a group of older ladies were playing golf. Every time a lady hit a ball well he would walk over onto the green and offer them a glass of wine. They all refused. We just could not stop laughing; if they only knew who he was! Our group decided to award him with having the least amount of wine in the dump bucket. Cool cat for sure!
Von Strasser Winery & Rudy Von Strasser: out of the caves!
The Von Stasser Winery,located in the Diamond Mt region of Napa Valley nestled between the towns of St Helena and Calistoga, sent us Rudy Von Strasser himself.
Rudy Von Strasser
Prior to the trade show, we had a wine dinner at the Ravenous Pig with Rudy. It was a huge success. Rudy is a very down to earth type of guy.  He took control of the wine dinner and had everyone on the edge of there seats just listening to his story. At Fisher’s Island, he was also kind enough to have dinner with us.  Even though, he was the one who ordered a weird pizza pie. He told us that he plays a lot of scrabble with his wife and children. I told him that is what happens when you live on top of a mountain and hang out in caves. Not much to do.Â
The Girl Power of Lail Vineyards
Being with another woman in the wine business was a personal highlight to me. Robin Lail, president & founder of Lail Vineyards has a rich history in winemaking stretching back  over five generations, to Robins Lail’s great granduncle Gustav Niebaum, whose Inglenook Vineyards was widely recognized in the late 19th century as the finest wine producer in the country.
Robin Lail
Robin Lail is a very soft spoken woman. She is so elegant and when she speaks she just demands attention even with that soft voice. It was very interesting to me that she is a Mormon and has a strong belief that women can take over family businesses. After speaking to her for a while, I told her I was very proud to have meet her. It was so refreshing to meet a very powerful woman. GO GIRL POWER! I have more pictures and fun stories from the Winter Wine Producer Tour, so stay tuned!
