(Napa Valley, Calif. — December 5, 2006) ––Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars, the family-owned and operated wine producer that helped put Napa Valley and the Stags Leap District on the map, announced it has appointed Kirk Grace as Vineyard Manager. In this position, which reports directly to Proprietor and Founding Winemaker Warren Winiarski, Grace will oversee Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars’ 225 acres of estate vineyards, including S.L.V., FAY, ARCADIA VINEYARD and B.R.V.
“Our estate vineyards are central to Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars’ identity, and our viticultural practices define the style and quality of the wines we produce,” said Winiarski. “Kirk brings with him not only a lifetime of Napa Valley farming experience, but an immense amount of expertise and dedication to sustainable winegrowing practices and agricultural conservation, a focus which is perfectly aligned with ours.” To that point, Grace will also help manage the second phase of Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars’ historic restoration of Chase Creek, a tributary of the Napa River that runs through the winery’s vineyard property.
Prior to joining Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars Grace was with Robert Sinskey Vineyards for nine years, where he designed and implemented a plan to manage all vineyard operations in-house, and where he successfully completed a transition of Sinskey’s 160 estate acres to certified organic farming. Before that, Grace held vineyard management positions with Bettinelli Vineyard Management and St. Supery Vineyards. He also oversees all aspects of vineyard management for Grace Family Vineyards, his family’s highly-regarded winery.
Grace, who came to Napa Valley in the mid-1970’s with his family and counts legendary grape growers Laurie Wood, Charlie Wagner and Bob Craig among his greatest influences, has won numerous awards, including the 2004 Integrated Pest Management Innovator from the California Department of Pesticide Regulation. He is an active member of the California Association Pest Control Advisors and the Napa Sustainable Wine Growing Group.
“The opportunity to join the Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars winegrowing team and to work with Warren, who contributed greatly to the fame of Napa Valley wines, is once-in-a-lifetime,” said Grace. “I know I’ll make contributions, but I also came because of a selfish desire to learn new things. I look forward to counting Warren as one my mentors.”
“Kirk’s philosophical approach to winegrowing – that it should be plant-based, not numbers-based – closely mirrors my own,” commented Winiarski. “His experience in organic and even biodynamic farming will inform and enhance our continued commitment to good stewardship of the land, as well as our efforts to achieve rich, yet balanced and restrained wines with alcohol levels appropriate to the dinner table.”
Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars also announced it has promoted Jim Duane to the position of assistant winemaker reporting to Winemaker Nicki Pruss. Duane, who held the position of Production Enologist, has winemaking experience in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres, having worked at Robert Mondavi Winery in Napa Valley, Brancott Estate Vineyard and Montana Wines Ltd. in New Zealand, and Arbor Crest Wine Cellars in Washington. Duane earned his Masters in Viticultural and Enology from U.C. Davis where he worked as a research assistant in Dr. David Block’s laboratory managing a thesis project involving vinification treatments of Cabernet Sauvignon.
“Jim brings passion and energy to the entire winemaking process,” commented Pruss. “His varied experience, strong analytical skills and perhaps most of all, his dedication to producing wines that are true to their origin, are all qualities that make Jim an excellent part of the winemaking team, and I look forward to the many contributions he’ll make as assistant winemaker here.”
About Stag's Leap Wine Cellars
Considered one of the “first growths” of Napa Valley, Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars is a private winery estate owned by the Warren Winiarski family since 1970. The Winiarskis first brought international recognition to California winemaking and the Napa Valley when the 1973 S.L.V. Cabernet Sauvignon won the now famous 1976 Paris Tasting. Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars’ three estate-grown Cabernet Sauvignons—CASK 23, S.L.V. and FAY—are among the most highly regarded and sought after Cabernet Sauvignons internationally. Two generations of Winiarskis continue to own and operate the winery.
# # #
PDF Version
 |
