Hands of Time
A Tradition of Mentoring
“Any contribution I may have made is humbled by comparison to the contribution this place made to my own life and my own sense of how to make wine. This is where I learned about the deep connection between the wine and the vineyards.”
– John Williams, Alumnus and
Proprietor of Frog’s Leap Winery
On a February day in 2003, more than thirty-five prominent vintners gathered together for the Hands of Time: Winemaker’s Reunion.
A day of celebration and reflection, the event honored winemakers and viticulturists who at one time or another had worked at Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars and “lent a hand” in the winery’s success. The event started with each vintner placing his or her hand into a plaque of French limestone putty. These cast handprints are what now comprise the “Hands of Time” exhibit, permanently installed at the Napa Valley winery.
The celebration inspired a string of memories, toasts and tribute, and emotional outpourings of gratitude. All gave credit to Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars for imbuing in them a passion for learning, a respect for the land, and an abiding love of winemaking and viticulture.
