We love hand selling our wines and listening to consumers talk to us about our wines. We never want to be so big that we cannot speak with our customers and meet their customer service needs.
— Michael Budd
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“The name says it all. We are all about family and this passion project is my attempt to integrate my wife and children into my daily life and, hopefully, create some sort of a legacy that they will want to be a part of as they get older. I want the smells of harvest to be one of the smells that they remember vividly from their childhood. The labels are just fun little works of art. Some people think I’m crazy for having such a weird and wild label like Boomshakalaka but I am far more focused on the wine inside of the bottle and letting it speak for itself.”
– Mark Ferguson
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My hands are in every aspect of the wine. I can touch and feel every piece. From vineyard to winery to out the door. It allows me to see what I like and don’t like and what I can change for the next year. It’s a very intimate view for me and the consumers. — James Sparks
Read More“Knowing where your food (and wine) comes from is an important aspect for consumers, especially here in California. I see more people becoming interested in the stories behind their wine; the people, the area, etc. and appreciating small-lot wines made with intention and quality.”
–Riley Hubbard
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We look for like-minded vineyards that provide a unique expression of the grapes that represent their location and take a sustainable approach. — Brad Kitson
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“ I love that it’s still small in Dry Creek and a little below the radar for Cabernet unlike Alexander Valley. Russian River gets all the credit for Pinot. Dry Creek sits quietly in the middle growing more Cabernet than Zinfandel, even though everyone thinks of Zinfandel when they think of DCV.”
– David Scheidt
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Pinot noir and Chardonnay are my favorite varietals. Their subtle elegance and ability to communicate the specifics of the terror in the finished wine is truly amazing.
— Cory Michal
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The best thing about being a small winery is that you are connected to every grape you harvest and every single drop of wine you produce. For most small wineries making wine is a lot more than just a business, it’s about a shared love of wine with our buyers. Most people who buy from small wineries have a true passion for wine and an appreciation for small-lot winemaking. — Atsmon Shahar
Read More“Through the necessary rose-tinted glasses of a small business owner. The consolidation of the distribution market has made wine sales increasingly cutthroat and competitive, hindering the smaller producers, while at the same time the market demand for artisanal products has risen dramatically, giving the local winemaker spotlight and attention. As long as consumers continue to demand wines with soul and stories, there will always be a place for the independent small-lot winemaker.”
–Taylor Bodstun
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The inspiration is to create a modern concept of sparkling wine from California, one that is not limited by tradition or the brands that have come before. — Dan Person
Read More“The vineyard is located on the land of Pomo natives and we choose a Pomo name to honor the history of the place, Powicana or red clay earth. The label illustration is a rendering of a view of the vineyard.”
– Zoubeida Zajac
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By "taming" these grapes through the act of sustainable viticulture and thoughtful winemaking, we take something that at first might be a bit too rough and wild, and guide it into being an approachable, elegant expression of a small patch of mother earth. — Robert Pintacsi
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My favorite is Pinot Noir, because each vineyard I source from is very different and that expresses itself in each wine. — Rick Davis
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I do everything myself. Every decision and mistake is mine to own. I can experiment creatively, take bigger risks and not have to worry about reporting to anyone but myself. — Alison Thomson
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Small lot winemakers have the opportunity to craft unique wines that speak to people in an authentic way that big brands try to mimic with marketing, but can’t. Passion and enthusiasm come through loud and clear when small winemakers talk and customers feel it. — Patrick Kelley
Read More“ My favorite is Tempranillo. The wines are dark, full of tannins, and surprisingly acidic. When young they are fresh and fruity yet when aged have connotations of tobacco and leather. It’s great for blending. It’s very versatile variety and it ripens early!”
– Mark Welch
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“Cab Sauv is my fave as it's the wine that inspired me to start my own label.” — Dusty Nabor
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My Favorite wine to make is Syrah. I love the heady aromatics, black and blue fruit flavors along with the tannic balance derived from the fruit. — Richard Krumwiede
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To paraphrase Forest Gump, pinot noir is the box of chocolates, you never know what you are going to get. I like working with the same vineyard over several years to learn what changes and what stays the same. — Phillip Kaplan
Read More“Volatus means flight in Latin. My background is not wine but as a Navy pilot. I flew FA-18 Hornets and Super Hornets for the Navy and served two tours as a TOPGUN Instructor. When I started the wine label I wanted something aviation related but not immediately apparent. Over the years we have made the Volatus label more and more about aviation and flight and the branding works very well.”
– Hal Schmitt
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