From Boot to Bottle...
Foggy cold mornings & hot sunny afternoons. A great beginning to great wine. My winemaking philosophy combines two traditionally separate tasks of grape growing and winemaking into a single mission. As both grower and winemaker, I truly believe that great wine is made in the vineyard. My goal is to harvest perfectly ripe, balanced fruit that with careful handling will create a wine that expresses the unique characteristics of the vineyard.
Winemaker Profile: Mark Oberschulte
Vocation–grape grower, since 1979. Thirty two harvests now, from many appellations: the Russian River, Sonoma Valley (Monte Rosso, my favorite!), Diamond Mountain, Spring Mountain, Mt. Veeder, Howell Mountain, Napa Valley, Carneros, Pope Valley, and Chiles Valley.
Avocation–winemaking, since 1980. I have been fortunate to work closely with many mentoring winemakers–a group of friends that has always been generous with their time. I thank those that have taught me much, too many to name them all, but especially: Jay Heminway, friend and neighbor at Green & Red Vineyard, who handles fruit (and captures it!) as gently as anyone; Greg Brown, T-Vine, who reaffirmed what Mike Chelini taught me years ago at Stony Hill: “trust your palate”; Al Perry and Bob Biale from Robert Biale Vineyards along with Greg Brown, who taught me what “ripeness” really is; and Rick Oberschulte of Trinchero, brother and partner in small lots, the “wine chemist”.
It has been a labor of love, and with great pride I offer my wine to you.