Makers' Stories
Brian C. Malk
— Make wine because you love it, just don’t expect to make money.
If you could open a bottle of your wine and share it with any three people (living or not), who would they be?
Nelson Mandela, Jane Goodall, and Albert Einstein.
How did you get started in the wine business?
We bought an 11-acre property in the Stags Leap District in 1998. The property contained a house and a small vineyard.
What are the greatest challenges?
Mother Nature’s whims and the tiny size of our winery.
What do you think makes Napa Valley unique compared to other wine regions?
The absence of chain brands, and the sophistication here, surrounded by a bucolic environment.
What are you doing at your winery to help preserve and enhance Napa Valley for the future? (e.g., sustainable practices, family succession plan, community service, etc.)
We installed solar panels in our vineyard to harvest clean energy for our use on the property. New birdhouses throughout the property encourage birds to nest. Recently, we constructed owl boxes for natural rodent control, and bat houses for insect (mosquitos, primarily) control.
What advice would you offer someone trying to get into the Napa Valley wine industry?
Make wine because you love it, just don’t expect to make money.
When was your first Napa Valley harvest?
1998
Our motto at the NVV is "cultivating excellence." What does this phrase mean to you and how do you cultivate excellence at your winery?
Everything we do is done by hand. Our wine is a true artisan wine. We give our winemaker total support to produce the best wine possible.
What are the most rewarding aspects of your work?
The joy our loyal customers experience when they drink a bottle of our wine.
If you weren't a Napa Valley vintner, what would you be doing?
Our winery is a passion; my main occupation is real estate investment.
Est. 1998
Malk Family Vineyards
03
The Makers