"Cultivating excellence" is such a fantastic expression, especially when used in our wine-making community. To me, while we are literally cultivating our vines, vineyards and land, we are also cultivating our minds, attitudes and relationships. Working in Napa means high expectations, but it also means collaborating with some of the best growers and winemakers in the world. People are generous with their time and expertise, and it's important for me to reciprocate and pay it forward as best I can. Napa is a community built on shared knowledge and mutual respect.

I came to the wine business later in life, and perhaps because of that, with a different perspective than others. My roots in Napa go back 30 years as a dedicated consumer of Napa wines. My neighbors in St. Helena are winemakers and growers, and I just started volunteering to help in any way I could. Pruning, washing buckets, anything. I have a strong desire to learn, so I went back to school and earned my wine-making credentials. One challenge as a new producer is earning trust and establishing identity, but the opportunity to learn from experienced growers and colleagues is invaluable.

This seems like a simple question, but it's really not. I do believe in a method that initially relies on precision, technology and data-driven decisions. I am a fan of the spreadsheet! However, at the end of the day, the fruit is the star of the show. Each site presents unique rewards and challenges, and each harvest is different depending on the climate and weather. My blending strategy is to promote balance and depth, while still capturing what we initially tasted in the vineyard two years prior, when we harvested.

On our honeymoon, 26 years ago, my wife and I shared a bottle of Brunello di Montalcino and a Bistecca alla Fiorentina while watching the sunset over Florence. It was at that moment that I knew my life was going to be filled with love, laughter and joy.