Anthony Austin

Born and raised in Healdsburg, California, this fourth generation Sonoma County native, studied enology at the University of California Davis and continued his studies under the legendary winemaker Andre Tchelistcheff.  IWA is proud to offer the complete lineup of Sonoma Coast Vineyards wines produced by this experienced and esteemed winemaker.

Serving as a consultant to Brooks Firestone on a project in the Santa Ynez Valley, Tchelistcheff suggested the talented young Austin as the winemaker for Firestone’s new winery. In 1974, Anthony became the first winemaker at Firestone Vineyards in Santa Barbara. During the ensuing 10 years as winemaker he elevated Firestone Vineyards and Santa Barbara region to new heights.

Longing to focus his talents on Pinot Noir, while still continuing to serve as a consultant to Firestone, Anthony started his own winery, Austin Cellars, which won international acclaim for its wines and remain highly sought-after collectibles. In 2001 Anthony was drawn back to Sonoma County and the cold-climate challenges of the Sonoma Coast. Shortly after his return, Anthony met John and Barbara Drady and joined their efforts in launching the Sonoma Coast Vineyards project.

2010 Girard Chardonnay Russian River Valley
2009 Cosentino Winery Napa Valley THE Pinot and
NV Windsor Vineyards Sparkling Brut

Be sure to share this post and Facebook updates with your friends to bring more to the party!

Don’t delay, you only have until midnight (Pacific Time) Monday, October 31st to enter.  We will choose a winner based on who dons our favorite costume.

Cheers!

Zach Long

Zach joined Kunde Family Estate in 2011 after several years at Napa Valley’s Girard Winery and brings a wealth of international and domestic winemaking experience.  He is a graduate of the University of California at Davis in Viticulture and Enology and has produced wine in some of the world’s most acclaimed wine regions including Bordeaux, France, Tauranga, New Zealand, and the Napa Valley. His most recent experience at Girard allowed him to focus solely on ultra premium red and white wines and to develop his expressive winemaking style, which he describes as “terroir-driven with minimalist intervention.”

“Kunde Family Estate is one of the most unique properties in the Sonoma Valley and the quality of its estate-grown, sustainably farmed fruit is a winemaker’s dream,” said Long. “My goal is to not only produce the absolute best terroir-driven wines possible, but to also uphold the legacy of the Kunde family by letting the vineyards speak through each bottle of wine I craft.”

You can follow along with this year’s harvest activities with Zach via Kunde Family Estate’s Facebook Page and Twitter account.

The grounds are separated into by the main regions, or AVAs,  of Sonoma county including Dry Creek Valley, Russian River Valley, Alexander Valley and Sonoma Valley where wineries making wine from each respective AVA are intermingled with food and industry booths.  There were other venues to enjoy as well including the Gloria Ferrer Bubble Lounge, Sommelier tasting tours and cooking demonstrations on the Viking stage among others.  The weather was simply fantastic with bright blue skies, plenty of sunshine and temperatures reaching the upper 80s.  International Wine Accessories was situated in the Dry Creek Valley tent and enjoyed meeting so many wine and food enthusiasts and generally enjoying the day amongst friends.  To see some photos of the event, check out the IWA Facebook Page here.

With more than 170 wineries and 60 chefs, this event becomes way more than just a mere “taste,” though.  It’s more like like watering mouthfuls while at an all-you-can-eat buffet always enticing you to go back for more.  It is practically impossible to see every business in attendance nor should you if you want to walk out of the event in a straight line  Instead, it’s perhaps wise to check a few out at each tent or focus on the regions or the wine styles you like the most.  It is a good idea to take some notes of wines you enjoyed the most or who were recommended by others as you can always go visit their wineries on another day.  Water stations were strategically located throughout the venue to assist in both managing the heat as well as the grape juice intake.

All in all, Taste of Sonoma was a well-planned and managed event with a lot to see and do providing value well beyond the ticket price.  If you were in attendance, we hope you enjoyed your experience and had a chance to sip some good wine, nibble on tasty local treats and an opportunity to visit our table to check out our accessories and wine gifts.  Please tell us about your experience below in the comments.  What was your favorite part of the event?

Glenn Hugo

Glenn continues the Girard tradition of terroir-driven and minimalist intervention as the protege of Marco DiGiulio and Zach Long. He brings a practical artisanal approach to winemaking with a focus on wine as part of the culinary experience.

A native Texan, Glenn developed his passion for wine over 12 years in the restaurant industry while working closely with some of the most successful wineries and wine companies including Beringer, Chateau St. Michelle and Republic. He soon realized his dream was to become a winemaker and left for Napa Valley with his wife Pam, in 2003.

Glenn’s winemaking experience is concentrated in Napa Valley and includes early assignments with Provenance Vineyards, where he learned from Napa legend Tom Rinaldi, and hands-on experience at Sedna Winery and FleuryWinery. As the General Manager of The Bounty Hunter Wine Bar in downtown Napa, Glenn soon met Marco DiGiulio and continued his dream at Girard.

Glenn’s philosophy is simple: wine is to be shared with friends and family; it is a living and breathing expression that constantly evolves and instills memories. With this in mind, his focus gives him a keen sense of place within the region, and he is driven to allow Napa Valley to shine through in every bottle.