Winemaker Notes
Born and raised in Lansing, MI, Nathan attended the University of Michigan, studying Political Science. "I thought I wanted to follow in the footsteps of my father, who has been involved in state government and policy all his life. A few summers working in a cubicle scratched his political itch, and he was ready for another path. A summer spent bartending on Mackinac Island provided the proverbial "bite" from the wine bug. A year and 2000 miles later Nathan was studying and working in Sonoma County, CA. After time studying Viticulture from Sonoma legend Rich Thomas at the Santa Rosa Junior College, Nathan finished his BS in Enology at CSU Fresno.
Nathan has worked for multiple wineries in Northern California (Benzinger, Frick, Schug and Testarossa) and spent time working for the famed Torbreck Winery in the Barossa Valley of Australia. He is currently the Associate Winemaker at Thomas Fogarty Winery & Vineyards in the Santa Cruz Mountains where he has focused on bringing new energy to the Pinot Noir and Chardonnay program.
Not all vineyards are created equal and Nathan has a keen eye for finding the magical combination of variety, climate and soil. He believes the first step in any winemaking endeavor is to seek out these unique sites, often found outside of the more famous regions of California (Napa, Russian River, etc.). "There are a lot of vineyards planted in heavy soils in some of the more famous appellations in California; they get by on name alone, rather than quality." He often seeks rocky and well drained sites with climates on the marginal side for the given variety.
Native yeasts, whole cluster fermentations, minimal sulfur and the judicious use of well seasoned French Oak are some of the techniques used. "I am looking to create authentic wines that taste of a particularly special place." Precedent is Nathan's first independent effort.
A large Northern California appellation centered on the San Francisco Bay Area, the San Francisco Bay AVA falls within the larger Central Coast AVA. The smaller appellations of Livermore Valley, Pacheco Pass, San Ysidro District and Santa Clara Valley AVAs fall within the San Francisco Bay boundaries, and all produce high-quality Central Coast wines.
Unquestionably one of the most diverse grape varieties, Chenin Blanc can do it all. It shines in every style from bone dry to unctuously sweet, oaked or unoaked, still or sparkling and even as the base for fortified wines and spirits. Perhaps Chenin Blanc’s greatest asset is its ever-present acidity, maintained even under warm growing conditions. Somm Secret—Landing in South Africa in the mid 1800s, today the country has double the acreage of Chenin Blanc planted compared to France. There is also a new wave of dedicated producers committed to restoring old Chenin vines.