Because harvest beards only happen once a year, we decided to highlight some Sonoma Valley vineyardists who grew more than grapes this season. Here are a few Vintners and Growers who shared their photos with us at #SVHarvestBeard. Well-grown, Gentlemen.
PHIL STAEHLE
Enkidu Winery
Located just off of Sonoma’s central plaza, Enkidu is a small production winery which derives its name from one of the world’s oldest stories, The Epic of Gilgamesh. We are not sure if the beard is winemaker Phil Staehle’s effort to channel his inner Sumerian but the wines surely don’t suffer from the exercise, so we say grow on!
PHIL COTURRI
Winery Sixteen 600
We aren’t exactly sure just how many vintages that this legendary grower has been growing his “harvest” beard, but no profile of the Sonoma Valley whiskerati would be complete without him being mentioned. Rest assured his beard, like his grapes, is organically grown.
PAUL GIUSTO
Highway 12 Vineyards & Winery
Paul is one of the Co-Founder’s of Highway 12, a small production winery named for the iconic highway which runs the length of Sonoma Valley. Much like the 2015 vintage, Paul’s harvest beard effort might be a bit thin on quantity but the quality seems to be there.
RYAN MCMILLAN
Highway 12 Vineyards & Winery
Not to be out done by his Highway 12 colleague, Ryan McMillan weighs in with an impressive effort, topped nicely by this (and every) season’s must have fashion accessory. “For me it’s always been no shaving from first fruit in, until last press”, he explains. To that we say well played sir, well played.
ARNOLD WILLIAMS
Schug Carneros Estate
Affectionately known as “Uncle Eddy”, Schug’s Cellar Master has little time for shaving as he makes room for the incoming bounty of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir fruit at this iconic Carneros winery–celebrating its 35th vintage this year.
ADDISON REX
Deerfield Ranch Winery
Addison’s finely coiffed harvest beard effort can be viewed up valley in Kenwood where he manages day to day operations for Deerfield Ranch Winery. Nephew to founders Robert and PJ Rex, Addison is an excellent spokesperson for the wineries efforts to produce Clean Wine.
DANNY FAY
Envolve Winery
Envolve President Danny Fay’s contribution to our harvest beard round up perfectly captures that haggard, bewildered look that so many vintners and growers display this time of year. In contrast the wines he produces for this small family owned winery display both elegance and finesse. Get some sleep Danny!
STEVEN URBERG
Gloria Ferrer Caves & Vineyards
Situated in the heart of cooler Carneros, Gloria Ferrer’s team is usually among the first to start harvest in Sonoma Valley. They actually finished the 2015 harvest on September 2nd, a new record! That didn’t leave a lot of hang time for beard maturation, but lucky for winemaker Steven Urberg, his is more of a year round effort.
