Ready, Set, GO!

All my bags are packed, I'm ready to go...

With five harvests under my belt, I am ready for a new challenge and opportunity. I will be experiencing my first harvest abroad in the Cachapoal Valley of Chile.

I am intrigued by the Chilean wine industry due to their diverse growing regions and their business model of wine exportation. Chile has found a way to produce award winning wines at an afford price on the worldwide market. It is my goal to better understand how this is accomplished.

I am a Wisconsin native, and I was first introduced to the world of wine by working in the vineyards and cellar of Villa Bellezza, located in Pepin, WI. This introduction showed me the diverse and emerging wine regions throughout the US and the world. I went on to earn my degree at California State, Fresno with a B.S. in Enology. During this period, I surrounded myself with people who were passionate and eager to learn about wine. I aim to carry this passion and willingness to learn throughout my career, and the 2018 Chilean harvest in a big step in the right direction.

Growing grapes and making wine in the upper Midwest comes with its unique set of challenges in the upper Midwest. Throughout the growing season, we are faced with frigid-cold winters, unpredictable springtime frost, and wet, humid summers. Grape breeders have tirelessly worked to develop hybrids to suit our needs. As a wine region, we have come a long way in a short amount of time. Even so,

"We are at a point where we can use technical sounding language to present hypotheses but they are far from verification. "

-C. Smith, Postmodern Winemaking

It is my goal and intention to reach outside of the US to understand different approaches to winemaking. I will look beyond the "terroir" and into the technology, equipment, and practices that enable wineries to thrive in the massive market of wine.

Follow me on this adventure as we look for the paradigms and subtleties in the world of wine!