John shafer winery book

Shafer vineyards is one of the star wineries, not only in napa valley but in all of california. Reviews i came away amazed by the breadth of opinion among men and women for whom making wine is strictly business. Shafer was born in 1924 and spent most of his childhood in glencoe, illinois, a small suburb of chicago. Established in the early 1970s by john shafer and his son. Hillside select cabernet sauvignon 1991 shafer vineyards napa valley united states.

Located in the stags leap district of napa valley, shafer vineyards is one of the valleys most enduring success stories. Lastly check out johns wine book, shafers line on wine, a collection of interesting wine trivia although note this book has not been published for many years. Join us for an unforgettable valentines day evening in the heart of napa valley. At shafer vineyards, it takes a team to make one of napa valleys top cabs. Interested in a shafer book, shirt, wine opener or other nonewine merchandise. We visited with friends for a tasting and were lucky enough to meet the winemaker very personable as well as the owner who made a point to come in the tasting. A complete anthology of all our wines and vintages from 2000 to present, including comprehensive blendingproduction and tasting notes, as well as weather data. Shafer vineyards napa 2020 all you need to know before. Things to do in napa,tourist attractions and what to do in.

Palmaz vineyards the fusion of tradition and technology. His shafer vineyards hillside select became one of the regions bestknown cabernet sauvignons. Oct 18, 2012 while the book does not portend to be explain the technical details of this transformation, its easy going prose deceptively does just that. The first vintage of cabernet was 1978, and shafer s wines have gone on to great critical acclaim. Blake gray talks to the founder of shafer vineyards, who accidentally invented the typically ripe napa style of cabernet. In a remarkable feat, this winery makes enough wine for a wide distribution 35,000 cases while still ensuring a fantastic level of quality. The wines and foods of piemonte and one book on champagne the essence of champagne. A vineyard in napa relates how one winery and one family confronted those challenges.

John shafer died 2019 founded shafer vineyards after a long corporate career in the book publishing industry, based in chicago. Click on the photo or link to learn more or to purchase our merchandise. Shafer vineyards in napa valley is one of the great wineries of read more. The napa pioneers hillside select cult cabernet helped put the stags leap district on the map. Miner family winery is a dynamic family owned winery tucked into the eastern hills of the oakville appellation, squarely within the heart of napa valley. Craig lee the chronicle 2005 the plan was to be an absentee owner for 8 to 10 years and then. Mar 4, 2019 john shafer was 48 years old in 1972, working as a textbook publisher in chicago, when he decided to pick up and move his family to california to pursue wine. He bought a plot of land in the stags leap hills, and terraced and replanted the steep vineyards. John shafer, 94, who made triumphant leap into winemaking.

John mariani bloomberg newsnew classic winemakers of california, by steve heimoff of the wine enthusiast is a great book for your favorite wine lover. New classic winemakers of california by steve heimoff. A bitterly cold january keeps shafer s first cabernet from going through malolactic fermentation. Wine spectator labeled it a powerful, gutsy wine with tons of personality and big tannins.

Vertical tasting of shafers cabernet sauvignon hillside select. The shafer family is deeply saddened to announce the death of their father, longtime vintner, philanthropist and winery founder, john shafer on march 2, 2019 at the age of 94. Stags leap winery download ebook pdf, epub, tuebl, mobi. John shafer, napa valley philanthropist and founder of the influential shafer vineyards, died on march 2. Wine advocate wine advocatestags leap, napa, ca the prodigious aromatics are followed by a precise, rich, pure blast of inky black currant, blueberry and mulberry flavors. The oak is virtually undetectable, and the wine, for all its power, richness and depth, is incredibly light on its feet and ethereal. John shafer obituary san francisco, ca san francisco. Bookwalters first bordeaux white wine release, start your collection now. A vineyard in napa by doug shafer hardcover university of. Doug shafers recently published book chronicles how his dad turned a midlife gamble into a successful venture stretching beyond his wildest dreams. We invite you to explore how our unmatched vineyard sites, use of classic wine making techniques and our stateoftheart winery support our passion and give us the opportunity to share vineyard 29s wines with you.

This site is like a library, use search box in the widget to get ebook that you want. Book a tour and discover the more private and unique wineries of napa. Shafer the shafer family is deeply saddened to announce the death of their father, longtime vintner, philanthropist and winery founder, john shafer on march 2, 2019 at the age of 94. Explore the wine range of shafer vineyards berry bros. Shafer winery and vineyards visit my red wine guys. Description at the age of 47, when he a successful publishing executive and living with his wife and four children in an affluent chicago suburb, john shafer made the surprise announcement that he had purchased a vineyard in the napa valley. The worlds most legendary wines are inextricably linked to their vineyard source. The company is a florida foreign profit corporation, which was filed on december 11, 1987. Historic willamette valley christmas winery looks for a. Tom colicchio we all have our unique stories as to how we came to the napa valleyand chose to call it home. For more information about shafer vineyards, to schedule an appointment or to join their mailing list, visit. In addition to closing our visitor center, shafer vineyards is moving to reduced hours for handling emails and phone calls related to wine orders, shipments, future reservations, and general questions. Doug shafer, who became president of the winery in 1994 when his father retired john shafer, at the age of 88, still works full days at the winery as chairman of the board, described 2010 as a hard harvest.

Friends, family and members of the local wine industry gathered at shafer vineyards last weekend to help winery founder john shafer, center, celebrate his 90th birthday. You can leave condolences in the guest book, buy sympathy flowers, and pay your respects. Shafer vineyards is one of the best examples of a luxury wine that is in the reach of mere mortals. Shafer was an early visionary for napa valley hillside vineyards now widely. Doug shafer tells the story of his own education, as well as shafer vineyards innovative efforts to be environmentally sustainable, its role in spearheading the designation of a stags leap american viticultural area, and how the wine industry has changed in the contemporary era of customcrushing and hobbyist winery investors.

Napa wineries platypus wine tours tours of wineries in. Founded in 1972 by john shafer who left a corporate life in chicago to grow grapes in napa valley the winery was run by john with help from his son doug for many years. A vineyard in napa provides an inside look at how wine history is made. John makes his first shafer vineyards wine a precursor to hillside select with cabernet sauvignon fruit from johns upper seven. Dec 30, 2019 set against the backdrop of stags leap palisades lays shafer vineyards established by john shafer in 1973 and is now in the guiding hands of his son, doug shafer. Purchasing our wines is only possible if you are an active member on one of our lists. Shafer vineyards is one of the most celebrated wine estates in all of napa valley. The shafer legacy a new book reveals how wine history is made.

Hillside select cabernet sauvignon 2014 shafer vineyards. Over the course of his life, john shafer embraced a number of fascinating jobs in world war ii he piloted b24 bombers in europe, then for a time he put his cornell university engineering degree to good use, and later he moved into publishing, rising to the level of corporate executive with scott foresman in chicago. Mar 05, 2019 san francisco legendary northern california vintner john shafer, who was part of a generation that helped elevate sleepy napa valley into the international wine powerhouse it is today, has died. In an exclusve interview with decanter, he discusses the book, and his views on the wine industry. Shafer moved to napa in 1972, where he became a pioneer of the regions stags leap district.

Thats what hed be proudest of, even more so than the winery. Booker vineyard is an expression of westside paso robles where farmer and winemaker, eric jensen, uses organic and biodynamic farming practices to produce wines that celebrate his 100acre historical property. Shafer is listed as a secretary with shafer vineyards, inc. Our vineyards span gentle hills and mountaintop mesas at three distinct elevations on the property, each taking advantage of napa valleys magnificent terroirs to produce distinct wines. Click download or read online button to get stags leap winery book now. At the age of 47, when he a successful publishing executive and living with his wife and four children in an affluent chicago suburb, john shafer made the surprise announcement that he had purchased a vineyard in the napa valley. Join facebook to connect with john shafer and others you may know. You and your partner will embark on an unforgettable sensory exploration at raymond vineyards. Vertical tasting of shafers cabernet sauvignon hillside. Inspired by john s 1st growth tour to bordeaux in 2010, this is j. Raymond vineyards, napa valley, california welcome to. Jul 16, 20 shafer vineyards ceo doug shafer tells the story of his familys winery in his recently published memoir, a vineyard in napa.

Shafer vineyards traces its beginnings to 1972 when john shafer left a 23. Shafer vineyards traces its present incarnation to 1972 when john shafer left a chicago publishing career and moved his family to napa valley to pursue a new life among grape vines. Shafer s signature wine, hillside select cabernet sauvignon, exemplifies the extraordinary richness and suppleness of stags leap district fruit. In 1972 he and his family moved to the napa valley and purchased 209 acres which at the time had 30 acres of vines dating from 1922 none of these old vines remain as they have all been replanted. Shafers wines, including its signature wine, hillside select, are found in collectors cellars and on wine lists in top hotels and restaurants throughout the world. The small winery is managed by father and son team john and doug shafer. Theres even brunch and dinner cruises if you fancy a meal on the water. Trends in winemaking come and go but, over the past 40 years, shafer vineyards has delivered consistent, highquality wines regardless of the trends. He was a great farmer, a great father, a great grandfather. A springfield architects proposal to put a homeless center on the northern edge of downtown has drawn praise from a city official tasked with providing services to the homeless. The address on file for this person is 6154 silverado trail, napa, ca 94558 in napa county.

In 1984 he was joined by his son doug shafer, who now runs the winery. Dick steltzner, who started his winery in 1972 and, with john shafer, was one of the key architects of the ava, considers its climate uniquely suited to cabernet. A vineyard in napa is the best told story of a california family winery ive yet read. Shafer vineyards napa california cabernet sauvignon merlot. John l and doug shafer, shafer vineyards, napa valley. You can choose from different types of cruises, ranging from water ferries taking you from one place to another e. The real charm of napa valley is found in the incredible napa wineries spread throughout the valley. John shafer, right, pictured with son doug shafer, who joined the family winery in 1983. Doug shafer talks with tv host and wine translator leslie sbrocco, known to millions from her fastpaced wine segments with kathy lee and hoda kotb on the today show, her pbs show check please, bay area and her books including wine for women. John shafer believed the stags leap district had a special terroir. Courtesy john shafer the proposed homeless services and housing complex would be in an area north of downtown, near existing social services.

Interested in a shafer book, shirt, wine opener or other none wine merchandise. Moving his family from chicago, illinois in 1973, john shafer created the estate from a large purchase of 210 acres of vineyards in the stags leap appellation. Shafer clears three acres of zinfandel and buds over to merlot. Risdall ranch winery was established in 2016, when winemaker emery risdall and his father, bob, became the new owners of shafer vineyard cellars, a forest grove winery with almost four decades of local heritage. Nov 25, 2014 about 80% of the grapes in stags leap district are cabernet sauvignon, and with good reason, the districts veteran growers maintain. John shafer, who was then in the publishing business, bought this estate in stags leap in 1972 and moved here the following year. Shafer was not a wine guy, according to his son doug shafer. This fact makes vineyard selection essential to our.

The restaurant is not so big so during summer is better to call and book the table but 100% you will be satisfied. Staff made us feel welcome in every respect and the wines are outstanding. Beautiful winery and wines what a beautiful winery nestled into the hills in the stags leap district and still family owned a real treasure. The nearaccidental brilliance of shafer vineyards john shafer and his family brought a surprisingly haphazard and improvisational approach to learning the winery trade, but jay mcinerney finds. John shafer, who abandoned a career as a chicago publishing executive to join the vanguard of a new generation of vintners in californias napa valley, died on march 2 in the city of napa.

A historical timeline of shafer vineyards in napa valley from the late 1800s to now. In a family wine business, one of the most crucial moments in the history of the enterprise will always be when the parent decides to hand over control of the familys winery to the next generation. Luscious, juicy black cherry, dark berry and vanilla flavors, with hints of perfume and violets. His mother, adeline ream, hailed from peru, indiana. Facebook gives people the power to share and makes the world more open and connected. Shafer vineyards announced monday that its founder died saturday in napa. We visited their new tasting room that looks down on the vineyards along with the 14 small hillside select blocks that surround the winery on the east side. Friends, family and fans celebrate john shafers lifetime of.

Established in the early 1970s by john shafer and his son doug, 2018 marks the 40th anniversary of their first. One doesnt have to be a wine connoisseur to appreciate john shafers story. Risdall ranch winery is home to some of the willamette valley. In the early 1970s, neighbors warren winiarski and carl doumani were the hatfields and the mccoys of napa valley. Feb 21, 2020 born in 1924, john shafer gave up a successful career as a book publisher to become a winemaker. John shafer was part of a groundbreaking generation that came to napa valley in the late 1960s and early 1970s and transformed the region into the worldclass wine producing area it is today. John shafer, who abandoned a career as a chicago publishing executive to join the vanguard of a new generation of vintners in californias napa valley, died on. This book, narrated by shafers son doug, is a personal account of how his. Shafer the shafer family is deeply saddened to announce the death of their father, longtime vintner, philanthropist and winery founder, john shafer on. Shafer vineyards hillside select cabernet sauvignon. Parker, jr since 1978 the shafer family has produced wine in the stags leap district, one of the most highlyregarded winegrowing regions within napa valley.

Stags leap district winegrowers association shafer vineyards. Hillside select cabernet sauvignon 2014 shafer vineyards napa valley united states. The team, which balances hard work with fun and learning, includes ceo john shafer, president doug shafer his son and. Napa, ca john and his son doug shafer, and longtime winemaker elias fernandez, preside over one of the great napa wineries, and are regarded as one of its best merlot producers. Shafer s 1978 cabernet is released and makes its debut at the first napa valley wine auction. We have a passion for the napa valley and creating a portfolio of elegant, enjoyable wines. Modest to a fault, both father and son have done an amazing job to create a world class wine business out of a fathers dream. Shafer vineyards road to success not an easy one huffpost. When he tastes the 1982 lot from the sunspot vineyard block hes so impressed he talks john into keeping it separate from the others. With the sunspot lot doug creates shafers one and only reserve cabernet. I have been a fan of shafer wineries for years and my one visit to their place in napa sticks in my mind as i read this book.

If you had told john shafer in 1973, when he moved from chicago to napa valley in 1973, that his winery and one specific vineyard would earn the highest critical acclaim, bring in top bids at wine auctions and create a formidable fan following, he would probably have scoffed, being the practical vintner that he is. Shafer began life in 1972 when john shafer arrived in napa with the hope of growing his own wine. Nov 05, 2018 shafer vineyards is one of the most celebrated wine estates in all of napa valley. Aug 21, 2007 at shafer vineyards, it takes a team to make one of napa valleys top cabs. Much of the land had to be replanted as it had become completely dilapidated. Salt, fat, acid heats samin nosrat announces second book. It began in 1972 when john shafer left a career in publishing and. John finds the warmth the wine needs when he wraps the barrels in electric blankets. Doug shafer writes an interesting story of he and his father and their wine business. Hillside select cabernet sauvignon 1991 shafer vineyards. John shafer plants cabernet sauvignon, creating small hillside vineyard blocks such as sunspot and johns upper seven. This mountain winery above conn valley has produced hearty cabernet since 1978. The initiation of john shafers venture came on the cusp of an awakening for california wine.