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3 8 | t h e c l e v e r r o o t FOCUS ON THE PRESENT There are no shortcuts to making great wine. It's an expensive, resource- heavy endeavor—and cutting corners was not an option for us. Farming the vineyards is 95 percent of our work as winery owners. When you own a great vineyard, it's important to farm it intelligently, thoughtfully and with great care and attention to detail—this ensures the highest-quality fruit year after year. The first aspect of intelligent farming is people. As vintners, we've sought out winemakers who we feel share our vision, possess the skills to make fine wine and who are passionately committed to our vision and goal. Our winemakers are: Marisa Taylor at Rutherford Hill; Elizabeth Vianna at Chimney Rock; Steve Fennell at Sanford; and Bryan Parker at Terlato Vineyards. My father, brother and I have the ut- most respect for these wonderful and talented people, and have entrusted them with our most valuable and important assets: our wineries, vineyards and wines. Our winemakers are an integral part of what we do. They have the skills, knowledge and, yes, passion to make great wine. Every day, we work together toward farming incredible fruit and crafting memorable wines. The second aspect of intelligent farming is perceptiveness. We like to say there's no better fertilizer than the farmer's shadow. During the growing season, there is no substitute for walking the vine- yards and looking for the signals offered up by the vines—and making decisions based on those signals. After harvest, every detail throughout the winemaking process matters. The winemakers and their teams use a soft hand at every step, treating our grapes with the utmost care. Bottom line: Great wine springs from a deep, personal passion and unwavering commitment to the vineyards and the craft of winemaking. PLAN FOR THE FUTURE If owning a winery is in your heart, prepare to be in it for the long term. Of the 100 oldest businesses in the world, eight of them are wineries. In France, Château Lafite has been in the Rothschild family since 1868. Italy's Ricasoli family has owned its vineyards since the 13th century. These examples of long-term winery ownership stem from ongoing commitment and passion—not just the passage of time. We believe the multigenerational nature of our business is one of our greatest assets. We're fortunate to have members of the fourth generation in place who pos- sess the passion, commitment, intelligence, tenacity and persistence to excel in the wine business. In the years ahead, it's our job to share with them what we've learned and then coach them to success in this industry we love so much. SO, YOU WANT TO OWN A WINERY? If you are thinking of becoming a winery owner, jump in! It can be a fun and wild ride—with lots of intellectual and emotional challenges thrown in—but it's also supremely rewarding. I wake up every day and think to myself, "How could I be so lucky?" What began as a dream is now a reality, and another chapter in our family's participation in the wine business. And though our success was never a guarantee, we did our best to emulate the great winemaking families who came before us: We bought great vineyards, surrounded ourselves with supremely talented people and clearly communicated our vision. Then we put our heads down, worked hard and intelligently, all the while keeping our family mantra top of mind: "Quality endures." Left to right: Bill Terlato, Anthony Terlato, John Terlato in the family's Estate Vineyard in Rutherford. PHOTO BY ROBERT HOLMES Sanford Winery surrounded by the Sanford & Benedict and La Rinconada Vineyards in the Sta. Rita Hills AVA, Santa Barbara County. ■cr PHOTO: JEREMY BALL