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Private Wine Excursions by Doug Wilder

I hope you are enjoying the Guest Winemaker Blog page. I have assembled the quality leaders throughout Northern California to contribute here on a regular basis.

Does reading about what these winemakers are doing in the vineyards and their wineries inspire you to dream about a full day or weekend, or longer visiting, tasting and dining with them in the beautiful Napa, Sonoma and Russian River Valley region?

If you answered yes, then contact me and I will produce an unforgettable guided private excursion to the wineries including winemaker lunches. Additionally I am able to recommend extended stay villa accommodations and produce wine dinners with private chefs if you stay in a private residence. 

For more information please contact me by filling out the information in the right hand column. Also I should mention that in addition to offering low season rates for all of 2009, there are additional savings to be had simply by clicking on the red box under SPECIALS.

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Experience the Difference

 

Adam's Blog Archive
Shane's Blog Archive
Kenneth's Blog Archive
Wes' Blog Archive
Larry's Blog Archive

Guest Winemaker Blogs

Welcome to the newest feature on Wilder Napa Valley. Ever since I developed this website back in 2004, I have constantly upgraded the platform and kept pushing content relevancy and value. In October of 2008, development went into overdrive with the primary focus writing my own domestic wine review content. During a tasting with Shane Finley, of Shane Wines around that time, he asked if I would be interested in having a winemaker provide content to the site. I liked the idea but shelved it until the site was on a more stable platform and I had developed my own audience. In June 2009, I began contacting a small group of winemakers inviting them to be part of Wilder Napa Valley and contribute to The Guest Winemaker Blogs. Fittingly, Shane was the first to be invited and the first to accept. 

The Guest Winemaker Blog allows winemakers a free forum to discuss their projects from the vineyard, winery and where to find them when they travel to do winemaker dinners, or appear at wine events. I have included biographical information as well as social media, RSS and website/email information for each. The blogs are unmoderated and collaborative. There is no set schedule of when writers should post or restrictions on content, images, links as long as it pertains to their work. Initially there will be six or seven contributors, and possibly as many as ten or twelve in the future. 

We all look forward to your feedback. 

Doug Wilder and Lulu Roberts - Wilder Napa Valley

The winemakers

 

  • Shane Finley

    Name: Shane Finley, Sebastopol, CA

    Brand - Role : Varieties produced

    Shane - Proprietor/Winemaker : Syrah, Rose
    Kosta-Browne - Assistant Winemaker : Syrah and Pinot Noir
    Spell - Winemaker : Pinot Noir

    Got on my radar when: I tasted his first Rose, Ma Fille, named in honor of his first child, Stella. I bought my entire 12 bottle commercial allocation, personally…

  • Larry Schaffer

    Name: Larry Schaffer, Santa Ynez Valley, CA

    Brand - Role : Varieties produced

    Tercero - Proprietor/Winemaker : Grenache, Mourvedre, Gewurztraminer, Rose

    Fess Parker - Enologist : Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Syrah

    Got on my radar when: I tasted his first wines at the Santa Barbara Wine Cask Futures in 2008. Excellent first releases!

  • Kenneth Juhasz

    Name: Kenneth Juhasz, Santa Rosa, CA

    Brand - Role : Varieties produced

    Auteur - Proprietor/Winemaker : Vineyard designated Pinot Noir and Chardonnay

    Pali - Winemaker : Pinot Noir, Syrah and Grenache

    Semper - Winemaker : Pinot Noir

    Got on my radar when: The first releases of 2003 Auteur Pinot Noir crossed  my lips and have followed him ever since. Can’t wait to try a Pali Grenache by him!!   

  • Adam Lee

    Name: Adam Lee, Santa Rosa, CA

    Brand - Role : Varieties produced

    Siduri - Proprietor/Winemaker : Pinot Noir from designated vineyards

    Novy - Proprietor/Winemaker : Syrah, Grenache and Zinfandel

    Got on my radar when: I bought the Hospices of Sonoma 2005 Siduri Pinot Noir Ewald Vineyard half barrel.

  • Wes Hagen



    Name: Wes Hagen, Sta. Rita Hills, CA

    Brand - Role : Varieties produced

    Clos Pepe - Vineyard Manager/Winemaker : Pinot Noir, Chardonnay

    Got on my radar when: I tasted over a dozen Clos Pepe wines at a private function following World of Pinot Noir in 2008.