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. Set against the backdrop of napa valleys transformation from a rural backwater in the 1970s through its emergence today as one of the top wine regions in the world, the book begins with the winery s shaky. Nov 07, 20 published by university of california press 2012. Shafer vineyards napa california cabernet sauvignon merlot. Evolving from grape growers to vintners, the shafers produced their first cabernet sauvignon from their hillside vines in 1978 and began construction on the winery a year later. 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. He bought a plot of land in the stags leap hills, and terraced and replanted the steep vineyards. 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. A vineyard in napa by doug shafer, danny meyer, andy demsky. A vineyard in napa by doug shafer overdrive rakuten. 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.
Expensive tasting but we felt the experience was worth it. In preparing for this podcast i found and read dougs book, a vineyard in napa, which was published in 2012 and captures the first forty years of. He first worked for duckhorn and went on to launch the winemaking programs at wineries including paraduxx, cade. Trials and tribulations of an enthusiast and his family. A new podcast series from doug shafer about the people behind the food and wine you love. This book, narrated by shafers son doug, is a personal account of how his father turned his midlife dream into a remarkable success story. Shortly after doug was promoted to winemaker, the family hired elias fernandez as the assistant winemaker. In an exclusve interview with decanter, he discusses the book, and his views on the wine industry. The nearaccidental brilliance of shafer vineyards wsj. In this fourth of five articles it is question of the dangers of tasting wines blind and of the joys of reopening 9000 cases of merlot and cabernet sauvignon. Doug shafer shafer vineyards ceo doug shafer tells the story of his familys winery in his recently published memoir, a vineyard in napa. The small winery is managed by father and son team john and doug shafer. Doug shafer of shafer vineyards kyle schlachter july 16, 20. In 1984 he was joined by his son doug shafer, who now runs the winery.
Doug shafer tells the story of his own education, as well as shafer vineyards innovative efforts to be environmentally sustainable, its role in. The first few years were challenging experimenting, working long hours, learning from our mistakes, pushing ourselves to make the best wines we could. Feb 21, 2020 in 1983, doug shafer, the son of john shafer was promoted to the head winemaker of shafer vineyards after graduating from the university of california at davis with a degree in oenology. In the early 1970s, teenager doug shafer moved with his family from chicago to california, where they started a new life as pioneer winegrowers in the stags leap district. One of napas premier vineyards today, shafer s road to humble greatness includes more than a few potholes, bad vintages, fires, and stags leap neighborhood dramas all told with humor, candor, and generosity of spirit. Nov 12, 2012 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. Today he is president of his family winery, shafer vineyards, and has spent some 40 years in the world of food and wine. Written by doug shafer, the son of john shafer, the patriarch of shafer vineyards, this book tells the life story of the vineyard and how it.
A vineyard in napa by doug shafer hardcover university of. Nov 02, 2012 the work is chronicled in a vineyard in napa university of california press. Following graduation, doug honed his skills as assistant winemaker at lakespring winery prior to becoming. A vineyard in napa is the best told story of a california family winery ive yet read. A former farm workers journey to become one of napas.
Doug shafer writes an interesting story of he and his father and their wine business. Family winemaker during his ten years as winemaker, doug forged the trademark shafer style of quality. At shafer vineyards, it takes a team to make one of napa valleys top cabs. At the age of 17, doug shafer moved with his family from chicago to napa valley in january, 1973. When you make a reservation to visit shafer vineyards, youre immediately sent a confirmation email filled with all sorts of. 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. Jun 12, 20 in the early 1970s, teenager doug shafer moved with his family from chicago to california, where they started a new life as pioneer winegrowers in the stags leap district. Aug 21, 2007 at shafer vineyards, it takes a team to make one of napa valleys top cabs. The team, which balances hard work with fun and learning, includes ceo john shafer, president doug shafer his. Shafer vineyards 40 years of napa valley excellence.
And like the wines, the winery itself is imposing, formal, and well structured. With the sunspot lot doug creates shafers one and only reserve cabernet. Beautiful winery and wines what a beautiful winery nestled into the hills in the stags leap district and still family owned a real treasure. Shafer vineyards is a familyowned wine producer in the stags leap district of the napa valley. The first vintage of cabernet was 1978, and shafer s wines have gone on to great critical acclaim. Vist with doug shafer, owner of shafer vineyards, napa, california. Doug shafers new podcast focuses on the people in food. Doug shafers new podcast focuses on the people in food and. He was a great farmer, a great father, a great grandfather. The team, which balances hard work with fun and learning, includes ceo john shafer, president doug shafer his son and. Our cheap used books come with free delivery in the us. Spencer christian is recognized as good morning americas former weatherman but is less known as a wine pioneer. With his fathers book publishing heritage, perhaps it comes as no surprise that doug coauthored a book in 2012 called a vineyard in napa. Set against the backdrop of napa valley s transformation from a rural backwater in the 1970s through its emergence today as one of the top wine regions in the world.
At the age of 17, doug shafer moved with his family from chicago to napa valley in january 1973. Established in the early 1970s by john shafer and his son doug, 2018 marks the. Jul 16, 20 doug shafer shafer vineyards ceo doug shafer tells the story of his familys winery in his recently published memoir, a vineyard in napa. Shafer began life in 1972 when john shafer arrived in napa with the hope of growing his own wine. The work is chronicled in a vineyard in napa university of california press.
In 2018 doug and his team at shafer began producing the taste with doug shafer podcast and that presented the opportunity for me to connect with him and explore this small part of napa valley. The first few years were challenging experimenting, working long hours, learning from mistakes, pushing to make the. The shafers own and farm 200 acres of vineyards, sources for shafer s signature wine, hillside select, one point five cabernet sauvignon, merlot, chardonnay, and relentless syrah. Following graduation, doug honed his skills as assistant winemaker at lakespring winery prior to becoming winemaker at shafer vineyards in 1983. A vineyard in napa doug shafer, danny meyer, andy demsky. This book, narrated by shafer s son doug, is a personal account of how his father turned his midlife dream into a remarkable success story. A vineyard in napa ebook by doug shafer rakuten kobo. Bkwines ulf bengtsson met doug shafer over a wine tasting and lunch. 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. Set against the backdrop of napa valleys transformation from a rural backwater in the 1970s through its emergence today as one of the top wine regions in the world, the book begins with the winerys shaky.
With the first wines appearing in 1978, shafer vineyards is one of the founding estates of and a benchmark in quality for the stags leap district ava. 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. Stags leap district winegrowers association shafer vineyards. In an exclusve interview with decanter, he discusses the book, and his views. University of california press publishes doug shafers critically acclaimed memoir, a vineyard in napa, a look back at 40 years of life inside napa valleys wine industry. Shafer cultivates more than 200 acres of estate vineyards, sources for shafers cabernet sauvignon, chardonnay, merlot, malbec, petite sirah, and syrah. Tony biagi 67 minutes at uc davis tony biagi discovered the enology program and wine became his overriding passion. Reading doug shafers a vineyard in napa makes you understand why. Jul 15, 2014 john shafer started shafer vineyards in 1974. Johns son, doug shafer, officially joined the family enterprise as winemaker in 1983 and elias fernandez was hired as assistant winemaker in 1984. Shafer vineyards napa 2020 all you need to know before. A vineyard in napa by doug shafer hardcover university.
The shafers own and farm 200 acres of vineyards, sources for shafers signature wine, hillside select, one point five cabernet sauvignon, merlot, chardonnay, and relentless syrah. Jan 01, 2012 doug shafer shares his familys forty year heros journey establishing napas shafer vineyards. This book, narrated by shafers son doug, is a personal account of how his father turned his midlife dream into a. In addition to closing our visitor center, shafer vineyards has moved to reduced hours for handling emails and phone calls related to wine orders, shipments, future reservations, and general questions. Books go search best sellers gift ideas new releases deals store coupons amazonbasics. Doug shafer arrived in napa valley at age 17 when he moved with his family from the. John shafer, napa valley philanthropist and founder of the influential shafer vineyards, died on march 2. Interview doug shafer, shafer vineyards, napa, california. Wine makers the source doug shafer napa valley youtube. Johns son, doug shafer, officially joined the family enterprise as winemaker in 1983 and elias. Apr 27, 2018 at the age of 17, doug shafer moved with his family from chicago to napa valley in january, 1973. Mar 09, 2008 vist with doug shafer, owner of shafer vineyards, napa, california. Buy a vineyard in napa by doug shafer, in very good condition. Doug shafer shares his familys forty year heros journey establishing napas shafer vineyards.
Doug shafers new podcast focuses on the people in food and wine. Purchasing our wines is only possible if you are an active member on one of our lists. Napa valley vintner doug shafer, longtime insider in the world of food. This book, narrated by shafers son doug, is a personal account of how his father turned. Nov 05, 2018 shafer vineyards is one of the most celebrated wine estates in all of napa valley. Modest to a fault, both father and son have done an amazing job to create a world class wine business out. Today he is president of his family winery, shafer vineyards, and has spent some 40 years in the. One of napas premier vineyards today, shafers road to humble greatness includes more than a few potholes, bad vintages, fires, and stags leap neighborhood dramas all told with humor, candor, and generosity of spirit. Established in the early 1970s by john shafer and his son doug, 2018 marks the 40th anniversary of their first. Shafer vineyards is a 32,000 case winery in napa valleys stags leap district managed by the father and son team of john and doug shafer. Shafer vineyards relentless blend was the wine spectators 2012 wine of the year. It is particularly known for its hillside select cabernet sauvignon, regarded as one of the very finest wines in california.
With their celebrity status assured, it would be easy for john shafer and son doug to adopt the snobbish attitude of many of their highflying neighbors, yet father, son, winemaker elias fernandez, hospitality staff, and dogs could not be more friendly and welcoming. Apr 17, 2018 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. Doug shafer had graduated from uc davis five years earlier, taught for a couple of years, then worked at a small winery called lakespring before agreeing to become winemaker for his fathers. Staff made us feel welcome in every respect and the wines are outstanding. Shafer vineyards is one of the most celebrated wine estates in all of napa valley. Doug shafer shafer vineyards and the taste with doug. This book, written by doug shafer with andy demsky, tells the story of this transformation, initiated by john shafer and continued by his son. Sign up for the napa valley list and purchase wine. 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. Shafer vineyards ceo doug shafer tells the story of his familys. A historical timeline of shafer vineyards in napa valley from the late 1800s to now. All the ducks are lined up for the napa valley vintners 32nd annual auction napa valley, the granddaddy of wine auctions and one of the countrys most successful charity events. Shafers acclaimed 2012 memoir, a vineyard in napa, covers both the history of the last 40 years in napa valley as well as.
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