Wine Enthusiast contributing editor Virginie Boone reports on a growing movement of after-hours passion projects among winemakers in the Napa Valley. Boone explains that while the Napa Valley has plenty of outstanding wines, the grape prices have become exceptionally high. Some winemakers to create smaller “personal wine labels” that allow wine professionals to make a wine they truly enjoy to drink. These wines are different then what you might normally find in the valley, “they can highlight unusual varieties that might not please the masses or pay all the bills. It’s an opportunity to explore other sites and grape varieties and make experimental, affordable bottles that combine adventure with the avant-garde…”
The feature features an interview with winemaker Jason Driscoll, who launched his personal company, Tilth – Driscoll Wine Co., as a part of an “after-hours passion project” in 2014 while he was the assistant winemaker at DeSante Wines. Driscoll started with 300 cases of Tilth Lake County Zinfandel. A few years in, he and his wife, Hilary, have expanded to source grapes from throughout Northern California, including Sauvignon Blanc, Zinfandel, Pinot Noir, and Syrah.
To learn more about Tilth and this growing moment in Napa, read the full article HERE.
