The other day I had a great opportunity to meet a highly admired and yet humble winemaker...Doug Shafer. Shafer Vineyards traces its beginnings to 1972 when John Shafer, Doug’s father left a 23-year career in the publishing industry in Chicago and, with his family, moved to the Napa Valley to pursue a second career in wine. This is truly an American tale of tenacity and passion. Doug has written a new book titled “A Vineyard in Napa” and I recently had the joy of reading it. With my book in hand I nervously approached him, introduced myself and asked if he would sign my book. His book tells the real story of coming there in 1972 from Hinsdale when Napa Valley was in the pioneering stages of winemaking and grape growing. It sheds light into what went on behind the scenes beginning with a rural farming community to one of the greatest vineyard areas in the world. Last year his 2008 ‘Relentless’, a field blend of Syrah and Petite Sirah was awarded 2012 Wine Spectator’s Wine of the Year. It’s named after the man who oversees the winemaking at Shafer Vineyards, a man of uncommon commitment to perfection. Elias Fernandez , a son of migrant workers came to California as a child and graduated from UC Davis. This wine is rich and muscular but also a wine with great finesse, and Doug was pouring the 2010 vintage before its release on September 1st. The 2010 wine is as powerful a combination as the 2008 but still young, rich and opulent. Spicy, peppery with chewy dark berries, ripe tannins great aging potential. As I talked to him, I asked him to sign the last page of his book because I felt that the last paragraph truly described who he was as a man, grape grower, winemaker, CEO, chemist, a man who has worn many hats at the Shafer winery. “The key thing is to live through your disappointments. Don’t quit. Avoid making the same mistakes twice. Don’t get blinded by scores-high or low. And remember this every time you feel like you’re the king of the mountain, mother nature or the economy or a bug you never heard of will obligingly step in to keep you humble.” After he read it, he wrote under it in very large letters “AMEN.”
