More than a process
Philosophy
More than a process
Philosophy
At Brandlin Estate, we believe that great wines, like great wineries, are not made in a single vintage. Much like the century-old vineyard that we are proud to be the stewards of, we grow, evolve and champion innovation as we pursue our mission to craft Napa Valley’s most extraordinary mountain wines.
In pursuit of this mission, we are guided by a simple, honest philosophy; that true quality is only achieved without compromise, that there are no shortcuts to greatness, and that to create wines that stir the senses with their intimate sense of place, every small detail matters.
At Brandlin Estate, our winemaking team champions a distinctive style that honors the character of each growing season, and the vineyard-inspired complexity of our beloved mountain estate.
Raised in a small town in California’s Mojave Desert, Rebecca discovered an affinity for biology and botany at an early age. Inspired to pursue a career in wine, she attended UC Davis. While earning her B.S. in viticulture & enology, Rebecca spent a year abroad at the University of Adelaide in Australia, where she began to develop a global winemaking perspective. This perspective deepened when Rebecca was awarded a prized fellowship from the Confrérie des Chevaliers du Tastevin to spend six months working at Burgundy’s famed Domaine Méo-Camuzet. In the years that followed, Rebecca continued honing her craft at such highly respected wineries as Schramsberg Vineyards and Marcassin, before joining the team at Calistoga’s Kelly Fleming Wines. Over the next decade—the last eight as winemaker— Rebecca earned acclaim making estate-grown Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc working alongside noted Consulting Winemaker Francoise Peschon and Vineyard Manager Mike Wolf.
At Brandlin Estate, Rebecca continues to explore her love for crafting wines that eloquently embody their vineyard origins and the majesty of our nearly 100-year-old estate on Mt. Veeder. Passionately committed to sustainability, she also works to preserve the health and vitality of our vineyard for future generations. “There is so much history in our vineyard,” says Rebecca. “This site has endured for almost a century because it produces wines that are as unique as they are extraordinary. Crafting wines that embody the essence of this place, this mountain, is both a privilege and a pleasure.”
Steve was born and raised in North Dakota, where he grew up working on his family’s farm. While earning a degree in literature from the University of Washington, Steve spent six months abroad living above a wine shop in Paris, where he fell in love with the culture of wine. Returning to the U.S., he enrolled in the masters of enology and viticulture program at UC Davis, and put himself through university working with legendary winemaker Dan Goldfield at La Crema. In the years that followed, Steve honed his craft at Saintsbury, and later at Rombauer, where he helped to oversee the winery’s custom crush operations for such elite wineries as Dominus, Spottswoode and Duckhorn Vineyards.
After spending two years at Spring Mountain Vineyard, where he began refining his approach to crafting mountain-grown Cabernet Sauvignon, Steve was invited by famed consultant Ted Lemon to become the winemaker at Clos Pegase. “My six years at Clos Pegase were a wonderful experience,” says Steve. “It was an inspiring environment, where Ted and I pushed boundaries as we explored classic winemaking techniques along with innovative new approaches.” In 2002, Steve joined Cuvaison Estate Wines. “Joining the company was an incredible opportunity to work with both the iconic Cuvaison winery in Los Carneros, and to help realize the remarkable untapped potential of Brandlin Vineyard on Mount Veeder.”
In the vineyard and the winery, Steve has developed methods to achieve Brandlin’s complex and alluring style, including techniques to tame the vineyard’s robust mountain tannins, while still yielding beautifully structured wines with vibrant fruit and varietal nuance. “Great wines don’t come from a single vintage—they are the culmination of years of knowledge and experience.” adds Steve. “For more than 15 years, I have had the incredible fortune to make wines from this historic property. It is an honor to carry on the winegrowing legacy established by the Brandlin family almost a century ago.”
Our farming is guided by renowned viticulturist Kelly Maher, who applies his experience from such acclaimed wineries as Larkmead, Dunn Vineyards and Hourglass to the cultivation of Brandlin Estate. A believer in innovation and experimentation, Kelly’s farming accentuates the quality and character of each block to create a complex palette of world-class fruit.
