Estate Philosophy Vineyards Set among the rolling hills and oak groves of Mendocino County, Jepson Vineyards is an estate of 1,240 acres covering some of the most picturesque and unspoiled land in Northern California. Since its inception in 1985, Jepson remains the sole producer of estate still wines, champagnes and brandies in North America. Jepson's philosophy has been to produce wines and brandies that are carefully selected to match the terroir of the estate vineyards, each meticulously crafted to reflect its estate heritage and origin. Of utmost importance to Jepson's success as a winery are its estate vineyards. It is where Jepson's distinct style begins. Jepson's Vineyard Manager and Winemaker transform each harvest into an award winning release. Viticulture Martin Estrada, Jepson's newly appointed Vineyard Manager, has been with the Jepson Estate since 1986. Mr. Estrada has utilized the estate's various soil types, elevations, and varying degrees of exposure to the elements to create balanced and dynamic vineyards. Each of Jepson's harvests are rich with flavorful fruit components and mineral notes that express the unique growing conditions found on the Jepson Estate Vineyards. Jepson uses "sustainable agriculture" as an approach to grape growing that emphasizes ecologically balanced organic solutions to vineyard management. This philosophy minimizes the use of herbicides and pesticides and achieves a natural balance in the vineyards, resulting in crops of consistent high quality. Winemaking The 2000 vintage brought an exciting winemaking change to Jepson. Alison Schneider joined the 'Jepson Family' as Winemaker after a very successful career as a Winemaker with De Loach Vineyards located in Sonoma County, California. Ms. Schneider began her career at DeLoach in 1993 as a Production Coordinator before being promoted to Assistant Winemaker in 1996 followed by a rapid promotion to Winemaker in 1998. Ms. Schneider's distinguished career in winemaking began in 1990 at Chateau St. Michelle in Seattle, Washington. Extensive experience working with both red and white varietals makes her a tremendous asset and welcome addition to Jepson's winemaking efforts. Sales and Marketing Michael Terry has joined Jepson Vineyards as our Vice President. In this position he will be responsible for sales and marketing. Michael and his wife, Chef Elizabeth Terry founded and operated the highly acclaimed Elizabeth on 37th in Savannah, Georgia from 1981 to 2001. During 2003, Michael was General Manager and COO of our Georgia distributor, so he brings a broad base of experience in wholesale and retail sales to his present position. We know that his expertise and his true love of wine will be a major asset to the entire Jepson wine family. PHOTO GALLERY