About

I started my wine industry career in 1983 at the age of 18.  I worked for Quilceda Creek Winery in Snohomish Wa seasonally until 1999. You could say I cut my teeth on a lot of Quilceda Creek Cabernet Sauvignon over those years and got to try many of Al Golitzen’s early Quil experiments from the 70s.

But my obsession with wine didn’t take hold until after moving the California. On one serendipitous day we were introduced to an amazing bottle of 1996 Latcham Vineyards Zinfandel from El Dorado County.  And our California wine adventure began.  We haunted the little wineries of Gold Country, Apple Hill, Fairplay, Amador and Lodi for 20 years, visiting every winery at least once a year.

In 2017 we moved to Suisun Valley and began exploring this area.  I started working in the cellar and tasting room at Mangels Winery until 2024.  At that point I did a tasting at Beaulieu Vineyards and fell in love with their huge Cabs.  I applied and got a job there last August.  This is interesting because when I worked at Quilceda Creek, I met Al Golitzen’s Uncle — Andre Tchelistcheff, the first official winemaker for BV and maestro of Napa Valley.  I feel like I’ve come full circle.

I have run a personal website called PantomimeHorse.com for over 20 years.  This is where I keep my own ratings on wines, but other use it as well.  There are over 7500 ratings on the site.

I am a WSET 1 and WSET 2 (with distinction) credential holder.  I have recently finished WSET 3.