THE WINEMAKERS

Steve Tenbrink

Steve knows the earth, the water, the heat and the direction of the wind. True and honest love of the land. From this intimate perspective, he studies his crop of dancing leaves and dangling clusters.

Which ones will he encourage, and which ones will be cut to the ground? Even though there are thousands of them, he knows each one - as well he should, because he has raised the majority of them since their planting. Specific, controlling, expensive and meticulous farming techniques are applied to his harem of growing vines; coaxing out their flavors.

He takes full responsibility for their output - regales with their strengths and agonizes over their weakness. It is personal. And this is an important piece of how the winery came into being. Steve has been a farmer since 1982. All of his adult life.

He began at first with cherries, peaches, apricots and prunes then later adding a "farmers market garden" with 100's of heirloom tomatoes! later came a walnut grove and eventually arrived the vineyard project in 1996 along with his 4th child.

While growing the other types of fruit he would relish biting into a juicy peach - he would then know its final expression. With the vineyards, however, he waved goodbye to that opportunity as the truckload of grapes were delivered to other wineries. So, he began to experiment making wine - at first just one barrel. He knew he was growing some pretty good grapes but he wanted to know what kind of wine they would become. Then, as the world turns, enter Abe Schoener thru a web of networking, and the rest is HISTORY.

Abe Schoener

His spirit is borderless and he is incomparable (or could it be incorrigible?) in winemaking mode.

He seems to yearn for flavors remembered deep in his cells.

Creating with techniques that leave the uneducated insulted; finances maxed; and his friends infuriated to defend him.

His wines offer scandalous challenges – drawing you into secret, covert missions where you are soon publically ambushed. But then, sweetly and contritely, he presents another perspective; inviting a rendezvous, where your seduction is guaranteed and you are unwillingly and permanently sealed to loyalty: Forevermore unable to return to the ordinary.

WOW !....How the heck did this Professor of Ancient Greek Philosophy come to be with the Tenbrink Family? It’s a great story, and once again, it goes back to the point of farming. www.scholiumwines.com