Winemaker Jeff Stewart
Few winemakers will disagree that cool–climate wines like Pinot Noir are the most difficult to produce. And fewer still will disagree that Jeff Stewart does so with unparalleled success. After an award-winning tenure at La Crema and a graduate of the prestigious University of California at Davis, Jeff comes to Buena Vista Carneros with over 15 years of achievement in cool–climate viticulture. His focus on gentle handling of the grapes and temperature moderation produces wines with complexity, character and depth. Full Biography
Born and raised in Lake Tahoe, California, Jeff Stewart is, not surprisingly, an avid skier, but it was a summer trip to France and an enthusiastic chemistry teacher that enticed him into winemaking.
“In France, wine is food. I was fascinated with the lifestyle and the importance of wine in that culture,” says Buena Vista’s winemaker, Jeff Stewart. “I knew I wanted to pursue a career in Science and after several conversations with my high school chemistry teacher, I was soon enrolled in the Viticulture and Enology program at U.C. Davis. The idea of combining agriculture, science and esthetics to create wine, a beverage revered in many cultures for thousands of years, was mesmerizing.”
Throughout his academic career, Stewart did internship work at Robert Keenan Winery and in 1988 received his degree in Fermentation Science, Viticulture and Enology from the University of California at Davis. Having also held winemaking positions at Laurier, De Loach, Mark West, Kunde and most recently La Crema, Jeff brings with him a wealth of experience and an established reputation for quality. His deft hand with Chardonnay and Pinot Noir in particular make him a perfect fit to put Buena Vista Carneros at the top of the list of world–class Carneros producers.