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Our daughter, Kerry Shiels, succeeds Stan Clarke as our winemaker. Kerry is currently enrolled in the U.C. Davis Master's program in Viticulture and Enology and will continue to completion. She has been immersed in our vineyard and winery for the past two years, under Stan's tutelage and Co's mentorship. After earning her Bachelor's degree from Northwestern University in Chicago, she worked for two years in Fiat's management development program in Torino, Italy. She transferred to Case New Holland's world headquarters in Chicago, then decided to enter the world of wine. Kerry worked the 2006 vintage at Joseph Phelps Vineyards in Napa, the 2007 harvest at Tahbilk in Australia, then last fall's harvest at Folio in Napa. Larry Dolan has managed our vineyard from the beginning, learning the nuances of a very difficult site. He is now able to micro-adjust water, nutrition, canopy management, and pest control within individual blocks. He served as a U.S. Air Force pilot after graduation from eastern Washington University. Wade Wolfe laid out our vineyard initially, and then monitored our struggles through the early drought years. His directives proved accurate, enabling vine placement to bring forth the best aspects of our site. Wade is currently focused on the expansion of his family winery, Thurston Wolfe. He serves as president of the Yakima Valley appellation group Wine Yakima Valley. Coman Dinn served as our founding technical consultant, bringing a wealth of experience from wineries in California and, since 1996, in Washington. A technically rigorous winemaker, he is also blessed with a remarkable palate. His efforts are now devoted to his job as director of wine production at one of the largest wineries in Washington State. Co earned a Bachelor’s degree from University of Texas, then his Master’s degree in Viticulture and Enology from U.C. Davis. Stan Clarke directed the development of our vineyard from 1996 until his untimely death in November 2007. He became our founding winemaker in 2001. During more than 30 years in Washington’s wine industry, Stan performed every job imaginable: viticulturist, winemaker, winery general manager, wine competition judge, and wine writer. His crowning role was as viticulture coordinator at the Walla Walla Institute of Enology and Viticulture. After graduating from the U.S. Air Force Academy, he earned a second Bachelor’s degree from U.C. Davis in viticulture, then a Master’s degree in teaching from Washington State University.
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