Jay Buoncristiani

Winemaker, Patland Estate Vineyards

Jay attended Santa Clara University in California and received a Bachelor of Science degree in the combined disciplines of Chemistry, Biology, and Physics. After graduation in 1996, he returned home to Napa Valley where intense home winemaking coupled with enologist duties at The Hess Collection Winery fueled a passion for the art and science of wine.

By 1999, at the young age of 24, Jay started the Buoncristiani Family Winery and vineyard management company with his three brothers while remaining hands-on in the lab, cellar, and vineyards at The Hess Collection. From his position as an enologist, at age 26, Jay was promoted to winemaker for The Hess Collection, where he remained until the spring of 2005.

From 2005 until present Jay's winemaking skills have been directed toward his role as winemaker/owner at Buoncristiani as well as hands-on consulting winemaker for various labels in the Napa Valley.

Country born: United States

Education: Santa Clara University in California - combined disciplines of Chemistry, Biology, and Physics

Years in the wine industry: 20-30 years

Honors / Awards:
Jay's wines have earned high regard from the wine industry's foremost critics, garnering a multitude of wine scores in the 90s and great achievements such as being named Rising Star of Napa Cabernet by the Wine Spectator, # 25 in the Top 100 wines of the world from Wine Enthusiast, and a 97-point rated wine from Robert Parkers Wine Advocate where Parker called Jay's wine truly magnificent.

Winemaking Philosophy:
Jay focuses on obtaining the best fruit possible for each wine program through careful vineyard block selection and precise viticultural practices. He utilizes controlled stress in the vineyard to produce low-yielding, concentrated, and balanced fruit full of flavor and varietal expression. Once grapes reach full maturity, his goal is to harness this inherent potential from the vineyard to the bottle through meticulous tracking and blending of each promising component in order to create optimum complexity while retaining balance, varietal character, and superior quality.