Tony Biagi

Winemaker, PlumpJack Winery

Anthony Biagi totes an impressive resume for a winemaker in his 30s. Before earning a Bachelors of Science in Fermentation Science from the University of California, Davis, in 1995, Anthony started honing his craft through internships at Dry Creek Vineyard and The Hess Collection Winery. Anthony then went on to explore grapevine clonal variations in a research project for the Gloria Ferrer house. Rare for a winemaker, upon graduation Anthony gathered first-hand knowledge of the wine marketplace based on his experience selling fine wine at the St. Helena Wine Center.

From 1995 to 2001, Anthony was employed by Duckhorn and its then-new offshoot, Paraduxx Winery. At the end of his tenure at Duckhorn, Anthony apprenticed his way to lead winemaker for Paraduxx. Demonstrating his diversity as a winemaker and natural leader, from 2001 to 2003 Anthony helped establish Neal Family Vineyards as both general manager and winemaker.

In 2003, Anthony began his tenure as head winemaker with PlumpJack Winery in Oakville and has been a part of the PlumpJack family ever since. There are three elements that are important to Anthony as a winemaker: wine knowledge, experience, and innovation. His philosophy clearly works as his wines receive some of the highest scores from the industry’s toughest critics. Nevertheless, if you ask Anthony, first and foremost comes the vineyard:

“My philosophy of wine making really goes back to letting the vineyards shine through. You want to build a wine with layers of flavor. You don’t want a one dimensional wine with what we call ‘good wine syndrome’. You want a wine with the taste of place; of where it came from. You want a harmonious balance of fruit to oak to acid. In the end however, it really comes down to allowing the vineyard speak for itself and simply allowing yourself to be a steward of that quality.”

Anthony’s passion and talent as a winemaker comes second only to his commitment to his family and loved ones. Here at PlumpJack Winery, we could not ask for anything more.

Country born: United States

Education: Tony earned a B.S. degree in fermentation science from the University of California, Davis, in 1995.

Years in the wine industry: 15-20 years

Winemaking Philosophy:
At PlumpJack Winery, we are terroir driven. What the vineyard and the wine want to produce, we work to highlight and express with gentle finessing and the best tools (be they in the form of knowledge or our facility) we have.