Tuck Beckstoffer

Winemaker, Tuck Beckstoffer Wines

Though he grew up in a prominent Napa Valley grape growing family and spent much of his early life learning about farming and viticulture from the ground up, it was in winemaking that Tuck Beckstoffer, proprietor of Tuck Beckstoffer Wines, found his passion. Having worked every summer of his young life in the vineyard, during college breaks Tuck had the opportunity to work in the cellars of highly regarded wineries such as Cakebread Cellars, Far Niente and Spring Mountain Winery, learning the craft of winemaking and sensory analysis from “guys who were truly making wine for the love of it.” The experience left an impression.

After a brief career as a professional sailor, Tuck spent time in Western Australia, further developing his understanding of winemaking and introducing new grape growing and winemaking techniques to the Leeuwin Estate Winery in Margaret River. He returned to Napa Valley, landing at the start-up Plump Jack Winery where he was Director of Operations. When Tuck was offered fruit from the 1997 harvest, he fashioned 40 cases of a Cabernet Sauvignon that which through word-of-mouth was sought after by restaurants and collectors. It was soon thereafter that Tuck decided to pursue his love of winemaking – and his desire to run his own wine business -- full time.

Tuck, who remembers the Napa Valley of the 1970’s as full of open spaces, has a deep respect for the land. With a profound understanding of farming and what distinguishes a truly great growing site, Tuck sources grapes for his Seventy Five Wine Company, Hogwash, Melee, Amulet, Vinifera, Semper, Mockingbird and Tuck Beckstoffer labels from some of the finest vineyards, fashioning wines that are creative, pleasurable and memorable.

Country born: United States

Years in the wine industry: 20-30 years