Todd Graff

Winemaker, Promise

Vintner Steve McPherson’s love of wine started at a very early age. Having spent his grade school and high school years living in France, his father, who was the headmaster of the American School in Paris, attended Steven Spurrier’s L’Academie du Vin, and took Steve with him on field trips to the wine regions of Champagne and Burgundy.

Back in the United States, Steve attended Cornell University and then embarked on a successful career on Wall Street, and then in entertainment. Most recently, Steve was President of ABC Entertainment. Under his leadership, he led ABC into a new era, with shows such as “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Lost,” “Dancing with the Stars,” ‘Desperate Housewives” and “Modern Family.”

During his tenure in entertainment, Steve continued to fuel his passion for wine by visiting vineyards and wine regions throughout the world. He became fast friends with Rich Frank, whom he considers a mentor in both entertainment and wine. He proposed to his wife, Jennifer, while standing in a vineyard in Rutherford, and before she said yes, she made Steve promise that their life together would not be all work and no play, and that he would always make time to pursue his passion for wine.

In 2004, his first vintage of Promise came to fruition, made under the tutelage of winemaker Todd Graff and Rich Frank with the very grapes from that hillside vineyard, Winston Hill.

Country born: United States

Years in the wine industry: 8 years