Scott Palazzo

Winemaker, High Dive Cellars

Scott Palazzo is a man who follows his passions - and in the process, invites everyone he meets to come along for the ride!

Creative, energetic and fervent in his convictions, Scott came to the wine world with a vision formed by both his Italian heritage and his artistic sensibility. Raised in an Italian household, Scott grew up with wine as a backdrop for life’s everyday events, meals, and celebrations.

An artist at heart … and a rolling stone by nature, his path to becoming one of the top winemakers in Napa Valley took many twists and turns. At age 19, a summer trip to France evolved into a three-year extended stay. With his guitar on his back, Scott wandered into the small wine-making village of Saint Émilion (on the Right Bank of Bordeaux’s Gironde river) and quickly fell in love with the people, the land, & most of all, the wines. This experience shaped his palate and served as inspiration for the establishment of Palazzo Wine 20+ years later.

In 2003, after establishing a successful career as a Grammy Nominated Music Video & Television Director / Producer, Scott began exploring California’s wine regions with a new creative undertaking in mind producing a beautifully refined, terroir-driven wine like those he had discovered in Saint Émilion.

His search led him to the Carneros Appellation in Napa Valley, where the similarities between the rolling hills of this South-of-Napa Appellation and those of Saint Émilion convinced him that this was the right location to create his wine. The maritime climate and shallow clay soils of Carneros were ideal for achieving his goal to produce a wine with wonderful layers of rich fruit, balanced by elegant acidity … like those he’d grown to love while living & working in Bordeaux.

Sourcing fruit from some of the most celebrated hillside vineyards in Carneros, Palazzo has realized his dream of producing world-class wines, combining new world fruit with an old-world sensibility in the cellar. Scott Palazzo’s wines have been accepted and embraced by some of the wine world’s most respected and influential restaurants, sommeliers, and critics from all over the United States.

The French Laundry, Redd, Gary Danko, Michael Mina, Per Se, Daniel, Gramercy Tavern, Eleven Madison Park, Bouley, Spago, Bouchon, Charlie Palmer Steak, Emeril’s, Valintino’s … are just a few of the country’s prestigious restaurants offering Palazzo Wine.

Scott Palazzo makes wines that are beautiful & complex … with wonderful layers of rich fruit and texture on the palate! Delicious food wines with both ‘power & elegance’ from the Carneros District in Napa Valley. Saint Emilion and Pomerol … meet Carneros / Napa Valley Hillside Fruit!

Country born: United States

Education: On-The Road-Travels

Years in the wine industry: 10-15 years

Winemaking Philosophy:
Winemaking to me is my way of getting to express my creative / artistic side. I don't paint .. I can't sing very well .. but I have found through winemaking that I am able to create something artistically beautiful and memorable. Wines can be similar to a painting ... and capture people's attention and feelings ... and impact them emotionally ... much like a great song can move and impact people.

My canvas is the vineyards ... my paints and instruments are the grapes ... the arrangements and colors I use are grape varietals ... ripeness ... sugars ... acid ... tannins & barrels..! And I compose and draw that which is in my mind and heart to hopefully move people ... and speak to them about beauty and elegance.. and life..! And somehow help them to enjoy their lives and friends and times with family just a little more / better ... through a glass of poetry ... art ... and song!

I know it sounds a little "lofty" ... after all it's just a glass of wine ... but I have found wine can move me just as strongly and passionately as a great painting or song can. And I remember it ... like I remember a beautiful painting or dynamic song!

But I'm a romantic ... and passionate about life! And I enjoy flowers and smelling roses ... and watching sunsets ... and ocean waves ... and wind blowing across fields of tall grass & sage!

All the different expressions of "art & beauty" are inexplicably connected ... and help serve to move people to emotion and passion ... and feelings ... so they can connect with themselves and hopefully "feel life" more..!

Peter Heitz

Winemaker, High Dive Cellars

Fourth generation garage-ist trained Napa Valley grape guy Peter Heitz grew up kicking the dirt clods of Carneros on one of the pioneering vineyards in the region, later honing his vineyard background farming in the Calistoga Appellation, on dirt first planted to vines by his great grandparents in 1904. Winemaker at Turnbull Wine Cellars in Oakville since the 2007 vintage with prior winemaking under the tutelage of Laurie Hook and Ed Sbragia crafting the venerable Beringer Reserve wines.

Country born: United States

Years in the wine industry: 20-30 years

Winemaking Philosophy:
Farm the best grapes - make the best wine. Wine should be reflective of the place and vintage, make sure you have the best of both.