Jon Larson

Winemaker, Angwin Estate Vineyards

I was born in Los Angeles CA. I moved with my family to Angwin, CA in the Howell Mountain Appellation when I was very young. I was around people who made wine from a young age. It was always a dream for me to be a vintner and winemaker. I attended Princeton University, where I studied molecular genetics and cell biology. After college I pursued a career in medicine. I met my wife, Angela, during my general surgery residency. We enjoyed our respective medical careers for some years. During this time I had help from family and friends to plant 2 acres on land I had inherited from my mother to Cabernet Sauvignon grapes. We sold the fruit for a few years.

In 2011 we came to a crossroads. We wanted to be back in California. We wanted to start a family, and be present for all of life's important moments. After a discussion with my wife, we decided that I should use the grapes from our vineyard to make our own wine. In 2011, I assumed the role of viticulturist, oenologist, salesperson, plumber in residence, pest management professional, and winemaker. Our 2011 wine was an underground hit.

I have continued to refine my methods by taking classes at UC Davis, reading books, talking to winemakers and farmers who I admire, and continually improving my understanding of the process of making wine.

Country born: United States

Education: My winemaking career was born from passion about wine, inspiring mentorship from Philip Togni and opportunities explored and taken. Educated at Princeton University, I have found many uses for my Bachelor of Arts in Molecular Cell and Developmental Biology in both the vineyard and the winery. Princeton taught me how to learn and apply that knowledge. I apply that to winemaking. Self-taught with supplemental education from UC Davis and the Togni's, my wife and I have created Angwin Estate Vineyards.

Years in the wine industry: 8 years

Honors / Awards:
Gold and Silver medals at TEXSOM IWA for our 2012 wines
Recent mention as the best example of modern classicism wine from Howell Mountain in 'The Robb Report'.

Winemaking Philosophy:
Our general philosophy is that without a love of what you do, you cannot achieve excellence. We also believe that great wine speaks to its site of origin, and without excellent fruit it is not possible to produce extraordinary wine. Meticulous farming with a profound respect for the soil and the environment leads to wines that speak to their site of origin. I often refer to the poet Khalil Gibran who wrote, 'work is love made visible'.
Our philosophy is to create wine that is a testament to the work done to create each bottle. At every step it is important to renew the commitment to excellence. We use selected yeast that was discovered in a first growth in Bordeaux, we use the best barrels available, we do not fine, nor filter, and our processes, while evolving, are classical rather than post modern. This allows the wine to be an expression of site rather than a product of the process of winemaking.