Wine Portfolio

Jonathan Emmerich

Winemaker, Silverado Vineyards

In 1990 Jon Emmerich joined Jack Stuart as winemaker at Silverado Vineyards; in 2015, Emmerich celebrated his 25th anniversary. In the just over three decades since it was established, Silverado Vineyards has benefited from Stuart and Emmerich's five decades of winemaking experience at the estate.

Country born: United States

Education: In 1985, Jonathan interned in the Cognac region in France. After graduating from The University of California, Davis in 1987 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Fermentation Science with an emphasis in Enology, he worked a harvest at Stag's Leap Wine Cellars. He then spent a year at Conn Creek Winery and Sebastiani Vineyards before joining Silverado Vineyards as a Lab Technician in 1990.

Jonathan soon moved into the position of assistant winemaker and became associate winemaker in 1997. He was named winemaker one year later.

Years in the wine industry: 20-30 years

Honors / Awards:
Jon is past president of the Napa Valley Wine Tech Group and past president of the Winemaking Techniques Committee of the California Enological Research Association. He is currently on the Board of The Trellis Alliance, an advisory committee to The University of California, Davis Viticulture and Enology Department.

Winemaking Philosophy:
People talk about a winemaker being an artist, but I never start with a blank canvas. There is a quality to the sites, and to the fruit, that shows itself every year no matter what the vintage brings. I've been working with our estate for over 25 years and still ask everyday, what can we do to make the wine better? My work is to bring the qualities of the estate to the wine, to make wines of harmony and depth.