Wine Portfolio

Fredrik Johansson

Winemaker, Staglin Family Vineyard

I previously worked with consulting winemaker Thomas Rivers Brown, taking the traditional route of an apprentice to acquire my knowledge and expertise. I began my 'education' at Nicholson Ranch in Sonoma, continued it at Two Hands Wines in Australia and honed it further at Outpost Wines on Howell Mountain, where I also oversaw several of Thomas' consulting projects, including Schrader Cellars and Maybach Family Vineyards. Since 2007 I have been the winemaker at Staglin Family Vineyard where I have had the fortune of collaborating with two legends in the industry, Michel Rolland and David Abreu.

Country born: United States

Education: University of California, Berkeley - Political Science & English. Mentors: Thomas Rivers Brown; Micheal Twelftree/Matt Wenk; Michel Rolland. Internships: Two Hands Wines, Australia

Years in the wine industry: 15-20 years

Honors / Awards:
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Winemaking Philosophy:
It's been turned into a cliche these days, but it really is true: winemaking starts (and in most respects, in my opinion, ends) in the vineyard. Wines are, or at least should strive to be, a reflection and expression of time and place, so work as hard as you can or need to in the vineyard to help the vines produce their best possible crop, then don't mess it up or be too heavy-handed with it in the winery. A few guiding words: Respect, transparency, texture, balance, elegance, and varietal correctness.