Wine Portfolio

Josh Widaman

Winemaker, Pine Ridge Vineyards

Josh’s path to winemaking started after working the 1999 vintage at Stags' Leap Winery. During his first harvest spreading stems in the vineyards by moonlight, he tasted a 1997 Pahlmeyer Merlot that left him inspired to create wines that leave a similar lasting impression on those lucky enough to experience them. The combination of hands-on vineyard work and the incredible fruits of a winemaker’s labor sealed his desire to enter the wine world. He transferred to UC Davis where he graduated in 2002 with a BS in Viticulture and Enology, and a minor in Applied Biological Systems Technology. In 2019, he received his MBA from Sonoma State University to better support a well-rounded understanding of the wine business.

Josh spent the first six years of his career working his way up to Assistant Winemaker at Chimney Rock Winery before transitioning to Assistant Winemaker and eventually Head Winemaker at Pahlmeyer. Additional past experience includes harvest internships with Gloria Ferrer in Sonoma and Viña Tarapacá in Chile. In addition, his time spent overseas in the Douro, Burgundy, Greece and Germany have increased the breadth of his winemaking horizons.

“My path to winemaking started with a wine that left a lasting impression, that I use as inspiration in every wine I create,” Josh emphasizes. “Coming back to the Stags Leap District where it all began for me, and to the iconic steep-walled valley at Pine Ridge Vineyards, gives me a newfound sense of determination to produce some of the best Cabernet Sauvignon wines that Napa Valley and the world have to offer.”

Country born: United States

Education: Sonoma State University
Master of Business Administration

University of California, Davis
BS in Viticulture & Enology, Minor in Applied Biological Systems Technology

Foreign Study: Burgundy, The Douro, Germany, Chile and Greece

Mentors: Elizabeth Vianna, Winemaker and General Manager at Chimney Rock Winery and Erin Green, Consulting Winemaker at Martinelli Vineyards & Winery

Years in the wine industry: 20-30 years

Honors / Awards:
Wine Spectator #1 Wine of the Year
90+ ratings on over 90% of all wines made in career

Winemaking Philosophy:
“We’re constantly experimenting in the vineyard, the cellar and the tasting lab...” Being on the cutting-edge can sometimes mean going back to Old World traditions, “but we never rest on assumptions,” he says. “The decisions we make are based on fractions of percents of variances in each blend - minute changes that can make a huge difference in the wine’s profile. Meticulous attention to these, and making sure we taste every possible iteration is what sets us apart.”

“Winemaking is a huge, long, intricate equation - years in the making,” says Josh, sharing a glimpse into the intricate workings of this winemaker’s brain. “Any single decision can take things in an entirely different direction,” he says. “The palate is the ultimate driver. That’s the artistry of winemaking.”