Wine Portfolio

John McKay

Winemaker, Volker Eisele Family Estate

John McKay brings 38 years of winemaking experience to Volker Eisele Family Estate. For many years, he has been at the forefront of his profession, implementing new winemaking techniques that were heretofore unknown in California. In the 1980s, he pioneered the now-common practice of "sur lie” aging of barrel-fermented white wines. He was the first to use Semillon as a blending component with Sauvignon Blanc to make wines of great complexity and distinction in the typical Bordeaux style. Volker Eisele Family Estate continues this practice with our Gemini. With red wines, McKay has instituted the use of extended maceration during fermentation for more suppleness and depth of character. It is now applied to both the Volker Eisele Family Estate Cabernet and to our Terzetto. Before joining Volker Eisele Family Estate in 2000, McKay worked with some of California's most influential consulting winemakers, including Helen Turley, Heidi Peterson Barrett, Paul Hobbs and Merry Edwards. We were delighted when he agreed to work with us.

Country born: United States

Education: Degree from UC DAVIS. SEE BIO

Years in the wine industry: 30+ years

Winemaking Philosophy:
The vineyard is the key.