Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/590181
Grapegrowers in North America 20 Most Admired sk any winemaker how great wines are produced, and you're likely to receive this answer: They're made in the vineyard. Yet how many wine lovers – consumers or otherwise – know the names of the hardworking, dedicated farmers who plant and tend the vines that produce the grapes for those celebrated wines? Not many. Grapegrowers tend to stand in the background while winemak- ers are encouraged to take center stage. This year, we hope to remedy that by recognizing the wine industry's unsung heroes: grapegrowers, viticulturists and vineyard managers. To compile our list of "The 20 Most Admired Grapegrowers," we assembled a nominating committee of respected winemakers, grapegrowers, wine writ- ers, educators, buyers, sommeliers and consultants across North America. The committee had two rules to follow: 1) nominees must be living; 2) they must be based in North America. Once the nominations arrived, we reduced the field of contenders to 37 finalists, based on the number of nomi- nations each person received. Names of the finalists were then submitted to the committee for a vote. (Members could vote for as many people as they liked.) The 20 farmers who made the list represent a wide range of regions, grape varieties and backgrounds. Some own vast vineyard acreage and sell all their fruit to winery clients; some are in-house vineyard managers who work for a single winery; others run vineyard management companies while produc- ing their own wines. The one thing they all have in common is that they inspire the respect and admiration of their peers and others in the industry, not only for the quality of their work but for their leadership and integrity. We are proud to present, in alphabeti- cal order, the most admired grapegrow- ers in North America. 4 0 V I N E YA R D & W I N E RY M A N A G E M E N T | N o v - D e c 2 015 w w w. v w m m e d i a . c o m