Four Vines Tempranillo Blend Paso Robles 2009

First there was ONE. Winemaker CHRISTIAN TIETJE is a hedonist. He is passionate about wine: making it, drinking it and bringing people together to enjoy it. Chris learned to love balanced, food-driven wines as an aspiring young chef in Boston. In 1990 he moved to San Francisco, determined to pursue his passion and become a winemaker. He fell head over heels for old vine Zinfandel, and began planning for bigger things. Then there were TWO. In 1994, Christian partnered with SUSAN A. MAHLER, a brainy and beautiful scientist and pilot, whom he nicknamed “SAM.” Armed with a degree in Earth Science, SAM took an immediate interest in vineyards. Together they created Four Vines Winery featuring eclectic, appellation-specific Zins, and one kick-ass no-oak “Naked” Chardonnay. They named their Zins Biker, Sophisticate and Maverick. Rich, succulent, fruit-generous wines that pair incredibly well with food. They relocated to Paso Robles where they began experimenting with Rhone varietals; bigger, headier wines that are positively explosive in flavor and form, as in the rogue Rhone blend “Anarchy.” Now there are THREE. Christian and SAM worked harder than ever to grow their winery to 14,000 cases, but they needed someone to help share the load. They connected with an old friend from Christian’s childhood, BILL GRANT, a successful entrepreneur and financier. Bill joined Four Vines as an advisor and financier in 2002 and joined the partnership in 2004, growing to approximately 40,000 cases and introducing new wines named Heretic and Phoenix. Bill travels across the country, turning on new audiences to the Four Vines Incident. Makers of fleshy, seductive wines for aficionados and hedonists alike, Four Vines brings a refreshing, playfully irreverent attitude to the industry. Read less