THE VISIONARIES
In 1989, Walt and Joan came across a small, three line classified ad for land on the Northern Sonoma Coast. The rugged 321 acre property situated just over two miles from the Pacific Ocean included a ridge top at elevations ranging from 1150′ – 1400′. Expecting the same foggy weather they had experienced along the coast, the Flowers were excited to discover abundant sunshine on the ridge. It did not take Walt and Joan long to see that they were standing on a “warm site in a cool climate,” the ideal growing conditions for Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. They purchased the property in 1990 and by 1991 had planted 23 acres on the narrow ridge, long known as Camp Meeting Ridge. Since their first visit to the property, the Flowers have maintained their belief that this tiny viticultural area could produce Chardonnay and Pinot Noir of the highest quality.
THE PHILOSOPHER
Jason earned his stripes in Winegrowing and Development with notable Oregon producers including Domaine Serene, Tony Soter, Griffin Creek, and Quail Run Vineyards. His first winemaking tutelage was at the age of 21 with Robert Mondavi Woodbridge where he worked hand in hand with the Director of Winemaking David Akiyoshi. Prior to joining Flowers in May 2010, he was General Manager/Winemaker for Rhys Vineyards and Alesia Wines in the Santa Cruz Mountains, having launched the brand in 2003. Jason has tremendous passion for estate managed and produced, site-driven wines. He is leading the Flowers team to craft “wines of Terroir” through the implementation of organic and biodynamic farming principles that allow the vineyards to best express themselves. While Flowers demands a great deal of his time, his other passions are cooking, drinking Burgundy, martial arts, tennis, reading, travel, and spending time with his wife Ali and two children Gabriel and Pippin. Jason holds an MBA from Southern Methodist University Cox School of Business.
EQUIVOCAL QUIZZER
Darrin’s winegrowing perspective focuses on using his knowledge, sensitivity, and respect for the land to nurture the vines; carefully harvest the grapes; and naturally craft them into wine. He created his own oenology major at UC Santa Cruz and through the education abroad program at UCSC, he completed the first year of the French DNO (Diplome National d’Oenologue) at the University of Bordeaux as part of his degree. After interning in France, Darrin worked with wineries such as Piper Sonoma, J, and Grgich Hills prior to joining Flowers in 2004. A native of Healdsburg, Darrin thought he would grow up to become a teacher; but, after working at Dry Creek Vineyards during high school, his path was set to work in the wine industry. When he isn’t checking barrels and working on final blends, Darrin enjoys cooking and he can often be found around the Camp Meeting Ridge property collecting mushrooms, or at home in peaceful repose with yoga.
THE CLIFFHANGER
A native of Chattanooga TN, Dave’s love of the French language took him to McGill University in Montreal where he majored in Economics and Physical Geography. It was here that he discovered what he calls the “nuance of wine and gastronomic culture.” His first experiences in wine carried him to the Napa Valley where he first worked at Chappellet and later at Pine Ridge. He then set his sights on Sonoma County Pinot Noir and after his internship with William Selyem in 2007, Dave joined the Flowers team as Assistant Winemaker in 2008. During the growing season and especially during harvest, Dave is most frequently found in the vineyards assessing fruit development and monitoring vine health; but during the winter months, when the vines are dormant, he is full of energy skiing in the Sierra Nevada backcountry. His love affair with mountains carries him back to the Sierra during the summer for frequent hikes and climbs.
MAGNIFICENT 10
All great wines depend on fruit quality and that starts in the vineyard. The mission at Flowers is to produce Sonoma Coast wines that express the unique character of our vineyard sites. This requires regular maintenance and loving care in order to coax the vines to deliver beautiful fruit that is perfectly ripe and bursting with flavor with balance in the sugars and acid. Our vineyard team works tirelessly as stewards of the land and shepherds of the vines.
DYNAMIC TRIO
Year after year our estate vineyards provide us with fruit that expresses the unique character of the soil and climate of the extreme Sonoma Coast. When the fruit comes in it is rigorously sorted and fermented with traditional methods and cellared exclusively in French oak barrels. The wine is then put in the loving care of the cellar team that stirs the lees of the fermenting Chardonnays, monitors the wine’s progress, tops off barrels, and prepares the barrels during the blending process.
THE STORYTELLER
A native of Richmond, Virginia, Christopher joined Flowers as Estate Director in April of 2010 with over a decade of fine wine sales and marketing experience. Prior to Flowers, Christopher was the Estate Director for the iconic Robert Mondavi Winery in Napa Valley and has also worked with Estancia Winery in Monterey County and for the Symington Family Port Companies which holds prestigious brands such as Graham’s, and Dow’s. After many years in consumer goods marketing, including several with the Coca-Cola Company, he is delighted to have the opportunity to reach out to the marketplace and share the story of the pioneering efforts of Joan and Walt Flowers in one of California’s most remote growing regions. Fluent in French, he is an eternal student and enthusiast of medieval and renaissance history, a practiced cook and an avid traveler.
MISS CONGENIALITY
Members are always greeted and hosted by our resident ball of energy, Nikki Bohan. Born in sunny San Diego, Nikki grew up in Santa Rosa but traded the sun and warmth of the inland valleys for the cool fogs and sea breezes of the Sonoma Coast where she now lives surrounded by the family’s vineyards at Bohan-Dillon Ranch. Nikki’s love of people is only matched by her passion for archeological travel and gardening. She is frequently found elbow deep in the soil around the winery caring for our flower, vegetable and bio-dynamic prep gardens.
THE AMBASSADOR
A military brat, Ed has travelled extensively and recently settled in wine country to obey his passion for wine, especially Pinot Noir. Ed studied Viticulture & Enology at UC-Davis, authors a wine blog, interned at Holdredge Wines in Healdsburg producing Pinot Noir and is a certified specialist of wine (CSW). He has joined Flowers to share our story from a personal perspective and that of the land. As chief messenger and consumer advocate, he will provide our customers with world-class service, a personalized experience and extend the reach of the Flowers brand with various digital media via 21st Century technology while never forgetting the value of a hand-written note or a phone call. Ed holds an MBA from Georgia State University, J. Mack Robinson College of Business and when he’s not tweeting or nose deep in a glass you may find him on his bike.
P.O.ET LAUREATE
Once the wines are bottled, packed and warehoused, Lani ensures they get to their final destination in the USA or some far corner of the globe. While at Flowers she processes Purchase Orders and keeps the wholesale market rolling; but, outside of work, Lani is an accomplished chef, performer, and most of all – a writer. A published author, poet and educator, Lani came out to the Sonoma Coast in order to enjoy the silence and introspective space that will allow her to craft her next work.
THE ENFORCER
Yes, that is a club…. Safety is no small issue at the winery and Wendy wields her safety club during harvest in order to ensure everyone comes through without a scratch. As the Production Liaison, she is responsible for bottling, materials managment, and of course, safety. At home, Wendy is a talented baker (she shares with the team); and when she isn’t pulling loaves from the oven, she enjoys the bright skies and freedom of the open roads of the Sonoma Coast on her motorcycle.
THE MORGANIZER
Every organization has that one individual that just keeps the gears working, materials prepared, all things in their place and at the ready. Morgan is so talented at this that once she leaves a room, it hasn’t just been organized, it has been Morganized! In her spare time, instead of crosswords puzzles, you’ll find her working out advanced algebraic equations. She is an avid itunes and podcast listener and will amaze you with her universal knowledge.
THE UNITED NATIONS
Each year Flowers brings viticulturalists, oenologists, and winemakers from all over the world to intern with us during harvest. In 2011 we had a diverse team with team players coming from around the world. Beginning on the lower left: Ming Thum (Singapore), Fernando Tizziani (Brazil), Adeline Hunt (France), Kathryn Damby(US), Jose Bueno (Spain), Stefan Behr (Germany), Renan Thielloux(France), Cameron Baxter (US), Sarah Miller(US) and Kyle Mathis (US).
