What is your first recollection of having wine?
As a child, probably 7 or 8, I began sipping small amounts at the dinner table. There was never hard liquor at the house, but always wine, which was available to try if you asked.

How has wine shaped your upbringing?
Like most early North Coast California families, we're descendants of Europeans and wine has played a large part in life. Growing up in a rural, farming environment instilled certain values; be neighborly, share, save for the bad year, adapt, and do what you need to do to get the job done as nature is always changing.

When did you decide you wanted to go into the family business?
Ever since I realized you could be both inside and outside working with wine. I would go crazy if I only did one or the other all the time.

What is your favorite wine?
That's kind of like asking which daughter is my favorite. I like them all! Really, it all depends on what I'm doing and eating. And it's always changing. That's the beauty of wine; you never need to get “stuck” with any one style. There are plenty of choices to mix and match. I can BBQ the same meal four nights in a row and each night have a different experience based on the wine.

When you are not drinking wine, what are you are drinking?
Water, coffee and hand-crafted beers listed in order of quantity!

What is the most memorable bottle you have ever
had? What was the occasion?
Lots of choices come to mind, but pre-kids, sitting on a beach with my wife at my uncle's place in the San Juan Islands of Washington sipping a Beume de Venise from Domaine Durban for our anniversary. To this day, we still enjoy the same wine!

How did you get interested in New Zealand wines?
Not sure, but since I was young I always had a fascination with NZ. In fact, before I was married I told my future mother-in-law I was moving there with her daughter (that didn't go over real well). Sixteen years later, however, I jumped on a plane with a very dear friend and viticulturist and flew down to see what was going on in the industry. Only a few NZ wines were coming into the country and we wanted to see what else was out there. We spent a few weeks driving the country exploring the wine regions and I fell in love with the diversity. I never moved with my wife, but we've traveled there and both work in the business.

What makes New Zealand wines special?
Their sense of place: Every NZ wine has a signature taste that goes beyond the varietal and winemaker, and really speaks to the diversity of the country.

Name some of your favorite vineyards and bottles
from New Zealand.
Tough question, as we only import wines we really like and enjoy drinking. The household wines tend to be: Muddy Water Pinot Noir from Waipara, Huia Pinot Gris from Marlborough, Bird Riesling from Marlborough; Trinity Hill Syrah from Hawkes Bay.

What are your three best tips, tricks or techniques for wine
enthusiasts?
Experiment. Do a little reading. Like anything, a small amount of knowledge will help you make much better choices. Be your own wine judge: drink what you like and don't be intimidated by what others say. Life is too short to drink wine you don't really like if it's not to your satisfaction, dump it out and try something else.