Summer / Fall 2008

Joel Peterson

One of the Most Well-Known and Popular Winemakers

Ravenswood has benefitted from the philosophy and skill of one vintner for more than thirty years. That person is Joel Peterson, one of the wine industry's best-known figures — and also, one of its most popular.

Joel unwittingly embarked on his winemaking apprenticeship at the age of ten, when he began tasting with the San Francisco Wine Sampling Club, organized and operated by his father. By the time he was a teenager, he had a solid working knowledge of European vineyards and vintages, and after studying biochemistry at Oregon State University, he became a wine writer and consultant while supporting himself as a research immunologist. Even then, Joel was known for his extraordinary palate, which he eventually decided to put to constructive use. After apprenticing in the art of Old World winemaking with the late Joseph Swan (one of California's outstanding craftsmen of fine zinfandel), he founded Ravenswood in 1976.

Since then, Joel has shepherded the Sonoma-based winery from a one-man garage operation producing 327 cases of Zinfandel to the #1 producer of Zinfandel worldwide. While this dizzying trajectory would give most people a nosebleed, Joel has handled the transition with aplomb, remaining at the helm of Ravenswood as Founding Winemaker and General Manager. In addition, Joel is a current member and former president of the Sonoma Valley Vintners and Growers Alliance (S.V.V.G.A.), a founding member and two-time president of Zinfandel Advocates and Producers (ZAP), and chairman of the ZAP/UC Davis Heritage Vineyard project charged with researching and preserving historic zinfandel clones.

A passionate Zinfandel ambassador, the "Godfather of Zin" as he is affectionately known by wine industry insiders, he is both approachable and articulate — revealing equal parts poetry and practicality (a blend that serves any winemaker well) in numerous appearances at some of the nation's leading wine and food events from coast to coast.

In his private life, Joel, along with his wife Maddaie continues to raise an extended family that includes two sons, two adopted daughters and several generations of spotless Samoyeds. In 2005 he broke a longstanding vow not to own any grapevines, purchasing a 100+ year-old vineyard in Sonoma Valley which he and his family take great care in tending to!

Visit Ravenswood and take a tour of the Bedrock Vineyard or enjoy a blending seminar.

Bedrock Vineyard Tour - Join Tour Guide and Educator, Dave Miles, for a narrated walk in the historical 'Bedrock Vineyard', owned by Ravenswood founder and Winemaker Joel Peterson. Bedrock Vineyard is one of the oldest existing vineyards in Sonoma. Join Dave in this beautiful surrounding and learn the historical significance of this important vineyard, and Zinfandel's place in history. Tour size is limited to groups of 10. Included after the tour, enjoy Ravenswood wines produced from Bedrock Vineyard, with cheese and pate tasting. Tours will be offered three times a week April thru harvest. Contact David Miles at david.miles@ravenswood-wine.com or call 707.933.2332 to RSVP or request more information.

Blending Seminars with Peter Griffith - Each Friday morning, ten enthusiastic oenophiles arrive at Ravenswood for their 11 am Blending Seminar. They leave the tasting room behind to experience "the other side of wine country". Surrounded by French Oak barrels and our Designate Zinfandels the aroma of wine fills the air. Find out why we use Carignane and Petite Sirah in our Zinfandel. This program is for the novice or the more experienced wine drinker. Contact Peter Griffith at peter.griffith@ravenswood-wine.com or call 707.933.2349 to RSVP or request more information.

Ravenswood Winery is located at 18701 Gehricke Road in Sonoma, CA. Please call 888.669.4679,707.933.2332 or visit www.ravenswood-wine.com for more information.

No Wimpy Wines!