Winemaker Jed Steele was coming off a lengthy and acclaimed career a venable names like Edmeades (whose Zin we’ve shipped previously in our most inexpensive wine club) and since he had one of the defining traits any winemaker can have on his resume (he was Kendall Jackson’s original winemaker) he had his pick of spots.

In 1981 he rented some space and started Steele Wines, which has grown to be among the quality leaders north of Napa.  There’s a different element or two, whimsical and playful almost that reminds me a bit of Randal Graham at Boony Doon.

Although production is probably too big and the winery too well situated in terms of distribution these days, Forbes has called us among their best wine clubs to join, I think in part because we won’t leave any stone unturned.  These are good, fruit forward, interesting wines from a pioneer in the industry.  They deserve our attention and who’s to say they couldn’t fit in a wine club shipment at a later date.