By doing so, he has delivered limited production, single-vineyard wines with minimal intervention in the cellar. To highlight, rather than manipulate, the characteristics of a location. To convey the personality and attributes of each site in the wine itself. And to tell the purest story possible of that site in each vintage. He likes to say that he’s “in a partnership with Mother Nature, but she has majority share.”
For years, he tried to convince himself that working in the Navy and the tech sector was the responsible thing to do. Then, at age 38, he surrendered to the calling he’d been fighting all along. He quit his job and moved cross-country to become a winemaker.
Tony faced more obstacles than most. But a Regents Scholarship to UC Davis and a fellowship enabling him to learn at the Maison M. Chapoutier winery in France were signs that he was on the right track. A chance meeting with renowned winemaker Heidi Barrett led to a position as her assistant, and a lasting friendship. A position as the consulting winemaker at Kapcsándy Family Wines followed. Tony was finally where he was meant to be.
"Honestly everything else before winemaking now seems like one big detour."