grape to glass
Grant Taylor, owner and founder of Valli Vineyards never really had a chance to put down roots growing up. His father worked for the government, so the family was constantly moving every one or two years.
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“W
hile one part of me loved (and still does) the joy of discovering new places and the pleasure of making new friends, another part thrived on the permanence and stability of my grandparents’ farm in the Catlins,” said Taylor. After studying agriculture at university in Lincoln, Taylor decided to go travelling for a couple years before ending up in U.C. Davis in California to catch up with some friends from Lincoln. Most weekends the group found themselves exploring tasting rooms across Napa and Sonoma Valley. “My biggest revelation was that there looked like a very exciting life to be had making wine and growing grapes,” said Taylor. “So, in 1980 I applied for a position as assistant winemaker at a brand-new Napa Valley winery, Pine Ridge.” While that was the start of winemaking for a living, it wasn’t the start of Taylor’s interest
