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Wines and Steins

 Fostering home wine and beer making and the art of tastings

Wines and Steins Mentors

The Wines and Steins membership includes a broad range of wine enthusiasts, from those interested mostly in tasting to those with sophisticated home winemaking facilities: and even some licensed wineries.  At our monthly General Membership meetings, members are able to discuss vineyard and winemaking topics with others, including the many who have won medals for their wines at various competitions.  In addition to informal sharing of knowledge, the club supports more formal relationships through its efforts to connect mentors with apprentices.

Below is a list of members who are willing to be mentors.  The relationship between mentors and apprentices is left up to you.  Some mentors are more interested in being an ad-hoc resource for specific questions, while others would prefer an on-going relationship where the apprentice directly participates in the various stages of the winemaking process.  Included below is a short description of each of the mentoring winemakers situation and preferences.  Please feel free to contact them by phone or email to discuss how they can help you, and perhaps how you might help them. 

Note - Some of our mentors prefer not to have their contact information displayed.  In addition, some wish to only be contacted by club members.  If you don't see contact info with the mentor's information, and you are a member, you can look them up in the member directory (be sure to be logged on).  Private Directory


 

Steve Felten

I have been a winemaker in Paso Robles for over twenty years, at EOS Estate Winery and Norman Vineyards.  I am now self-employed as a consultant and small-scale wine producer. I started out as a home winemaker, and would be happy to help out anyone just starting out, or interested in taking their operation to the next level.

Phone: (805) 238-3572    Email: winesage@feltencellars.com

 

Mike Ferree

I grow Merlot (30 plants) , Zinfandel (25 plants) l and Petite Sirah (90 plants)   I make about 28 cases a year. I do not use barrels,  since I do not have facilities to handle the barrels.  I use 5, 6 and 7 gal glass carboys and oak staves. (I also have used oak chips)  I am currently learning about what additives I should be adding to enhance my wines.

Phone: (805) 975-6503    Email: MchFerr4@aol.com

 

Guy Callari

Janice and I planted 600 vines on a hill in Paso Robles in 2003 (Sangiovese, Merlot, Petite Sirah and Viognier).  Our philosophy is to spend more time in the vineyard and less time in the winery.  Original plan was to dry-farm as much as possible, irrigate as little as possible, weed by hand and avoid using chemicals.  During the drought, however, we watered more than we wanted to, used some chemical fertilizers together with mulch and compost.  In the winery, we try to avoid the use of cultured yeast, using wild yeast as much as possible.  The winery is a converted garage kept pretty cool for the barrels and a separate wine room for bottled wine.  We produce about  800-1000 bottles of wine a year.  I'm interested in mentoring only club members who are committed to making good wine and willing to participate in the process.

 

Cindy Lewis

Jeff and I planted 75 head-trained vines that are on timed drip in 2008: 50 zinfandel and 25 cabernet sauvignon  in NE Templeton.  I make about 20 cases a year, no barrels. We use 5 gallon carboys and oak spirals. I use cultured in addition to native yeast and try to minimize additives during pre through post fermentation. I have had such wonderful mentors in IGGPRA and W&S, hope I can help a few others.

Email: drlewis@lewisassoc.com

 

Richard Lashbrook and Patricia Watters

My wife Patricia and I moved to Templeton in 2010. We purchased a house in west Templeton that had a vineyard that was about 3 years old at the time. We grow about 1,100 vines of Syrah, Grenache, Mourvedre, and Tannat.  We met our neighbors that also had a vineyard and had been making wine for a few years. They encouraged us to join in with their little wine making group. That started us on our wine making hobby. We have our own facility and equipment now but still work with the group. At this point we are selling our grapes to a local winery but three other members of our group have vineyards so there is always wine to be made. If you are interested in getting started wine making we would be glad to have you join in. It is a good way to learn the basics and more hands are always welcome.

 

Bruce Pittman

I have 500+/- vines with five varietals.  I grow Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel, Syrah and Viognier.  I planted all of the vines and all are head trained.  I make approximately two barrels of wine a year.  I have experience with both red and white wine making and i do my own chemistry work, fermenting and bottling at home.  I have also created some nice tools to make home winemaking easier.

Email: pdq250@gmail.com

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President - Mike Ferree
Webmaster - Karen Wall

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