Band of Vintners
Adelicious, reasonably priced Cabernet is a rarity in Napa Valley, and a welcome addition in a place where new labels usually start at $200 (£152) and soar upwards. Band of Vintners is the opposite of those ego projects, its Consortium Cabernet blend priced at a mere $38 (£29).
The brand grew out of a tasting group. After a regular members’ potluck dinner one night, winemaker Dan Petroski floated the idea of collaborating on an affordable Napa Cabernet. Since the tasting collective includes four winemakers, two wine marketing executives, and a Master Sommelier now in sales strategy and brand management, they figured they had insider knowledge of ‘where the good grapes and juice reside’ and the experience to make and sell a new label.
So was born Band of Vintners, whose first vintage of a fresh, cassis-scented, luscious Consortium was 2014.
The Band snaps up wines in barrel that famous wineries are selling off because they don’t fit in their final blends. There’s plenty of winemaking expertise. Burgundy native Stèphane Vivier, who works for Hyde de Villaine and Long Meadow Ranch, is their lead winemaker, aided by Mark Porembski (who’s at Anomaly Vineyards), Petroski (Larkmead Vineyards) and Barrett Anderson ( Jackson Family’s Cabernet estates). Most of them have their own individual labels, too.
Naturally, they won’t reveal their sources, but the 2016 is from three vineyards in St Helena, Howell Mountain and Calistoga, whose wines sell for much, much more.
The project is also succeeding – the wines are sold in Europe, too – because the group has the business side covered. Brennan Anderson, vice president of marketing at Folio Fine Wine Partners, is their finance guy, while Master Sommelier Jason Heller, who has held sales and marketing positions at several cult wineries, runs sales. Vintner Cameron Hobel has experience in fine wine sales to collectors. How can the Band lose?
‘The Band snaps up wines in barrel that famous wineries are selling off’