Celebrating American AgCredit Sweepstake Winemaker awards

WHITE SWEEPSTAKE

Bruno D’Alfonso & Kris Curran

Brick Barn Wine Estate, Santa Ynez Valley 2016 Vermentino, $40

Bruno D’Alfonso’s love of the outdoors led him to earn a degree in soil science from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. His fascination with fine wines inspired him to seek a second bachelor’s degree from UC Davis, this time in winemaking. Shortly after, D’Alfonso had the wonderful fortune of working with two California winemaking icons: Richard Graff of Chalone Vineyard and Richard Sanford, the Pinot Noir pioneer of the Santa Rita Hills AVA. After three vintages with the late Graff at the Edna Valley Vineyard, D’Alfonso joined Sanford to help begin Sanford Winery. He remained Sanford’s winemaker for 23 vintages and during that time became a partner.

Kris Curran grew up in the Santa Ynez Valley. After earning an animal science degree at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, she became enticed by the scientific side of winemaking while working with D’Alfonso at Sanford Winery and later received her second bachelor’s from California State University Fresno in winemaking. Curran began as assistant winemaker at Cambria and later became a founding winemaker at Koehler and then at Sea Smoke Cellars. After leaving Sea Smoke, she worked as winemaker for Foley wines from 2008 to 2010. Curran was the first California vintner to popularize Grenache Blanc, which she started making in 2003. She loves the variety and challenge of mastering different production techniques.