Clients

Avanti Fine Wine Selections
(www.avantiwines.com)
Avanti Fine Wine Selections is a portfolio of hand-selected premium wines with competitive price points from around the world. The company is the joint venture of two former Robert Mondavi sales executives (Mitch Clark and Jim Buckley) who wanted to combine their expertise and passion to create a quality wine company. Mitch and Jim personally select every wine and are committed to growing a sales force and distributor network of like-minded individuals. I spent 20 years at Mondavi myself, and knowing Mitch and Jim's track record and style, was immediately interested in working with them. Avanti is focused on quality wineries with great pedigree, good packaging and consumer-friendly pricing.

Wineries in the portfolio include:

Left Coast Cellars
(www.leftcoastcellars.com)

Left Coast Cellars is a relatively new Oregon winery located in Rockreall Oregon, in the Willamette Valley. The estate consists of 306 acres, 100 of which are devoted to the cultivation of grapes. The remainder of the property is preserved as one of the last remaining stands of original old growth White Oaks in the area and also contains fruit orchards, meadows, lakes and streams. Additionally, four acres of hazelnut trees, shrub roses and holly oaks were planted to foster the cultivation of European truffles that they view as a welcome complement to their fine wine production.

Committed to sustainable farming practices, they also received the largest USDA grant awarded in Oregon for renewable energy which allowed for the installation of solar panel arrays. These panels will provide for virtually all of the electrical needs for the estate. Woodland restoration, various crops and the outline of an extensive recycling program are all being worked on at this point to expand their approach to sustainability.

The vineyards straddle the 45th latitude (hence the name of their vineyard-designate wine). The winery produces approximately 5,500 cases and seven wines: pinot blanc, pinot gris, chardonnay, pinot noir (3 of them) and a rose (100% pinot noir).

Meyer Family Cellars, Yorkville, CA
(www.meyerfamilycellars.com)
Meyer Family Cellars is the creation of the late Justin Meyer (of Silver Oak fame), his widow Bonny and son Matt.

Having created one of Napa Valley's most sought after "cult" wines, Justin and Bonny decided to sell their half of Silver Oak Cellars to their partner in the year 2000 to devote themselves to their dream of creating a small winery that would involve the Meyer family. They found a small winemaking facility just south of Boonville, California near the Anderson Valley that needed some tender loving care and began its restoration. The first bottling of Meyer Family port at the new winery took place in the spring of 2002. Two vintages of Syrah are currently aging in barrel for future release.

Following in his father's footsteps, Matt has taken over the winemaking responsibilities and the management of the family winery. With the untimely passing of patriarch Justin Meyer in the summer of 2002, the family has rededicated itself to the winery project and the quality wines that will be its hallmark.

Meyer Family Cellars produces a Syrah and a vintage old-vine Zinfandel "solera" port.