Callaway Winery Reinvents Itself – New Winemaker
As far back as I can remember about Temecula Wine Country, the first winery on the hill has played a role in the wines of this growing appellation. It was 1969 when founder Ely Callaway, who went on to the golfing game, created this vineyard and winery. He was a true pioneer in the development of the area, at one time owning 150 acres along Rancho California road, the main winery route through the valley, and achieved quick success. In the early 80s he sold the winery to Hiram Walker, a spirits company, and the beginning of the quality slide started.
Without significant change to keep up with the times, even a winery can lose its luster. Like any business or person still wearing yesterday’s fashion, the look, feel and taste of Callaway slumped, as new wineries came in with new ideas on what the public’s taste was, and what it was going to be. The low-ebb occurred in 1999 when Callaway bore the brunt of the Pierce’s Disease plague, a bacteria that choked the vines, carried by a grasshopper-like flying insect. Eradication was complete in the two year disturbance, but Callaway never really recovered from its injury when it had to purchase its grapes from sources outside of the Temecula area.
Into the breach came Patricia Lin and her family, a real estate investment team from Del Mar, in 2006. They bought the existing 35 acres and promptly re-planted 16 acres. They then bought another 235 acres in the region and are planning to improve this land. “The business model will definitely change,” said Linn. “There will be less wine produced and we’re working with an architect to do some renovations and get away from the boxy, industrial look.”
From what I can gather in speaking to the new Marketing Director Kristin Sartore, Callaway will emphasize a more rustic approach to its wines and has moved away from the low-end Chardonnay, emphasizing the Mediterranean style of varietals like Sangiovese, Syrah, Muscat Canelli, Dolcetto and Viognier. Kristin will take her vast experience in orchestrating special wine events to ramp up the number of “wow” events at the winery and look to a new restaurant concept to replace the existing one, not now in use.
Another benchmark for the new look, feel and taste of Callaway was the recent arrival of the new winemaker, Bela Varga, formerly with prominent wineries in Washington, Sonoma and Hungary, his home country. Having produced several “best of class” wines, Bela commands attention when he asserts that “I accentuate the varietal character using the best the fruit has to offer throughout the winemaking process. I pay special attention to grape maturity, monitoring and zeroing in on the best time for picking.” Bela also plays a mean jazz piano and has played with the best in the biz. Maybe that will be another first for Callaway.
Plush Condo High Rise Attracts with Wine Features
Bayside, that panoramic high rise going up in downtown San Diego’s waterfront is the first I know of in this area to top its amenities list with “luxe” wine amenities. It will have a full “Enoteca wine bar” for private tastings, and a wine storage feature for its owner-buyers. Homes are sized from 1,190 square feet to 8,240 square feet! Pricing is from $750 thousand to $12.5 million. It’s another level of the stunning upscale rise of wine in our lifestyle.
Frank Mangiopc@aol.com.
10631 Vinedale Street, Sun Valley, CA 91352 - Phone (818) 767-3413 - Fax: (818) 767-1410
