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Winemaking
Jon Priest
Senior Winemaker & General Manager
At Etude, our philosophy is that winemaking begins in the vineyard, long before the grapes are harvested. We believe that inspired grape growing diminishes the need for intervention by the winemaker, and that superior wines that are grown, not made.
Jon’s focus is on inspired winegrowing - growing grapes in the perfect place with the right conditions, creating superior wines of world class character. This intentful winemaking expresses the inherent qualities of each varietal while showcasing the unique characteristics and a defined sense of place.
"I like people to really take home a sense that we spend a lot of time in the vineyard, crafting and growing grapes so that when we bring those grapes into a winery the techniques we use gently bring out the best in them." - Jon Priest
Education & Training
A native of the Central Coast of California, Jon began his wine career when he returned home from college and joined the legendary Wine Cask Company in Santa Barbara. This became his finishing school for wine appreciation and where he began to refine his palate. Feeling a need to gain a more hands-on connection to the vineyard and winemaking, he joined Wild Horse Winery in 1989, where he worked his way up to winemaker in 1999. He then moved on to winemaking roles at Adelaida Cellars, Taz, and finally to Etude in 2005.
Taking up the Torch
In 2005, Jon received the phone call to come to Napa Valley and take the torch from our founder, Tony Soter. Since that day, he has spent over a dozen years creating memorable wines that tell you where they’ve come from in every sip, as well as creating a reputation as one of the most accomplished winemakers in California, with a special touch for Pinot Noir.
