Ramey Wine Cellars was founded in 1996 by David Ramey and his wife Carla. After sixteen years making wine in Sonoma County, and firmly establishing Matanzas Creek and Chalk Hill wineries in the marketplace, David crossed the Mayacamas to spend six years in the Napa Valley–first as winemaker for Dominus Estate and project manager for the construction of their new winery; then helping Leslie Rudd reshape the Girard Winery into Rudd Oakville.

David’s groundbreaking work with indigenous yeasts, sur lies aging and malolactic and barrel fermentation yielded a new California style that was richer, more lush and silky smooth than previously known. As a result, he created a benchmark style now emulated by many.

David earned a graduate degree from the University of California at Davis, where his 1979 thesis on volatile ester hydrolysis (translation: how aromas evolve in wine) is still used today to understand how wine ages. 

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We Talk About:

A random trip to Los Angeles with a future well-known winemaker from Santa Cruz

His involvement in many brands and projects including Simi, Dominus, Rudd, Matanzas Creek, and more.

How Ramey Wine Cellars started: 260 cases of Hyde Vineyard Chardonnay in 1996

Robert Parker Jr., IPOB, and how to look at "balance" in wine

His thoughts on the "natural wine" movement and sulphur dioxide

The Ramey Cab Sav from Oakville AVA that you'll want to taste!

One varietal that ripens late; could it be part of Napa's future?

Story behind the Sidebar brand: the Kerner grape, Lodi Zin, and more