Saint K Wines are crafted from grapes grown in central coast California – in and around
Paso Robles, often referred to as America’s Rhone Valley. Winemaker Chris Kiranbay
combines classic styles of old-world wines, and the artistic, often, hands-off practices of
the new world to create something beautiful and unique. He specializes in Rhone
varietals, but also delivers an epic line-up of chardonnays as well as some grapes you
have likely never heard of.
Chris is a Virginia native who spent 15 years in the restaurant business before working
his first harvest and ultimately packing his bags for California, landing on his feet though
to work with some of the region’s most notable winemakers, including Russell P. From
at Herman Story and Vailia Esh at Desparada. His style echos that of Herman Story –
unapologetically big, with bright acidity balancing the massive fruit.
Saint K’s labels are as captivating as the wines inside. Each label is unique, bold, and
artistically speaks to the character of the wine it represents. By his own admission they
are a little “freaky”, capturing Chris’ love for post-apocalyptic/urban-decay scenes. With
names such as Gravesend, Flower Bomb, Days Gone By and Dial Tone there is no way
to pass one of these bottles on a shelf and not turn your head in curiosity.
Saint K is a line that cannot and should not be ignored. The wines are classic and yet
unique, textbook yet artistic. Each one a New World masterpiece. Chris may not be a
Saint, but he’s one hell of a winemaker.
If you ask a wine expert to name the top winemakers in Napa, Aaron Pott will inevitably be on the list. Early in his career he spent time in Bordeaux as the winemaker at Chateau Troplong Mondot and later director of Chateau La Tour Figeac. Upon returning to California, he enhanced his resume at legendary Napa producers such as Mondavi, Beringer, Kongsgaard, and Quintessa. Today, much of his time is in demand as a consulting winemaker for a select group of premium Napa based producers. However, the jewel in his crown is the winery that bears his name, and we are thrilled to bring these wines to Ontario for the first time.
Pott Wine (Aaron, wife Claire & daughters) started in 2004 with the purchase of several sizeable, rugged pieces of land. Their first property was a former prune orchard at about 1600 feet and is part of what Aaron calls the Chateauneuf-du-Pott estate, high in the woods of Mt. Veeder. The soils up here are former marine soils which have ultimately been uplifted and vineyards are farmed organically; Aaron applies biodynamic practices that he learned while working in Saint-Emillion.
Pott Wine emphasizes individually crafted wines, with respect to the vineyard site. All their wines are produced in extremely limited quantities, and each is distinctive. No cookie cutter wines here. Pott produces wines from their Mt. Veeder property, single vineyard bottlings and a Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. Aaron has a remarkable pedigree working with premium vineyards in Napa and has access to some of the valley’s most premium vineyards, some of which he even helped to plant.
Alex Baer did not grow up the son of a fifth, fourth, nor third generation winemaker. He spent his childhood learning craftsmanship as the son of a general contractor with school activities that included planing raw materials, glue-ups, and finish sanding. Wine entered his life in high school when his parent’s company was contracted to make a small condo atop a barn on a vineyard and his father finessed a small amount of petite sirah into the contract. Honing his craft in a winery, which was just a barn for most of the year, sparked a curiosity and passion for wine that would inspire Alex to start making some of the most exciting wines coming from central coast California today.
Alex’s wine pedigree is ridiculous. It includes time spent working down under at Elderton Winery in Australia with shiraz grapes which were planted over 125 years ago. He then connected with Guillaume Fabre, of Clos Solene, one of the most influential wine makers in Paso Robles, whose French roots would open life-list opportunities to work and learn in the vineyards of Petrus in Bordeaux and then to Chateauneuf to work in the cellar of Domain La Barroche. Back in California, Alex landed at Realm Cellars in Napa and then at cult central coast producer Sine Qua Non before taking the plunge to launch his own brand in 2018.
About the name… Alex credits the support of his family for his success and shares his gratitude through the brand by recognizing ALL the BAERs or simplified, ALLBAER.