A Decade of Dedication:
As he celebrates this milestone anniversary, we sat down with Jason to reflect on his journey, his winemaking philosophy, and what inspires his innovative approach to winemaking.
1. If you could share a bottle of your wine with anyone— living or historical—who would it be and why?
4. Describe your perfect day off—no vineyards, no cellars, just you doing what you love. First, I’d pack up our 1983 Scamp trailer and head out for a camping trip with friends and family—somewhere with fresh air, no emails, and just the sound of the trees. Exercise is a must, whether it’s tennis, cycling, swimming in a lake, or hiking to a waterfall—whatever gets the body moving and the mind clear. And, of course, no perfect day is complete without a great glass of wine by the campfire, because no matter how far I go from the cellar, wine is always part of the journey. 5. Ten years, countless grapes—what’s one epic moment from your VSW journey that still inspires you today? Picture this, Napa Valley is in the mist of the 2020 fires. Most of our staff is evacuated from their homes (including me), yet we still had every single production staff make it to work to get our wines made. We lost power a few of these days, and our fruit was trapped in the press overnight. No big deal, right? Wrong. The fermentation kicked off inside the sealed press, and by the next morning, it had built up an incredible amount of pressure. When we finally opened it, we were met with a literal force of nature. Proof that yeast, one of the tiniest organisms on the planet, holds incredible power. Winemak- ing is humbling that way. Much like the ocean, you should never turn your back on it.
I’d share a bottle of our 2018 Mount Veeder Cabernet with Julia Child. She had an unmatched ability to bring people together over food and an unwavering belief that enjoying wine should never be intimidating. She was an advo- cate for enjoyment over snobbery which is a philosophy I also embrace. I’d bring the wine, she’d bring the food, and together we’d prove that the best pairings are not only about flavors, but about laughter, curiosity, and good company. I hear that there will soon be a museum dedicated to her across the street from V. Sattui Winery. Yet another reason to come visit us here in Napa. 2. If your winemaking style had a theme song, what would it be and why? Red Red Wiiinnnne… just kidding, that is too generic. I would say Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen. Like winemaking, it’s layered, dynamic, and unpredictable. Each verse takes you somewhere new. Every harvest season brings different projects, new challenges, and unexpected twists, and you need to be ready to pivot on a dime. One moment it’s a soft ballad, the next it’s full-throttle rock—just like harvest. You must trust the process, ride out the tempo shifts, and wait for that grand, harmonious finale. 3. Where do you find inspiration for your winemaking outside of the wine world? I find Inspiration all around us. It could be from nature, family, food etc. It’s more about being present with yourself and be in the moment and put your darn phone down. Living in Napa means being surrounded by some of the most incredible restaurants, where every dish is a reminder of how flavors and aromas shape experience. I also find inspiration in the simplest of things: walking in the forest, cooking in my own kitchen, or browsing the spice market at Oxbow. Smell is the most powerful trigger of memory (even more so than photos or words). A single scent can take you back to childhood or across the world in an instant. Every day is a gift to smell something amazing.
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