The Oxford Wine Company are delighted to welcome Mike Waller, winemaker at Calera Estate, and Brian Bostwick of Duckhorn Estate, to the Jericho Wine Rooms this May for a fascinating masterclass in celebration of Calera’s fiftieth anniversary. Matt and Brian will guide us through four Pinot Noirs and two Chardonnays at this event, showcasing a variety of vintages and terroirs, giving us a fascinating insight into this pioneering estate.
High in the Gabilan Mountains of California’s Central Coast, Calera stands as a beacon of winemaking excellence, rooted in a rich history and a relentless pursuit of quality. Founded by the visionary Josh Jensen in 1974, Calera, which translates to “limekiln” in Spanish, draws its name from the 19th-century limekiln found on its property. This historical marker symbolizes the limestone-rich soils that Jensen believed were essential for cultivating world-class Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.
Jensen studied European History at Oxford University as well as completing a degree in anthropology at Yale before falling in love with winemaking in Burgundy. He brought the knowledge he gained at Domaine de la Romanée-Conti and Domaine Dujac back to California, where he found similar soils on the remote, limestone-laden slopes of Mt. Harlan. Despite scepticism from contemporaries who doubted the viability of viticulture in such an isolated and rugged location, Jensen’s passion and determination led to the planting of Calera’s first 24 acres of Pinot Noir in 1975.
This promises to be an incredible event – book early to avoid disappointment!