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SONOMA VALLEY | WINE COUNTRY THIS WEEK
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WINEMAKER PROFILE: MEADOWCROFT WINES
MEADOWCROFT WINES
Open daily from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
23574 Arnold Drive (Highway 121), Sonoma, CA 95476
(707) 934-4090 | www.meadowcroftwines.com
Look for Meadowcroft Wines on Facebook and Twitter.
TOM MEADOWCROFT
“My passion for wines comes from my experiences growing up, working
and traveling in Europe and the United States,” says Tom Meadowcroft,
winemaker and owner of Sonoma’s Meadowcroft Wines. “I started my journey
in winemaking by working the harvest of 1979 in Bordeaux, France.”
His passion for wine continued as he worked at wineries in both
Washington and the Napa Valley. He took numerous extension courses from
U.C. Davis and graduated from Napa College with an Associate of Science
degree in Winery Technology and Viticulture. He became a vineyard manager
focused on sustainable farming and environmental advocacy.
“Managing dozens of vineyards for many of the top wineries in Napa and
Sonoma taught me the principles of winegrowing and gave me a vision for the
kinds of wines that I make today,” says Meadowcroft. Over the years he has
gotten a well-earned reputation for the quality of the wine he creates and a
passion for the environment, two things he considers inseparable today, and
for an ongoing stewardship for the land that nurtures the grapes.
“The way I look at it, what I do is not just about the landscape and the
wine; it is just as much about sustainability.” He adds, “The fruit that comes
from our own vineyards as well as those from which we source, all use
sustainable practices.”
The standard bearer of the Meadowcroft label is the Mt. Veeder Estate
Grown Cabernet Sauvignon. An award-winning wine since its first vintage in
2005 which received 94 points in Wine Enthusiast, the current 2008 release
stands shoulder to shoulder with its predecessors and just recently garnered a
91 rating from the magazine. The Meadowcroft label also produces
Chardonnay, Zinfandel, Sangiovese, Viognier and Pinot Noir.
In addition to the flagship Meadowcroft label, Tom has also created Thomas
Henry Wines named for his father, Thomas Henry Meadowcroft, and crafted
for daily enjoyment and for sharing with friends and family. “My dad always
looked for great wines at a good price,” says Meadowcroft, “We lived and
traveled throughout Europe together by car, foot and on bicycle, sharing the
lessons of life, family and friends and that philosophy remains with every
bottle of Thomas Henry we produce.”
The Thomas Henry label features Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Merlot, Meritage,
Sauvignon Blanc, Zinfandel and Cabernet Sauvignon.
In addition to the Meadowcroft and Thomas Henry brands, Tom also
makes the wines for the Foyt Family. With each varietal, a memory in motor
sports from the Foyt family’s rich history, which extends over some five
decades, is shared. But the name Foyt is more than just a celebrity name on a
bottle.
Foyt Family Wines was created by Larry Foyt and A.J. Foyt IV, the son and
grandson, respectively, of world renown racing legend A. J. Foyt. Their
venture began with their passion for fine wine, and as a way of creating a
tribute to A.J. as well. The Foyt Family label presently includes a Chardonnay,
a Meritage and a Cabernet with additional vintages planned for the future.
“Our style of winemaking for all of our labels is all about balance,” says
Meadowcroft. “Not too much oak, because I never want to mask the varietal
characteristics that are so essential.”
To see for yourself, take a trip to the tasting room located at Cornerstone
Sonoma, only five miles south of the town of Sonoma, 40 miles north of the
Golden Gate Bridge and just across the street from Gloria Ferrer.
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