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Winemaking, the J. Filippi way
Kristina Filippi
Most everyone who lives in Rancho
Cucamonga has at one time or
another driven down Base Line
Road and noticed the Joseph
Filippi Winery. I like to think that it is hard to
miss, with its elaborate and colorful mural painted
along the northern end of the building, and
the vineyard at the east end of the property,
which is currently full, green, and heavy with
ripening clusters of grapes. Having grown up in
the Etiwanda area, the winery had become a
landmark for me, and when I turned 21 and was
looking for a job to help with college tuition fees
and give me a little spending money, it seemed a
logical place to look.
A familiar story with many college students,
when I first applied for a job at the winery, I was
only looking for a part-time job with a company
that would be flexible enough to work around
my crazy class schedule at Cal Poly Pomona.
Though I had only a limited knowledge of wine
at the time, I was interviewed and hired on the
same day for a job in the tasting room. That day
proved to be an important one for me as the winery
has played a much larger part in my life than
I ever could have imagined at that time. Over
the years, I have been lucky enough to discover a
new passion as I expanded my knowledge of
wine, formed strong friendships with many people
that I have met there over the years, and most
importantly, I met and fell in love with the man I
would eventually marry.
Today, eight years later, I am working at the
winery again as part of the production and winemaking
team, under the patient direction and
careful observation of my father-in-law, Joseph
Filippi, and alongside my husband of almost a
year, Jared Filippi. So far, this has proven to be
the most challenging endeavor that I have ever
embarked upon, but it is also the most interesting
and fulfilling. I feel very fortunate to be a part of
the winery at this point in time, because there are
many exciting things going on!
This year, 2008, is the Filippi family’s 86th
Anniversary in this region, and it finds Joseph
“J.P.” and his son Jared (age 26, 5th generation),
farming 50 plus acres of Zinfandel, Grenache,
Mourvedre, Alicante Bouschet, Petite Sirah,
Syrah, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Sangiovese,
Cabernet Franc, Tannat and new plantings of
Tempranillo in our historic Cucamonga Valley.
The resulting Joseph Filippi wines are the
product of a craftsmanship derived from tradition,
passion, skill and artistry. Our complete
winemaking team consists of President and
Director of winemaking, J.P. Filippi, winemaker
Krissy Filippi (myself), cellar master Jared Filippi,
along with Vintner/Enologist Rene Biane and Dr.
Fred S. Nury Professor Emeritus of Enology Cal
State University of Fresno, (Both U.C. Davis
classmates of J.P.’s father Joseph A.). Together we
understand first and foremost that good wine is
made from good grapes. As stewards of the environment,
much attention is paid to vineyard
operations where we manage our vineyards by
utilizing sustainable farming practices. We continually
strive for the highest quality product with
the least amount of negative impact to the land.
We began harvest on August 11, and if you
are looking for the winery team, more than likely
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September, 2008 INLAND ENTERTAINMENT REVIEW