With harvest well behind us and the holidays at our doorstep, it becomes a time for us to reflect back on the year. From a winemaking perspective, my first thought is what and where can we improve in the winery and vineyard. The goal is always to be better every year. This year I’m saving that thought process for later and focusing on the people that literally make Acquiesce churn.
Starting with the front house, our tasting room staff. These are the people you interact with the most. They are solely responsible for creating the unique, elevated experience Acquiesce customers have come to expect and, frankly, they work their asses off to uphold that standard. In case you haven’t met them all:
I’m Wendy– born and raised in Sactown- I have a love for good wine and botanical gins. A few of my passions are dogs/animals, Texas hold’em, Indian and Ethiopian food. I love our Sparkling Grenache Rosé-so elegant with a happy burst of strawberries, cherries, and pomegranate. Great for celebrating as well as for relaxing in the evening at home.
Hi, I’m Melanie. I grew up locally in Linden. I enjoy spending time with my son and being out in nature. My favorite wine is our 2022 Jolie. The blend of Grenache Blanc and Viognier is a tropical fruit bomb. The citrus, peach and papaya all make it an unforgettable wine for me.
Cris: Sooo, I swam varsity 3 years in high school but was not good enough to swim in college. But of course, I’ve spent a lot of time in and around swimming pools! My favorite wine is Grenache Rose! I call it the magic bottle because on warm summer days a bottle of Rose by the swimming pool magically disappears!!!
Shauna: Born in Texas and raised in Lodi. I spent most of my life trying to throw dinner parties until one day I started cooking professionally. After 15 years in San Francisco, I moved back home to Lodi to be with family and live in wine country. My favorite wine at Acquiesce changes daily but it’s probably Belle Blanc, ask me again tomorrow. 😊
*Side note – Shauna and her husband Jake are our new in-house chefs that create the killer pairings on your plate! Making everything from scratch, their out of the box approach give our wines that extra twinkle that we hope inspires you to get creative with your pairings at home.
Cynthia: I am a big fan of film history and have taken several classes to learn all about it. I try to see as many films as I can. My favorite Acquiesce wine is Roussanne. I find the weight and richness goes well with hardier fare.
I’m Janis– I’ve lived in Lodi for 63 years! My family’s first home was in a new subdivision surrounded by vineyards which is where I learned to love and appreciate the grapes and eventually wine. I enjoy traveling, pickle ball, cooking, entertaining, all kinds of food and a great cocktail! Living in Lodi my first exposure to wine was naturally a Zinfandel which was my favorite until I walked through the beautiful doors of Acquiesce in 2012. Here is where I learned about and fell in love with French white wines (and Sue)! It has been a pleasure and honor to be a part of the team for 12 years! It’s hard for me to pick a favorite varietal of Acquiesce, I love them all. I would have to say at the moment Bourboulenc is my go to. It is beautifully paired with all seafood and especially mussels! There is vibrant burst of ginger with just the right amount of acidity with every sip. Great for any occasion!
Paul: To no one’s surprise, Paul forgot to provide me with his own introduction, so he’ll be at the mercy of my summation. One of our longest tenured employees, Paul has seen Acquiesce evolve and take shape over the years. Originally from across the Atlantic, he’ll make you guess where, so I won’t give it away, Paul loves Acquiesce Roussanne and stealing pairings from the prep table. He’s waiting patiently for the perfect time to open his 2016 Belle Blanc magnum.
Behind the scenes, we couldn’t make award winning wines without our vineyard management team at Round Valley Ranches who execute every detail to our high standards. Vine husbandry is back breaking work, we should all take more time to thank our farm workers.
No, the courtyard doesn’t clean itself. You may never see them, I’d venture to say they do that on purpose, but Damon and Alvino are the 2 figures behind the curtain that maintain the Acquiesce property and are with me the whole way on the harvest crush pad.
As a small operation, every cog in the system is important in ensuring the success of Acquiesce. I think our wines are proof that we’re a well-oiled machine and we’re endlessly grateful for all the staff that make it happen.