There’s a big gap in Erica Stancliff’s winemaking career… the Petaluma Gap to be accurate. Erica’s path to winemaking started at the tender age of 10 when one evening, respected winemaker and family friend Paul Hobbs, whom she calls “Uncle Paul”, came to her parent’s home for dinner with a bottle of 1997 Michael Black Vineyard Merlot tucked under his arm. Hobbs asked her to stick her nose in the glass and describe what she smelled, and “from the mouth of babes” poured adjectives that would have made any wine writer proud. Hobbs then asked her to describe the wine’s flavors. Again, the sensory descriptors flowed, prompting Hobbs to exclaim “you need to be a winemaker!” And become a winemaker she did. Erica is now the fulltime winemaker for Pfendler Vineyards in the Petaluma Gap in Sonoma, California. Drink in this fascinating episode with the talented and enthusiastic Erica Stancliff.

Wines tasted in this episode:
2019 Pfendler Vineyards Chardonnay
2019 Pfender Vineyards Pinot Noir