Winemaking

We (Sunset Ridge Vineyards) collaborate with CrushPad in San Francisco, California, for our winemaking.

Our head winemaker, Michael Zitlaff, leads the winemaking team.  Crushpad's winemaking facilities are state-of-the-art and focused entirely on ultra-premium small lot production.

Michael Zitlaff - Head Winemaker
Michael brings 20 years of international winemaking experience to Crushpad, including his role as CEO and Chief Winemaker at Yarra Valley’s Oakridge Estate – a company he took public in 1996.

Michael’s award-winning wines have been internationally recognized with the Warren Winiarski Stag’s Leap Trophy for Best Cabernet Sauvignon of Show, the Wolf Blass Trophy for Best Australian Red Wine of Show at London's International Wine and Spirit Competition, and the award for Best New World Pinot Noir at the International Wine Challenge in London.  He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Oenology from Australia’s Famed Roseworthy Agricultural College.

Kian Tavakoli - Consulting Winemaker
Kian started his winemaking career at Opus One and after four years moved on to Clos Du Val where he spent nine years building their red wine program to over 30,000 cases. Kian brings a strong set of sensory skills and production experience and is a master blender.

Our 2005 Vintage!

For our 2005 Petite Sirah, we sourced fruit from Eaglepoint Ranch's 82 acre vineyard in Mendocino County.
 
Vineyard notes include:
"This 82 acre vineyard is situated at an 1800 foot elevation that keeps temperatures down 5 to 10 degrees cooler than Mendocino's flatlands. Hillsides of decomposed sandstone with veins of red loam keep vigor in check. Petite sirah is what sends this vineyard into the stratosphere."
 
"Cropload is kept at moderate levels either naturally or by manual thinning, yielding fruit with extreme concentration and intense varietal character."

Carina Cellars is releasing a Sunset Ridge Vineyard 2005 Petite Sirah in its vineyard-designated Syrahs Series - CLICK HERE to read more...