Wine Dinner: Staglin Family Vineyard

STAGLIN FAMILY VINEYARD

Founded in 1985 by Shari, Garen, Brandon and Shannon, Staglin Family Vineyard takes pride in the tradition of family ownership and participation. With an uncompromising commitment to quality, their mission is to produce world class wines that reflect the distinctive character of the historic Rutherford Bench estate. As stewards of the land they farm the vineyard organically, tap in to their solar fields for power and produce the wines in a state of the art underground production facility.

“Great wines for great causes” has been an important motto of their business and personal lives. Since Staglin began farming their vineyard in 1985, they have donated and raised more than $1 billion to support charities, including their main cause, the Music Festival for Brain Health. Proceeds from every bottle of the Salus line of wines go to support One Mind.

Staglin is passionate about their business, their land, their philanthropy and for the meaningful relationships they develop with each passing day. They hope this passion is evident when you enjoy their wines.

AMBER MIHNA

Originally from Wisconsin, Amber started her career in the restaurant business at a young age of 6, washing dishes at her best friend’s parent supper club.  She got paid in French fries back then. She then starting working at a private country club in her late teens and that is how she learned about hospitality, fine dining, first class service and wine. She went from hospitality to sales (and studied and completed her Certified Sommelier) and after 13 years working for a distributor of fine wine, she had the call from the Napa Valley Vintners to move to her dream spot, Napa Valley, where she was the Domestic Marketing Manager for all of the wineries and the Napa Valley American Viticulture Area, AVA. She helped with the International Marketing while also educating trade, consumers and thousands of people over the years on not only Napa Valley, but the ever-changing wine world.

After a few years, she made the transition to Staglin Family Vineyard, one of the world’s greatest wines in Rutherford, Napa Valley, and runs all sales globally. She travels the world and seeks out the best restaurants, resorts, private clubs and wine shops and hosts wine events nightly, talking about organic farming, running a women owned and operated winery, the ageability of Staglin Family Vineyard wines and all that encompasses the Napa Valley. She is a Global Sales Director and Ambassador for Staglin Family Vineyard.

Amber  is vibrant, full of energy and has a way of explaining wine in an “easy to understand” way. She loves National Parks (and has been to all in the US but one) and now lives in two of the world’s best places: Napa Valley and the Cotswolds in England, with her partner, Phil, and their Rhodesian Ridgeback, Midas. She also has planted a small vineyard in the UK and hopes to one day produce the world’s best English Sparkling, or at least a drinkable one.

See above for Chef Paul Gagne’s 5-course dinner menu pairing with 6 memorable wines.