Melissa Moravec studied
Enology and Viticulture at U.C. Davis from 1981 to 1984, completing
her undergraduate degree in 1983 and doing one year of graduate work
in 1984. In 1983, she received the Department of Viticulture and Enology's
Citation for Excellence for her work. She began her professional career
at Carneros Creek Winery during the harvest of 1983 and became their
winemaker in 1988. She initially came to Carneros Creek as a
research
enologist to supervise the Pinot Noir Clonal Research Project conducted
in conjunction with the Department of Viticulture and Enology at U.C.
Davis. The focus of the wines made at Carneros Creek is predominantly
Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. However, over the years Melissa has had her
hands on many different varietals from many different vineyards.
Kurt Reaume is well known to many of the Carneros region's finest wineries for his ability to keep their machinery working. He has held positions with Carneros Creek Winery, Domaine Carneros, and Acacia. Kurt's knowledge of wine, winemaking equipment, and viticulture have enabled the Casa Carneros team to practice old-world farming techniques, while enhancing their ability to handle fruit and vineyards with the most delicate and modern equipment.
1989,
Melissa and her husband, Kurt Reaume, planted a seven-acre vineyard at
their home in Napa Valley's Carneros region with eight different
selections, or clones of Pinot Noir. Casa Carneros, both the vineyard
and the wine, is the result of those efforts. Melissa's philosophy
regarding grape growing and winemaking (winegrowing) encompasses
guidance and control throughout the entire process. This includes the
planting of the vineyard, the growing of the grapes, the subsequent
winemaking, and the ultimate marketing of the wine. Important in her
philosophy is the use of high quality fruit from high quality vineyards,
responsiveness to the individual clones in the vineyard, and to each
individual vintage. Melissa uses a hands-on, small-scale approach to
Pinot Noir winemaking that ultimately produces a rich, complex, and
extracted Pinot Noir. This is a wine with layers of dense fruit,
balanced by firm tannins, and with the structure and velvety texture
that is the hallmark of a fine Pinot Noir. The results of Melissa's and
Kurt's dedication to this varietal are clearly reflected in the wines of
Casa Carneros.
Casa Carneros' founders have a single-minded goal: to produce the finest possible wines available in California. Their passion for Burgundian wines has given them a target to reach. The combination of their unique skills has given them the ability to yield some of the richest, most complex wines that can be found anywhere.
Kurt Reaume
1989,
Melissa and her husband, Kurt Reaume, planted a seven-acre vineyard at
their home in Napa Valley's Carneros region with eight different
selections, or clones of Pinot Noir. Casa Carneros, both the vineyard
and the wine, is the result of those efforts. Melissa's philosophy
regarding grape growing and winemaking (winegrowing) encompasses
guidance and control throughout the entire process. This includes the
planting of the vineyard, the growing of the grapes, the subsequent
winemaking, and the ultimate marketing of the wine. Important in her
philosophy is the use of high quality fruit from high quality vineyards,
responsiveness to the individual clones in the vineyard, and to each
individual vintage. Melissa uses a hands-on, small-scale approach to
Pinot Noir winemaking that ultimately produces a rich, complex, and
extracted Pinot Noir. This is a wine with layers of dense fruit,
balanced by firm tannins, and with the structure and velvety texture
that is the hallmark of a fine Pinot Noir. The results of Melissa's and
Kurt's dedication to this varietal are clearly reflected in the wines of
Casa Carneros.