One of the best Napa Valley winery tours I've ever been on was at Anderson's Conn Valley. You have to make an appointment, but you end up with an owner or winemaker conducting your tour. Our tour guide was winemaker Mac Sawyer. He initially seemed quiet and introverted when we first met him in the rather sparse offices of Conn Valley. Once he got us into the caves, however, he transformed into this mad scientist kind of character. There was no doubt that this guy loved his work as he had us taste one wine after another from most of the barrels throughout the caves. We tasted different clones of Cabernet Sauvignon. We tasted the blending grapes of Petit Verdot, Merlot and Cabernet Franc individually, before being blended into the final product. And we tasted the same grape from two different vineyards. "Can you taste any difference?" Mac asked excitedly. You couldn't help get caught up in the whole experience. After tasting from the barrels, we sat around the tasting table, still in the caves, and tasted through the Conn Valley portfolio of white and red wine.
This was at least 3 years ago, and I remember the tour vividly.
Because Mac Sawyer made it special.
So I was saddened to learn last week that Mac lost a battle to cancer, and died at the relatively young age of 61.
The wine world lost a great winemaker and a great guy. I'm sure there are many others out there with their own memories from Mac Sawyer's wine tours.
I bet they're good ones.
Tom
Our experience was the same. Just a great guy.
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