Stephen Millier
USA
Your most popular winemaker
- Stephen is no stranger to gold medals, but usually his prestigious employers are the only ones in the limelight.
- We offered Stephen some Angel funding to set aside some of his favorites wines and vineyards to make a special range with his name on the label just for us, and he jumped at the opportunity.
- If you like underdogs, Stephen's your man. He will find the over-looked and under-appreciated and he will take precious care to make sure they grow into big, beautiful wines that deserve more attention.
- "Best of California" in 2012, David was Director of Winemaking for Robert Mondavi's Woodbridge for 25 years.
- He was at the helm of Lodi's largest winery and is a fastidious and dedicated winemaker, the kind you expect to find in the world's most competitive and prestigious wine regions.
- David is a master in a undiscovered region. If you like to taste the next big thing while it's still totally underground, he is your winemaker.
Scott Peterson
USA
Defining Californian winemaking. Rich, generous, and take-no-prisoner.
156,127 Ratings
17,958 Followers
- Scott was an integral part of the Kendall-Jackson winemaking team when KJ was defining California Chardonnay in the 90's. That Cali Chardonnay style is known all over the world as unctuous, ripe, full-throttled.
- He loves working with Angel funding because you let him make the wines he wants to in the way he wants to make them -- He's old school, and he doesn't want to make a new style of wine just because it's fashionable.
- If you like gloriously rich Californian wine that takes no prisoners, go and buy everything Scott makes. You will not regret it.
- With more top ratings than any other Nakedwines.com Winemaker, our UK Angels selected Stephen as Winemaker of the Year, 2009.
- Growing his grapes in the stunningly beautiful Robertson Valley, Stephen De Wet is the 15th generation to be making wines on his farm.
- And the critics agree. He has won Double Gold not once but twice! Double Gold Veritas Wine Awards 2003 and Michelangelo Double Gold 2007. He also won Best Value Wine Award for 6 years running, Wine Magazine, 2006 to 2011.
Karen Birmingham
USA
Your highest-rated female winemaker of 2018 - crafting you fruit-forward wines with elegance and finesse
121,899 Ratings
16,122 Followers
- Karen Birmingham proved her incredible talent working for years at sustainable winery LangeTwins (with David Akiyoshi).
- And Angel funding is helping her start her own project that features breathtaking grape varietals many Lodi wineries are afraid of playing with
- But Karen's delicate touch always brings out the best in the fruit and really makes these grapes shine in the warm, sandy soils she calls home.
Benjamin Darnault
France
Magician of the Minervois, French winemaker extraordinaire
100,885 Ratings
16,145 Followers
- Consultant oenologist Benjamin Darnault has clients all over the South of France. Which means he gets to cherry-pick the very best grapes the region has to offer.
- When you gave Benjamin the money he needed to set up on his own, you made his dream come true. Your reward is these superb wines at astonishingly reasonable prices.
- Voted 'Winemaker of the Year 2011' by our UK Angels-- we're sure you'll love him too. (click 'read more' to view video)
Jacqueline Bahue
USA
An incredible Napa talent - you discovered her first!
98,802 Ratings
13,306 Followers
Jacqueline landed a prestigious winemaking gig in her early twenties - and has spent a decade’s worth of harvests in wine capitals including Umbria, Ribera del Duero, Hawke’s Bay, Sonoma and Napa, collaborating with hundreds of Angel-funded winemakers along the way. To say she’s a brilliant talent is putting it lightly!
- You put her in charge of the winemaking team at your Angel-funded winery, where she built a state-of-the-art facility from scratch. In the 4 years she spent working as your Director of Winemaking, she nurtured thousands of your exclusive wines from barrel to bottle – including her own decadent Pinot and Cabernet Franc with skyrocketing ratings.
Now, Jacqueline’s set on her next adventure, and she’s crafting regionally-focused wines from across California. Keep your eye on her – we’re prepared for this woman to take over the world.
Macario Montoya
USA
Spanish-variety specialist makes high-end Californian wine
89,757 Ratings
11,756 Followers
- Macario’s been a cellar rat doing all the grunt work at super premium wineries in Napa and Sonoma. But it's always Cab Cab Cab.
- He's gotten a lot of attention for using Mediterranean grapes in California. But he keeps hearing that his wines are "too edgy for the market to handle".
- He's just edgy enough for the Angels, and we are stunned at what Mediterranean grapes can do in Californian soil with the guidance of an experienced winemaker.
Matt Iaconis
USA
Rocket-scientist turned winemaker whose career is set for the stars
83,998 Ratings
11,232 Followers
- This rocket scientist was studying to be an astronaut before he decided wine was even cooler than space. So he dropped aeronautics and picked up a degree in winemaking from UC Davis.
- And he dropped conventional distribution just as quickly! When he saw the power of Angel funding, he immediately signed up, eager to create better wines at better prices.
- Angel funding allows this hugely talented and driven individual to apply all his attention to making the best wine possible. Whether he’s keeping it classic with big, bold Cabernet or putting a fresh, vibrant spin on traditional whites, you freed Matt to make show-stopping wines for an incredibly delicious price.
Matt Parish
USA
International all-star - and former Chief Winemaker for the world's largest wine companies and famous brands
78,117 Ratings
11,185 Followers
- After 25 vintages overseeing the winemaking of brands like Beringer, Stags’ Leap and Etude and many more, Matt launched his own brand with Angels' support!
- Matt’s a laser-precise winemaker. We asked him for a rich, smooth Napa Cabernet. He delivered. We asked him for a silky, elegant Sta. Rita Pinot Noir... and he makes the best one we have ever tasted!
- Voted by US Angels “2017 Winemaker of the Year”!
