The History Makers of Napa Valley Wines Part IV
Napa’s Royal Family
Peterson-Barrett
Richard Peterson
Bo & Heidi Barrett
Chef Holly Peterson
Heidi with daughter’s Chelsea and Remi
Heidi made the1992 Screaming Eagle Cabernet Sauvignon. It was The most Expensive Bottle of Wine Ever sold, an Imperial sold for $500,000
Richard Peterson
Richard Peterson is a well-known California winemaker, The industry recognizes him as an innovator, educator, international wine judge, viticulture/enology consultant and expert witness in legal cases. After earning a BS in Chemical Technology, a MS in Food Science and a PhD in Agricultural Chemistry, he started his working life in 1958 with E. & J. Gallo Winery in Research and Development. He then replaced the legendary Andre Tchelistcheff as winemaster at Beaulieu Vineyards. He is responsible for creating many well-loved American wines and brands such as Lancers Vinho Branco, Monterey Vineyard and all the original Taylor California Cellars wines. He oversaw the development of Atlas Peak Vineyards.
He is a former president of The American Society for Enology & Viticulture, director of the Wine Institute, and founding member of the Society of Wine Educators and the American Institute for Wine and Food. Among Richard Peterson’s viticultural achievements is the cultivation of the Wrotham Pinot clone of Pinot Noir, including the establishment of two Wrotham Pinot vineyards in Napa Valley and the Santa Lucia Highlands AVA, just inland from Monterey Bay on the California coast. While Dick Peterson was a visionary in the industry. Some say his greatest contribution to the world is his daughters.
Chef Holly Peterson
Holly was working as a chef, wine expert and educator for years in France and Germany, Chef Peterson returned home to Napa Valley where she runs her multi-faceted business,
Chef Holly Peterson’s FLOURISH – Events, Edibles and Expressions is built on Chef Peterson’s rich and varied background. Her multi-dimensional approach to the culinary arts has allowed Chef Peterson to work throughout the world in every aspect of the food and wine industry.
Her philosophy of nourishment, health, enjoyment and luxury can be distilled to one descriptive word – Flourish.
From Breathtaking “once-in-a-lifetime” events to intimate and stunning winery celebrations, Chef Peterson has the culinary expertise, discerning eye, creative touch and experience to insure the most successful events. Chef Peterson’s client list includes numerous American and French wineries, renowned cooking schools, Fortune 500 companies, resorts, Olympic athletic teams, and restaurants around the world. Her work has taken her from Air Museums to our Embassy in Paris to Mount Everest. Chef’s traditional training at La Varenne in Paris, combined with a creative spirit and philosophy of using only the freshest produce and humanely raised meats allow her to create delicious, impressive menus, and very special event-tailored products.
Chef Peterson’s is an accomplished photographer and her food photography gives the viewer a chef’s perspective of the beauty of simple fruits, vegetables and flowers. Her photographs express her belief that the presentation of the food we eat is as important as its flavors and health benefits.
I had the personal pleasure of meeting Chef Peterson, and got to share a meal with her. She is a chef instructor at camp Schramsberg, where she teaches classes on food and wine pairing as well as classes on how to Sabre a bottle of bubbly. She was incredibly knowledgeable and fun to listen to. At the dinner I sat between Her and Hugh Davies and felt like a received an education.
Heidi Peterson Barrett
Heidi Peterson Barrett is an American winemaker and entrepreneur who has been responsible for some of California's most notable cult wines. Her career has included stints at Screaming Eagle, Dalla Valle Vineyards, Paradigm Winery, Grace Family Vineyards, Amuse Bouche, Lamborn Family, Showket Vineyards, Revana Family Vineyards, Vineyard 29 and Fantesca Estate & Winery. Barrett is a consultant for Elizabeth Spencer and has her own wine label, La Sirena.
Following internships in both the German and Australian wine industries, Barrett became head winemaker for Buehler Vineyards in 1983 at age 25. In 1988, at age 30, Barrett left Buehler and struck out on her own as a winemaker consultant. Her first consulting client was Dalla Valle, and she worked with her proprietor Gustav Dalla Valle to earn her first two, 100-point scores from Wine Advocate. After achieving success with Dalla Valle, Barrett began working with Jean Phillips of Screaming Eagle in Napa Valley. Phillips was the realtor for her first client Gustav Dalla Valle, and began working with Barrett on a casual, hourly basis. This brand took off in the early 1990s. Then, following the 1992 vintage of Screaming Eagle, of which a 6 liter bottle sold for $500,000, the most expensive single bottle of wine ever sold. Barrett became a "winemaking star"
Barrett then began working as winemaker for Ren Harris of Paradigm Winery and continued to grow her career from there. As Barrett's children grew up, she was able to devote more time to her winemaking career. Wine critic Robert Parker from Wine Advocate has awarded her wines 100 points five times and called her "The First Lady of Wine" as well as "the Queen of Cult Cabernet."
Heidi married into another famous winemaking family.
2008 Bottle Shock’s Jim & Bo Barrett
Bo Barrett (born James P. Barrett) is the current winemaker of Chateau Montelena. He is the son of Jim Barrett, an American businessman and the owner of Chateau Montelena which won the Chardonnay competition of the 1976 Judgment of Paris wine tasting. Barrett was an assistant during that vintage, working under the tutelage of Mike Grgich.
Jim Barrett first purchased Chateau Montelena winery with Ernie Hahn in 1972 from Lee Paschich, retaining him as a general manager, and hired Mike Grgich to be his winemaker. Barrett uprooted the Chasselas, Alicante Bouschet, and Carignane that had been previously planted and replanted his acres with premium Cabernet Sauvignon. The winery purchased outsource Chardonnay grapes while waiting for the Cabernet vines to be ready.[4] In 1982, he turned over winemaker duties to his son Bo Barrett. In the 2008 film Bottle Shock, a fictionalized account of the Judgment of Paris wine tasting, Bo Barrett was portrayed by actor Chris Pine. Jim Barrett was portrayed by Bill Pullman.
Bo and Heidi have been married for over 30 years and have 2 daughters together. Chelsea and Remi, having 2 grandfather’s famous for winemaking as well as both parents being winemaking history makers, These two are poised to be the future history makers of the wine industry.
Remi Barrett
Remi grew up in Calistoga and began working at Chateau Montelena (during the summer and after school) at a young age. She went on to attend UC Davis to study English Literature and Creative Writing, working in the Montelena tasting room during the summer. After graduating in 2009, Remi represented Montelena at Press Club in San Francisco before officially joining the La Sirena Winery team in Sales and Marketing in the spring of 2010. When not traveling or selling wine, Remi lives in San Francisco with her husband Erich, and sings and plays in her synthpop band Vice Reine. She is also the booker & promoter for the 'Star Crash' concert series at SF venue DNA Lounge, and enjoys roller skating, hiking, reading, snow sports, dancing, bird watching & collecting house plants. She has her WSET Level 2. She is in charge of Sale and Marketing for Aviatrix, one of the Barrett Family’s wine labels.
Chelsea Barrett
Chelsea Barrett grew up in Calistoga and began working in vineyards and wineries from a young age. She attended UC Davis and graduated in 2010 with a degree in Viticulture and Enology. After college, Chelsea took up the family business of winemaking and interned at Mayer am Pfarplaz (Austria), Two Hands (Australia), and Opus One (Napa Valley). She worked at Joel Gott wines for 7 years, and then became winemaker at Materra in 2019 where she is now the director of winemaking. She also joined Heidi as co-winemaker for Amuse Bouche and Au Sommet in 2017. In addition to her principal, full-time work with Materra and her winemaking partnerships with her mother, Chelsea also partnered with Mom Heidi and her sister, Remi, to create Aviatrix. Together, the three released their first wine in 2018. Aviatrix specializes in making red varieties less typical for Napa, such as Primitivo, Petite Sirah, and Grenache.
As if that were not enough to keep one winemaker busy, Chelsea added Wine Judge to her list of accomplishments when she judged the North Coast Wine Challenge in 2020 and again in 2021. “I love judging,” she exclaimed. “Tasting 120 wines a day is an endurance run to keep your palate fresh, but I love experiencing different styles and getting to know the more seasoned judges. More than anything, I like how competitions reward good work and help promote good wine.