Monday, June 2, 2014

6/02 CHRIS MUNSELL, MACMURRAY RANCH

CHRIS MUNSELL, WINEMAKER FOR MACMURRAY RANCH JOINS MIKE AND PAUL IN STUDIO

THE LEGEND BEHIND THE WINES

Rolling hills. Treasured traditions. Breathtaking vineyards. This is MacMurray Ranch.

At MacMurray Ranch, our wines reflect our passion for the special places that give us extraordinary grapes. Beginning with our home vineyard in the heart of the Russian River Valley, we also select grapes from other premier vineyards in the Russian River Valley and the Central Coast to craft exquisite Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris and Chardonnay.

Our roots in the Russian River Valley run deep. In fact, our majestic ranch has been a homestead since the 1850s. Our modern history began when actor Fred MacMurray bought the ranch in 1941 and began raising cattle here. Today, Fred's daughter, Kate MacMurray, is intimately involved with MacMurray Ranch, helping us share the incredible story of our world-class wines.

ABOUT CHRIS MUNSELL:

Chris Munsell feels right at home when he walks the majestic vineyard at MacMurray Ranch. No stranger to grapevines, Chris grew up in California and spent his summers with his grandmother at the family vineyards in Solano County. Those formative years gave him a deep connection to viticulture.

Today, as winemaker at MacMurray Ranch, Chris crafts a collection of elegant Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris and Chardonnay wines that speak to the extraordinary vineyards of the Russian River Valley, the Sonoma Coast, the Central Coast and Oregon’s Willamette Valley.

“I am passionate about winemaking, and I truly enjoy the process, from vineyard to bottle,” says Chris. “At MacMurray Ranch, I get to work with grapes from some amazing places. It is deeply satisfying to see those places come to life through our wines.”

Chris understands how a sense of place can shape a wine. As a college student, he interned at wineries in California and France, before graduating from the University of California at Davis with a bachelor’s degree in Fermentation Science, specializing in Viticulture and Enology. Chris honed his craft at some of the industry’s top wineries, including Geyser Peak, Beam Wine Estates and Domaine Chandon. Today, he brings a wealth of experience and a life-long passion for wine to MacMurray Ranch.

“With MacMurray Ranch, I have the good fortune to explore different vineyard sites, from our home ranch in the heart of the Russian River Valley to the extraordinary vineyards of the Sonoma Coast and the Central Coast,” says Chris. “Winemaking gives me a chance to share these special places with everyone.”

www.macmurrayranch.com