The Vineyard Visionary
The winemaker's journey often begins in the vineyard. Winemakers work with vineyard teams to ensure the grapes are growing and ripening properly and to their quality standards. During harvest, winemakers are responsible for deciding when the sugar levels and acidity of the grapes are just right. This decision is a large part of the job and requires a delicate balance, as it sets the foundation for the wine's potential.
Crushing and Fermentation
Once the grapes are in the cellar, the winemaker works with the cellar master to begin the crush and fermentation processes. The winemaker will make decisions around how much skin contact the grapes should undergo, fining and filtration and what yeasts to add and how much.
Barrel Magic and Aging
When it comes to putting the wines in barrels for aging, the winemaker makes decisions around what kind of oak (American or French), toasting level and whether to use new or old barrels.
Barrel aging adds depth, complexity and structure to the wine. The winemaker monitors this period closely, as the wine evolves it develops nuanced flavors and integrates with the wood's character.
The Art of Blending
Blending is really where the winemaker gets to become an artist. It’s an iterative process with multiple rounds of tastings where they will decide to add or subtract varietals or particular barrel lots. Many winemakers will start with a base blend and work off that until they reach their desired result. Each one has their own unique process that creates wines that reflect their overall vision.
About Our Winemaker
In July 2022, Ludovic joined Stags’ Leap Winery as General Manager and Senior Winemaker. Drawn to the centuries-old historic estate, premiere location in the Stags Leap appellation, and signature style of winemaking, Ludovic is both eager and determined to continue the Stags’ Leap Winery legacy of producing gold-standard Napa Valley wines.
Ludovic's winemaking philosophy is informed by the sum of his varied experiences: he makes wine the way he learned in France, to showcase the fruit and not the winemaker’s hand, but he applies a technical understanding of each and every step of the process.
