Stephanie Wines
Consulting Winemaker - Jeff Gaffner

Consulting winemaker and grape-grower Jeff Gaffner brings more than 25 years of experience to his role at Hestan Vineyards. Jeff began his career in 1981 at Chateau St. Jean under the tutelage of legendary winemaker Richard Arrowood. At Chateau St. Jean, Jeff was part of the winemaking team responsible for winery’s celebrated 1996 Cinq Cepages, a classic blend of all five Bordeaux varietals that was named Wine of the Year by Wine Spectator Magazine.

Over the years, Jeff has developed a reputation as a specialist both in the vineyard and cellar, receiving critical acclaim for his site-expressive winemaking and signature elegant style. The Wall Street Journal said, of his own Saxon Brown Wines made from his family’s 100 year old Casa Santinamaria Vineyard, “We love his vineyard’s voice.” Wine Spectator Magazine called Jeff’s first wine for Napa Valley client Xtant (a proprietary Bordeaux blend) “outstanding” and upon its release, named the winery to its list of “ Napa’s Impressive Newcomers.” The Wine Spectator also praised Jeff’s winemaking for client Black Kite Cellars as “deft” while naming that winery to their list of “2007 Hot Dozen New Pinot Producers.”

In 2004, during a chance tasting of Merlots from neighboring Nepenthes Vineyard, Hestan Vineyards owner Stanley Cheng was introduced to Jeff’s winemaking. “I was blown away,” recalls Stanley, “by the seductive quality and varietal expression of the wine; it was precisely the type of Merlot that I wanted to make from our vineyard.” At the time, Cabernet Sauvignon from the vineyard was being made under the critically acclaimed Hestan Vineyards and Meyer labels by consulting winemaker Mark Herold. Stanley, though, wanted to launch a new line to showcase all five of the vineyard’s red Bordeaux varietals, and felt that given Jeff’s expertise with Bordeaux blends and his reputation for crafting elegant, well balanced wines, he was just the winemaker to lead that effort. Jeff’s first Stephanie Wines, the 2005 Merlot, 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon and 2005 Red Bordeaux Blend will release to the public in June of 2008.