Fleur de California

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Fleur de California's Winemaker - Ken Foster

Veteran Pinot Noir Winemaker to Oversee
Production at Fleur De California Winery

In June 2002, Francis Mahoney appointed veteran Pinot Noir winemaker Ken Foster to oversee production at Fleur de California Winery in Napa-Carneros. Foster was Winemaker/Production Manager at David Bruce Winery in the Santa Cruz Mountains , California where he held positions in winemaking and production for the past 15 years. During that period, he helped to convert the focus of the winery from Chardonnay to Pinot Noir, Petite Sirah, and Zinfandel. He created a focus on small-lot production, emphasizing gentle handling techniques and the isolation of distinct wine lots for potential Vineyard Designate as well as Appellation-labeled wines.

With the appointment of Foster, Fleur de California Winery continues to strengthen its focus on Pinot Noir and expand its lineup with programs to enhance wine quality developed by previous Winemaker Scott Rich. These include the shift to using small, open-top fermenters, new oak barrel regimes and processing small lots of wines separately. “Ken is the perfect person to continue to drive our Pinot Noir quality to new heights,” says winery founder Francis Mahoney. “To his position at Fleur de California, Ken brings a wide range of experience with Pinot Noir and a commitment to exceptional winemaking.”

Foster joined David Bruce in 1987 to work the crush, after undergraduate studies in geology sparked an interest in translating the qualities of a particular site into wine. In his tenure at David Bruce, he gained experience with Pinot Noir drawn from as many as fifty different vineyards and a dozen appellations. At Fleur de California he will be working primarily with the Carneros vineyards owned by winery founder Francis Mahoney as well as a few other selected vineyard sites in California . “I’m excited about the chance to focus on the unique characteristics of some outstanding Carneros vineyards. It’s great to have the majority of vineyards, within a 15-minute drive of the winery so I can stay on top of the grapes as they develop,” says Foster. “I’m also looking forward to drawing on Francis’ rich history at Fleur de California. He pioneered early clonal work with Pinot Noir in the appellation, and has three decades of experience with Carneros fruit.”