It is been a fast six months since Rich Richardson joined Artesa Vineyards & Winery as General Manager. After several years at Justin Vineyards & Winery in Paso Robles, California, he was looking for a change.Several things attracted him to Artesa. The first time Rich walked up to the winery, he was struck by the views, as many inaugural visitors are. “It was like a national park,” he remarked. Beyond aesthetics, he liked the fact that Artesa is family-owned, much like his previous winery. He is also a huge fan of Pinots, and Artesa has a stellar lineup. “The single-vineyard Block 91D Pinot Noir is outstanding,” he raved in a recent interview. “I like the depth; it’s very complex, well-structured. It’s got great viscosity and good color, and it pairs well with a wide range of dishes.”
What is behind such great wines is not just top Napa and Sonoma grapes, it is also “the passionate, artistic people here…[with] the resources to continually improve wine to be the best it can be,” Rich pointed out. For example, he cites Winemaker Mark Beringer, “who brings a level of success from Duckhorn.”
People, product and principles fueled Rich’s journey from the California Central Coast northward. Strong was his desire to return to Napa. Among his list of reasons Napa beckoned was the sophistication and diversity of the area. The area’s exciting cuisine prompts him and his wife to dine out around town often, and with San Francisco less than an hour away, this wine capital of America was too hard to resist.
When you find Napa too alluring to pass up, please come by Artesa and see what Rich lives and breathes every day.
