Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/101724
MEET THE CELLAR MASTER Steve Ross EDUCATION AND INNOVATION IN THE HEART OF NAPA VALLEY photos by Nikki Ritcher A s Cellar Master for Cosentino Winery, one of Napa Valley's most prestigious and innovative vineyards, Steve Ross has a multitude of responsibilities, though none come before his role as head of the winery's barrel tasting program. Having been in the industry for decades, Ross highly values education and enjoys imparting it to visitors to Cosentino. The barrel program that he created is designed to not only showcase the vineyard's premier vintages (which are not available at the tasting bar), but to help the layman to better understand the nuances of winemaking – and wine tasting. "We have two different barrel tasting programs here at Cosentino," says Ross. "The Premier Cru offers a select tasting of several small-batch wines, and the Grand Cru offers a more extensive tasting paired with cheese and charcuterie platters." He explains that these programs, which take place four times a day, seven days a week, allow him to connect with patrons on a more intimate level and to educate them to a degree that can't be achieved simply by visiting the winery's tasting bar. For example, Ross always explains to tasters that the barrels in which wines are being aged are among the most essential components of winemaking. To demonstrate this, he uses what he terms "the education station." 50 / the tasting panel / january 2013