Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/859549
{ SOMMjournal.com } 141 Anyone who knows Zinfandel knows about Joel Peterson, the outspoken, larger-than-life personality who founded Ravenswood Winery in Sonoma with partner Reed Foster in 1976. Peterson led the winemaking team at Ravenswood until last year, when he passed the baton to longtime colleague Gary Sitton. Sitton admittedly has not only big shoes to fill, but also a big (iconic) hat. Sitton grew up in agriculturally rich Visalia, California, where he earned money driving stakes for family friends who were putting in a pistachio orchard. This early experience didn't exactly produce a lifelong love of agriculture, since Sitton set out to have a career in veterinary medicine after college and played soccer simultaneously, even getting signed to play professionally in Munich. He returned home after being sidelined by an injury, and applied for the enology program at U.C. Davis. While completing his master's degree from 1999-2001, Sitton worked in the cellar at Ravenswood Winery to gain hands-on experience. After graduating, Sitton stayed on at Ravenswood and for the next eight years, he worked side-by-side with Peterson. "Joel taught me the Burgundian winemaking philosophy. His use of indigenous yeast and picking at lower sugars, that is where his artistic vision comes in," says Sitton. He left Ravenswood in 2007 to direct winemaking at Blackstone Winery, then at Clos du Bois from 2010 to 2015. In 2015 he was offered the chance to return to Ravenswood in the role of General Manager, which he eagerly accepted. Now, as GM and Director of Winemaking, Sitton is able to carry on Peterson's vision for the wines. Sitton smiles, "Joel refers to me as the prodigal son. While away, I came to realize how special Ravenswood is: the vineyards we work with are what make our wines special. Some of these vineyards were planted in the 1880s and survived Prohibition!" PHOTO: COURTESY OF RAVENSWOOD WINERY Ravenswood Winery tasting room in Sonoma. PHOTO: COURTESY OF RAVENSWOOD WINERY AT RAVENSWOOD by Catherine Fallis, MS