CHATEAU ST. JEAN - Key Persons
In 1975 Chateau St. Jean released its first single vineyard wine, Belle Terre Chardonnay, and has continued to produce chardonnays from this vineyard located on the Russian River in southern Alexander Valley. The vineyard terrain consists of gently rolling land with well-drained, gravelly and sandy loam soils. Lyon Vineyard, in the northern end of the valley, is farmed biodynamically, with a a strong maritime influence and extreme temperature swings, giving sauvignon blanc fruit time to develop intense flavors balanced by crisp acidity and a mineral texture.
Cool-climate Hallberg Ranch is sited on a ridgetop in sandy-loam soils and enjoys beautiful sunny afternoons tempered by fog and coastal breezes, allowing the grapes to retain crucial acidity and to produce pinot noir with deep ruby color, pure flavors, and seamless structure. Unusual in California, the vineyards distinctive soils allow it to be dry-farmed allowing the grapes to achieve ideal ripeness at lower sugar levels.
Located in the easternmost edge of Sonoma County, Knights Valley is nestled between the Mayacamas mountain range and the base of Mount St. Helena. At 350 to 600 feet elevation, it is Sonoma County's warmest AVA, with mountain vineyards at 1,400 feet. From these vineyards with mineral-rich, well-draining volcanic soils comes cabernet sauvignon with black fruits intertwined with warm spices, tobacco and vanilla for rich and weighty wine with a lengthy finish.
Raised in Bellingham, Washington, Mari Wells Coyle's passion for the outdoors started at a young age. Surrounded by picturesque hills and local ingredients, her family celebrated every occasion with a seasonal meal and a special bottle of wine.
With a love for both art and science, she was very intrigued by the study of winemaking. Moreover, she desired a career that would allow her to spend time outdoors in a beautiful setting. Mari joins Chateau St. Jean Winery as head winemaker and has developed a true passion for crafting Cabernet and Bordeaux wines and describes her main role as a winemaker "to bring the best fruit to the bottle. Every decision I make is a part of bringing the vineyards to the table in a meaningful way."
A seasoned veteran with over 20 years of industry experience, Mari first earned her degree in Viticulture and Enology from the University of California, Davis, and accepted her first winemaking position at the age of 24. Since then, she has led several start-up wineries and helped iconic wineries meet modern industry standards which all have led her to Sonoma County and the iconic CSJ winery. Some notable wineries she worked at include David Girard Vineyards, Sterling Vineyards, and most recently One Hope Wine as the Executive Winemaker.
When she is not at the winery, Mari enjoys cooking, traveling, and spending time with her husband, their two sons, and their dog Snoopy. Originally from the Pac Northwest, she is a true outdoor enthusiast and can be found around Sonoma County enjoying biking, hiking, yoga, running, and white-water rafting.