MERRYVALE - Key Persons
Growing up in the Sonoran Desert, wine and winemaking weren't part of Merryvale Winemaker Andrew Wright's early life. A chance encounter with the Finger Lakes region of upstate New York on a post-college road trip awakened him, however, and with a healthy appetite he devoured volumes of wine literature and the wines they described, expanding his palate and shaping his philosophies.
Andrew began his winemaking career planting vines in the high desert outside of Sonoita, Arizona, for Callaghan Vineyards, where he worked the vineyard for several growing seasons prior to entering the cellar of Arizona Stronghold. These early experiences in frontier winemaking forged a deep appreciation for hard work, experimentation, and winemaking with intention.
Since moving to Napa Valley in 2012, Andrew has worked in the vineyards and cellars of Harlan and BOND Estates, Promontory and The Napa Valley Reserve, as well as for Fruition Sciences and their clients (which included Merryvale at the time). In talking about his experience, Andrew notes, "Napa's incredible soil and climate diversity are unique in the world-with unparalleled growing conditions we have the opportunity to craft wines of depth and density while retaining balance and freshness. I am eager to explore all the winemaking possibilities the diverse terroir of Merryvale provides."
As Winemaker, Andrew is in charge of production at the St. Helena winery. He oversees all winemaking operations for Merryvale wines. Andrew deeply believes that winemaking is the synthesis of philosophy, agriculture, science, and art. He illustrates, "Merryvale's Profile Estate Vineyard is one of exceptional terroir. The differences in soil type, vine orientation and hillside exposure combine to produce wines of great power, complexity, and elegance. Every growing season we expand our understanding of our vineyards while further refining the winemaking processes in the cellar, resulting in world class wines that reflect a unique sense of place and attention to detail."
Ask Merryvale Proprietor Jack Schlatter about his background as a cotton classer in México, coffee taster in Brazil, or any of his other fascinating experiences and he'll quickly steer the conversation back to his true passion - the wines of Merryvale Vineyards. A native of Switzerland, Jack's lifelong love of wine drew him to the Napa Valley in late 1991. "Napa Valley's diversity of soils and microclimates allows us to grow high quality Chardonnay and Pinot Noir just a few miles from Cabernet Sauvignon. There's no other place in the world like it." says Jack.
Now at the helm of Merryvale for more than 25 years, Jack and his son René have established deep roots in the Valley, developing long term partnerships with some of the best wine grape growers in the Napa Valley as well as two estate vineyards: the 25-acre Schlatter Family Estate on a ridgetop high overlooking St. Helena-ideal for Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot to which it is planted; the 40-acre Stanly Ranch Estate Vineyard on the historic Stanly Ranch in Carneros perfect for Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Both the winery and estate vineyards have been Napa Green Certified.
Since his appointment as Proprietor & CEO of Merryvale Family of Wines in 2008, René Schlatter has firmly established Merryvale Family of Wines as one of Napa Valley's most prestigious and well-respected wine companies. Through an unyielding commitment to wine quality, customer service, and investment in the community, René continues to uphold his family's legacy in the winegrowing world.
A native of Switzerland, René has lived in the U.S. since 1987, having attended Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas as undergraduate. A top junior in his country, René arrived in the US to play Division I tennis at Trinity University, during which time he and his team were ranked among the top 20 schools in the country. Upon completion of his undergraduate degree, René returned to Europe and worked for several years as a businessman in various industries. In 1994, René moved back to the US, earning a Master's Degree from Arizona's Thunderbird Graduate School of International Management.
Since taking the helm of the company in 2008, René has made significant contributions to Merryvale's sales, marketing, finance, vineyard acquisitions and farming improvements - with particular focus and interest in the quality and expression of each individual wine and vintage.
In recognition of the success of the business, Wine Enthusiast magazine honored René with its prestigious "Person of the Year" Award in 2011. Presented at its Annual Wine Star Awards, the magazine included these comments: "Since 2008, the president of Napa's Merryvale Vineyards has pioneered green initiatives while preserving the winery's family legacy and excellence in producing Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay."