Reeves Ranch Vineyard owners Dan and Meghan Reeves purchased 40 acres in California’s Santa Ynez Valley in 1994 and started selling grapes to winemakers like Dan Gehrs, Kris Curran and Joey Tensley. They opened the winery in 2008, and now produce 400 cases of wine per year. They chose a ram logo because their father Daniel owned the Los Angeles Rams from 1941-1971.

Joshua Lurie: What’s your first wine memory?

Meghan Reeves: 1966 Haut Brion

JL: When and why did you make your first wine?

MR: 2001. Sold the grapes and wished I could have made the wine myself.

JL: What’s a wine trend that you’re excited about?

MR: Bring the vineyard into the bottle with little or no intervention.

JL: Why are you excited about bringing the vineyard into the bottle with little or no intervention?

MR: Too many winemakers intervene in the winery because they haven’t grown the grapes. Some tend to pick late thinking the flavors are perfect when they are shriveled.

We pick our grapes when the balance is perfect in the vineyard.

JL: How much value do you see in rating wines using a 100-point scale?

MR: We tend to use the 100 point scale when ordering wines we haven’t tasted yet & feel that it is more about time, place & food pairing.

JL: If you could only drink one more bottle of wine, what would it be and why?

MR: 1990 Romanee Conti Echezeaux !!! The 1990 vintage of red burgundy was classic. DRC made the wines of the vintage and we loved the Echezeaux. As far as food goes, nothing spicy, keep it simple and showcase the wine which was superb.

JL: What food would you pair with the wine?

MR: Red Burgundies also go well with fish such as salmon.