CLT | Rhone Ranger Winemaker Tasting with Andrew Murray

4905 Ashley Park Ln J, Charlotte 28210

About  | Andrew Murray fell in love with the emerging Rhône varieties, Syrah and Viognier, in the late 1980’s while traveling through France’s Rhône Valley. Leaving his UC Berkeley paleontology studies behind, he pursued his new mistress, Syrah, with an internship in Australia. After a 15-month romance with the famed Australian Shiraz, he returned to the states, where he later founded his Santa Ynez winery and vineyard.

With a dedication to perilously low yields and the most advanced viticultural methods in the industry, this winemaker’s philosophy became summarized in three words: Passion – Evolution – Wisdom; the Passion of an unflagging love affair with Rhône varieties; the Evolution of winemaking techniques where even the most subtle nuance is divined from each new vintage; and the Wisdom gained with 20 years of winemaking experience.

Andrew’s focus and dedication to his craft have culminated in what Robert Parker, Jr. calls, “…one of the shining stars in the Santa Barbara firmament.” This perennially youthful perfectionist has been named ‘Tastemaker of the Year’ by Food and Wine Magazine, as well as, ‘One of the most fearsome talents in food and wine.’ Still, despite myriad accolades, Andrew remains the same modest, approachable, contemplative man he was when he first embarked to Australia back in 1992. He is eternally committed to vinicultural ‘Kaizen’ – the unrelenting pursuit of continuous improvement.

Tasting Wines:

Andrew Murray Enchante Roussanne Blend '16

Andrew Murray Esperance Rose '17

Andrew Murray Tous les Jours Syrah '16 

Andrew Murray Esperance GSM '16