Orange County Wine Society P.O. Box 11059 Costa Mesa CA 92627
Phone: 714.708.1636 Contact:ocws@ocws.org
Copyright © 1997-2012 Orange County Wine Society
March Tasting “John Robert Eppler Wines”
John Eppler's interest in the wine industry began in 1974, while working in the Neiman Marcus Wine Cellars in his home town of Dallas, Texas. He went on to become a wine steward and sommelier in many fine restaurants in the area. But his most influential moment came when he attended a tasting in Austin.
Present was a Burgundian small lot producer who had such a love and passion for winemaking that John was inspired to choose the same career. With that in mind, he finished college with a degree in fruit culture and chemistry.
John moved to California in 1986, where he produced his first vintage of Zinfandel, under the name “Zoom", with grapes from St. Helena. Being a one man operation, he picked the 1.5 tons of grapes himself and hand crushed. Although grueling and physical, he knew winemaking would always be a part of his life.
In 2001, John started a new wine company under his own name, JRE-John Robert Eppler Wines, and continues to produce not only Zinfandel, but Syrah, Petite Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, and special blends as well.
For the past nine years he has enjoyed the same experience that began his career—hand picking grapes—now at Julie and Wayne’s Cavedale Zinfandel vineyard in Sonoma.
John’s mission is to produce wines that are rich, intense, and expressive of the soil and climate from which they grow.
John won several medals at the San Francisco Chronicle tasting in January. Come taste these medal-winning wines...
2010 Fume Blanc, Rutherford
2009 Tradition “Rouge” (44% PS, 32%Syrah, 15% Zin, 9% Nebbiolo)
2009 Zinfandel, St. Helena
2009 Zinfandel, Sonoma Valley
2009 Petite Sirah, St. Helena
2009 Cabernet Franc, Napa Valley
2009 Cabernet Sauvignon, Howell Mountain
2007 Cabernet Sauvignon, Rutherford
John is doing me a big favor by stepping in and pouring his wines. Please come and support this gracious man and his wonderful wines.
We will be meeting at the Wyndam Hotel in Costa Mesa on Saturday, March 10. All wines will be available for purchase that night, only. The cost will remain the same at $33 for members and $38 for guests.
Dinner starts at 6:45. Meeting at 7:30.
See you there!
Chris Cunningham