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Soter’s Napa Home Vineyard Purchased by Steven L. Contursi
Little Creek Vineyard
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
For immediate release
March 12, 2008
News media contacts:
Steven L. Contursi, (949) 488-9530
Donn Pearlman, (702) 868-5777
Soter’s Napa Home Vineyard Purchased by Steven L. Contursi
Acclaimed vintner, Tony Soter, has sold his Napa Valley “Little Creek”
estate vineyard to Steven L. Contursi of Laguna Beach, California, a
nationally-known rare coin dealer and a wine enthusiast who was profiled
as collector of the month by Wine Spectator magazine (October 2005).
The four acre property with over three acres under vines is in Napa’s
proposed Tulocay American Viticultural Area.
This organically farmed vineyard annually produces about 300 cases of
Cabernet Franc blended with Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec, an ultra-premium
wine under the Soter “Little Creek” label.
Contursi has hired two highly-acclaimed Napa Valley professionals to
achieve the mission of crafting a Cabernet Franc of the highest quality.
His winemaker is Helen S. Keplinger, and vineyard manager, Michael L. Wolf.
“Both have incredible knowledge of the land, farming techniques and how to
bring out the nuances of the terroir into the bottle.
I’m very excited about having both of them on the team,” said Contursi,
President of
Rare Coin Wholesalers
of Dana Point, California, one of
the country’s most prominent numismatic dealerships.
“Tony and Michelle Soter set the highest organic standards in producing
a Cabernet Franc of distinction.
We intend to continue their stewardship and make improvements where
possible.”
Keplinger completed the Masters program in Enology at the University of
California at Davis and worked with Paradigm Winery and Fiddlehead
Cellars.
She then moved to the Priorat to make the first three vintages of Cellers
Melis, with Claude Gros consulting.
Keplinger currently works as the winemaker for Kenzo Estate with vineyard
manager, David Abreu, and consultant, Heidi Peterson Barrett.
In addition, she is the winemaker for Scully Estates, which is also
farmed by Abreu, and her own label, Keplinger Wines.
Wolf is vineyard manager for several top quality producers in the Napa
Valley including Scarecrow Wine, producer of outstanding quality Cabernet
Sauvignon.
He is Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the California Grower Foundation
and a Past President of the Napa County Farm Bureau.
The Little Creek vineyard annually produces only 10 to 12 barrels.
The vineyard production is extremely low, resulting from precise farming
which walks the line between balancing healthy vines and stressing the
vines to produce grapes of superb intensity and concentration.
Keplinger says she practices a winemaking philosophy of “delicate handling
and minimal manipulation to create layered wines of concentration that
reflect the terroir of the vineyard.”
“Tony has been making beautiful Cabernet Franc from this vineyard.
The combination of the stony loam soils and cooler climate characteristic
of Tulocay is ideal for growing top quality Cabernet Franc.
The temperatures are moderated by a proximity to the bay which results in
a long growing season and will allow the grapes to achieve optimal
phenologic ripeness without over-ripeness or raisining.
All of these factors, in addition to the organic farming, translate to
the grapes and make possible a beautifully balanced, concentrated,
layered wine.
I am very excited to be working with Steve, SeAnne, and Mike on this
project,” Keplinger stated.
In recent years Contursi has generated international news headlines with
his purchases and educational public exhibitions of some of the world’s
most famous and valuable rare coins.
He owns the first silver dollar struck by the U.S. Mint in 1794 and the
first gold coin struck in the United States, the 1787-dated Brasher
Doubloon, hand-crafted by George Washington’s New York City neighbor,
silversmith Ephraim Brasher.
He also acquired the legendary King of Siam proof set, a $10 million
collection of 11 U.S. copper, gold and silver coins given as a diplomatic
gift in 1836 on behalf of President Andrew Jackson to the King of Siam
(now Thailand).
Numismatics may not be rocket science, but holding a Cum Laude college
degree in physics helps Contursi focus on the crucial small details that
can make a huge difference in rare coins as well as wine.
Despite a busy travel schedule to trade shows across the country, Contursi
devotes considerable time to various community organizations in Orange
County California.
For many years, he frequently re-arranged his professional schedule each
spring and summer to coach Little League baseball.
He and his wife, SeAnne, have five children.
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Little Creek Vineyard 2008. All Rights Reserved.
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