WINEMAKER MIGUEL CARATACHEA
Described by luxury winemaking consultant Kian Tavakoli as "a Napa Valley treasure,” Vitesse Vineyards Winemaker Miguel Caratachea is a true artist that has overseen the Vitesse program from it's inception. Miguel has put his heart into every bottle of Vitesse, and it shows in the multiple 90+ point scores, gold and double gold medals, and most importantly the true pleasure one receives with every sip of Vitesse.
The uniqueness that Miguel has instilled in Vitesse is that it is like a book being written with every vintage. Each chapter is slightly different, but adds a new thread to the overall storyline, namely a character study in what can be done differently with Napa Valley wine grapes than what has already been done so many times in more expected ways.
As Miguel noted in a recent article about his unique winemaking approach, “If a client wants me to make a wine for ratings, I can do that, but I like to make more artistic wines. I challenge myself with the idea that in a great wine, everything comes from the grapes – flavors, acidity, a complete range of tannins, and textures – all are right there in the fruit, but you have to know how to unlock them.”
Photo: Hal Brandes Photography
Described by luxury winemaking consultant Kian Tavakoli as "a Napa Valley treasure,” Vitesse Vineyards Winemaker Miguel Caratachea is a true artist that has overseen the Vitesse program from it's inception. Miguel has put his heart into every bottle of Vitesse, and it shows in the multiple 90+ point scores, gold and double gold medals, and most importantly the true pleasure one receives with every sip of Vitesse.
The uniqueness that Miguel has instilled in Vitesse is that it is like a book being written with every vintage. Each chapter is slightly different, but adds a new thread to the overall storyline, namely a character study in what can be done differently with Napa Valley wine grapes than what has already been done so many times in more expected ways.
As Miguel noted in a recent article about his unique winemaking approach, “If a client wants me to make a wine for ratings, I can do that, but I like to make more artistic wines. I challenge myself with the idea that in a great wine, everything comes from the grapes – flavors, acidity, a complete range of tannins, and textures – all are right there in the fruit, but you have to know how to unlock them.”
Photo: Hal Brandes Photography
“Miguel has a sixth sense for the grapes. He mixes current techniques with long-lost secrets of the old masters and crazy ideas of his own. You just can’t teach what he knows.”
- Mark Marinozzi, Proprietor, Vitesse Vineyards
- Mark Marinozzi, Proprietor, Vitesse Vineyards
