Warren developed a long-lasting relationship with the Fay’s eventually purchasing most of Nathan’s vineyard in 1986. He planted Cabernet Sauvignon in 1961 and while never making commercial wine himself, sold his grapes to a number of wineries. Nathan was a former mining engineer and World War II veteran who moved to the Napa Valley with his wife Nellie for a complete change of lifestyle in 1951. In 1970, moving off the mountain, for approximately $200,000 Warren purchased a 44-acre parcel of next to grower, Nathan Fay. Warren and his wife Barbara actually lived in the old house on what is now the Dunn Vineyards property which is today used for the Dunn offices. In 1965 Warren purchased 30 acres on Howell Mountain (near what is now Randy Dunn’s winery), planted Cabernet Sauvignon but later sold the property to purchase his Stags Leap property. After working at Souverain for two harvests, Warren started working for Robert Mondavi in 1966 (before ground was even broken on the winery facility) and also the 1967 harvest he was part of the original Robert Mondavi winemaking team. Warren ended up taking an assistant winemaker job there for several years (Mike Grgich had worked at this small winery for a harvest a few years prior). The proprietor of one winery, Lee Stewart of Souverain, (the site of what is now Burgess Cellars) wrote back and invited Warren to come by the winery. Eventually he wrote several small wineries in the Napa Valley asking if they needed any help (with some names provided by Maynard). Warren began to explore wine regions including in New Mexico and California. Several old timers we have met in the valley have spoken very highly of Maynard and several took his classes while they were at UC Davis. He also made valuable contributions with wine making techniques and wine judging. And early in his career he helped develop the Winkler Index, categorizing wine growing regions by total heat hours in each region (with applications relating to varietals and wine styles). Over his career he was a prolific writer, authoring 16 books among his 400 or so publications. Maynard began his career at UC Davis in 1935 he died in 1998. Philip in turn introduced Warren to Maynard Amerine a pioneer in the California research of grape growing and wine making and the first research professor at UC Davis (professor of Viticulture and Enology). Wagner, an influential viticulturist and author from the east coast. Warren became interested in wine during a year abroad in Italy later he met Philip M. Warren’s father Stephen ran a livery business for weddings and funerals but also was a home wine maker (fruit wine, honey wine and dandelion wine) but only served alcohol during holidays. “Winiarski” in Polish according to Google Translate means wine, or other definitions show as being a producer or seller of wine. Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars (apostrophe before the S) was founded in 1970 by longtime Napa Valley resident Warren Winiarski (originally from Chicago).
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