Mia Klein

Last updated
Mia Klein
Born
California, United States
Nationality American
Alma mater University of California Davis, 1983
Occupation(s) Winemaker, entrepreneur, wine consultant
Awards Food & Wine Winemaker of the Year, 2003

Mia Klein is a Californian winemaker and entrepreneur, founder of Selene Wines in Napa, California. [1] Her career has spanned decades in the food and wine industry in both Northern and Southern California.

Contents

Before studying enology at the University of California, Davis, Klein was a professional chef in San Francisco. Mentored by well-known Napa Valley winemakers, Cathy Corison and Tony Soter, [2] Klein has made wine for several critically acclaimed wineries including Palmaz Vineyards, Chappellet Winery, Araujo Estate Wines, Cimarossa, Spottswoode, Viader, Dalla Valle Vineyard and Robert Pepi Winery. [3]

She is currently producing wine under her own-labeled, Selene, as well as producing wine for Bressler Winery and Boyanci. [4]

Personal life and education

Mia Klein grew up in Hermosa Beach, California. [5] When she was a senior in high school her family relocated to San Francisco. She worked at a wine shop in San Francisco. [6] Klein was a chef working in a seafood restaurant. [7] While at work, she would taste wine, which invoked her interest in wine. [2] She started studying enology at the University of California, Davis, where she worked as a lab assistant for Professor Ann Noble. [8] [9] Klein graduated in 1983. [6]

Career

After graduating from Davis, she worked at Chappellet Winery under winemaker Cathy Corison. [9] In the early 1980s she became assistant winemaker. [6] After Chappellet, she worked at Robert Pepi Winery. She met Tony Soter, while working at Robert Pepi. Soter and Klein would go start a consulting business, providing services to numerous Napa Valley wineries. Klein also worked at Dalla Valle Vineyard. She replaced winemaker Heidi Peterson Barrett at Dalla Valle. [9] Klein was the first winemaker for Bressler Winery in 1999. She is the winemaker for Boyanci and Cimarossa Vineyards (since 2009 [10] ), and has provided consulting services to Palmaz Vineyards, Spottswoode, Viader and cult wine label Araujo. [6] [7] [11] Soter left the consulting business in 1999 and Klein continues to consult. [12]

Selene Wines

Klein started her own wine label, Selene Wines, in 1991. The label makes Merlot, Sauvignon blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon, and a red wine blend. [9] The Merlots are macerated in tanks with skins being kept on for 21-days. The wine is aged in 70% new French Oak barrels. The Napa Valley Merlot's grapes are sourced from grapes in St. Helena and near Calistoga. [7] The Sauvignon blanc, Selene Sauvignon blanc, uses Musqué grapes from the Hyde Vineyard in the Carneros AVA. [7] [9] The first vintage was in 1992. [13] The wine is not processed via malolactic fermentation. It's fermented, in 40% to 50% new French oak barrels, and half in stainless steel barrels. [7] The blend is called Chesler. The wines are made at the Laird Family Estate winery. [9] A large portion of the Merlot and Sauvignon blanc wines are distributed to restaurants. [7]

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References

  1. ↑ Weissman, Cale (2016-01-06). "How El Niño Is Impacting California's Wine Industry". Eater. Retrieved 2017-10-14.
  2. 1 2 "Mia Klein: Coming into Wine". video.winespectator.com. Retrieved 2017-10-14.
  3. ↑ Sogg, Daniel (2000-03-30). "California's Fisher Vineyards Hires Mia Klein | News | News & Features | Wine Spectator". WineSpectator.com. Retrieved 2017-10-14.
  4. ↑ "Mia Klein Wnemaker". www.bresslervineyards.com. Bressler Vineyards, LLC. Retrieved 2017-10-14.
  5. ↑ Neff, Kristen Jones. "Wonderful Women Winemakers". Edible. Retrieved 9 December 2012.
  6. 1 2 3 4 Teague, Lettie. "Napa's Hired Gun". Food & Wine. Archived from the original on 13 October 2012. Retrieved 9 December 2012.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Serious Merlot". Wine People. Retrieved 9 December 2012.
  8. ↑ "This woman inspired a generation of female winemakers". Fortune. Retrieved 2017-10-14.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Mia Klein". People and institutions. Calwineries. Retrieved 9 December 2012.
  10. ↑ James Brock, Napa Valley Winery Couple Embraces a Special Tasting Event That Will Bring Their Wines Right to Your Door in Texas, Papercitymag.com, 23 October 2020
  11. ↑ Gilbert, Lucia and John. "Mia Klein". Winemakers A-Z. Women Winemakers of California. Retrieved 9 December 2012.
  12. ↑ Woolever, Laurie. "On Harvest with ... Mia Klein". Seasonal. Wine Spectator. Retrieved 9 December 2012.
  13. ↑ "Salene Wines". North Bay Biz. June 2006. Retrieved 20 December 2012.
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