Phil Coturri

Last updated
Phil Coturri
Born
California, United States
NationalityAmerican
Occupation Viticulturalist
Years active1967-present
Known forPioneering organic and biodynamic farming in California

Phil Coturri is an American viticulturalist. As a vineyard manager, Coturri has been recognized as pioneering organic and biodynamic farming in California. He is the chief executive officer of Enterprise Vineyard Management and co-owner of Winery Sixteen 600.

Contents

Early life

Phil Coturri grew up in San Francisco, California. [1] His family also had a weekend home in Glen Ellen, California. [2] An Italian-American, Coturri's grandfather was from Lucca, Italy. Coturri made wine with his grandfather as a young man. [1] [3] Coturri met Arden Kremer, his future wife, in 1976, while the two were working the wine harvest, picking grapes, in Kenwood, California. [1]

Career

In 1967, Coturri, alongside his brother Tony, assisted their father in planting 2-acres of vines at the family's Glen Ellen house. That first planting triggered his interest in viticulture. [2] During his early career in viticulture, in the 1970s, he used fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides. While farming, he was poisoned by a herbicide called paraquat . He became sick from the toxins. This poisoning was another contributing factor in Coturri exploring organic viticulture and agriculture. He left behind conventional agriculture and dedicated his work to organic practices. [4]

Philosophy

"If an organic tomato is going to taste better than a hot-house tomato, an organic grape is going to taste better than a conventionally-grown grape." [5] -Phil Coturri

He believes that the way he farms the vineyards he manages impacts the ecological systems of the surrounding environment, including the San Francisco Bay. He also believes that organic grapes produce better quality wine. [5] He is a staunch proponent against RoundUp. [6]

Coturri utilizes organic farming practices in his vineyard management. No fertilizer or synthetic herbicides or pesticides are used in the planting and management process. He utilizes cover crops and encourages the use of integrated pest management with the installation of beehives, for pollinating, and bird boxes, to house owls and hawks. [2] [7] Other examples of organic practices include distributing oyster shells throughout rocky soil vineyards to add calcium to the soil. [8] Additionally, Coturri participates in biodynamic farming, even though he does not believe in the spiritual belief system associated with the biodynamic process. [2]

Vineyard management

The first organic vineyard that Coturri managed was Dos Limones Vineyard, owned by Myron Freiberg, in 1974. [4] Coturri founded Enterprise Vineyard Management in 1979 and serves as chief executive officer. [9] In 1983, [2] Coturri planted Cabernet Sauvignon on 40 acres of property owned by Robert Kamen, organically. After a third of Kamen's vines died because of fire-damaged irrigation equipment, Coturri replanted the vineyard with more Cabernet Sauvignon, in addition to Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Syrah. [10] In 2013, Coturri oversaw the replanting for the Mayacamas Vineyards. [11] That same year, the Moon Mountain District AVA was certified as an American Viticultural Area. Coturri has been recognized for helping with the certification. Of the 1,500 acres of vineyards in the AVA, Coturri manages 400 acres. [2] He planted the initial vineyards for John Lasseter's winery, Lasseter Family Winery. [12] As of 2016, Coturri manages 800 acres of vineyards. Clients include Bartholomew Park Winery, Landmark Vineyards, Laurel Glen Vineyard, Bedrock Wine Co., Amapola Creek, Harlan Estate, and Moon Mountain Vineyard. [2] [3] [13] [14]

Wine production

Winery Sixteen 600

Coturri co-operates Winery Sixteen 600 with his sons, Sam and Max. [3] Winery Sixteen 600 produces "terroir-driven single-vineyard wines." The winery produces wines from Coturri's home vineyard and additional vineyards that Coturri manages. In 2012, the winery produced 700 cases. [15] Varietals include Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier, Grenache, and estate grown Zinfandel. [16] [17] [18] They have a tasting room in downtown Sonoma. The winery has limited distribution, with wines being available at local restaurants in Sonoma, California and the Lake Tahoe area. [15] The wine label used on the bottles was designed by Stanley Mouse. [18]

Coturri Winery

In 1979, Coturri co-founded Coturri Winery with brother, Tony and their father, Harry. Today, Tony is the winemaker. They produce small lot natural wines using estate grapes on Sonoma Mountain. They produce primarily red wines. [19]

Olive oil

Coturri also co-produces an olive oil which is made with fruit from organic Italian olive trees planted on Coturri's home property. Coturri, alongside Lorenzo Petroni and Robert Cannard, imported thousands of trees. They were some of the first people in California to import and plant olive trees from Italy. Coturri and his wife, Arden Kremer, produce the olive oil, producing approximately 30 to 60 gallons annually. [1]

Recognition

Coturri was named an honorary chair for Sonoma Wine Country Weekend in 2013. [5] In 2016, Coturri was recognized for his water conservation practices by the Golden Gate Salmon Association. [3]

Personal life

Coturri resides in Sonoma, California. He is married to olive oil specialist and producer Arden Kremer. [1] The couple have two sons, Sam and Max. [3]

Further reading

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chilean wine</span> Wine making in Chile

Chile has a long history in the production of wine, with roots dating back to the 16th century when the Spanish conquistadors introduced Vitis vinifera vines to the region. In the mid-19th century, French wine varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Carmenère, and Franc were introduced. During the early 1980s, the Chilean wine industry underwent a renaissance with the introduction of stainless steel fermentation tanks and the use of oak barrels for aging. This led to a rapid growth in exports as quality wine production increased. The number of wineries in Chile rose from 12 in 1995 to over 70 in 2005.

DeLille Cellars is a winery in Woodinville, Washington, USA. Located in the Hollywood District of Woodinville at the former Redhook Brewery, DeLille's hospitality venues include The Tasting Room and The Restaurant at DeLille Cellars. DeLille Cellars specializes in wines using the Bordeaux grape varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot. In 2000, DeLille won The New York TimesWine Today.com "Winery of the Year" award. It is one of Washington state's premier cult wines.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ridge Vineyards</span> Northern California winery

Ridge Vineyards is a California winery specializing in Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel, and Chardonnay wines. Ridge produces wine at two winery locations in northern California. The original winery facilities are located at an elevation of 2,300 feet on Monte Bello Ridge in unincorporated Santa Clara County in the Santa Cruz Mountains AVA, south of Los Altos, California and west of Cupertino, California. The other Ridge winery facilities are at Lytton Springs in the Dry Creek Valley AVA of Sonoma County. Ridge Vineyard's 1971 Monte Bello Cabernet Sauvignon gained prominence for its fifth-place finish in the 1976 "Judgment of Paris" wine tasting.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Washington wine</span> Wine produced from grape varieties grown in the U.S. state of Washington

Washington wine is a wine produced from grape varieties grown in the U.S. state of Washington. Washington ranks second in the United States in the production of wine. By 2017, the state had over 55,000 acres (220 km2) of vineyards, a harvest of 229,000 short tons (208,000 t) of grapes, and exports going to over 40 countries around the world from the 940+ wineries located in the state. While there are some viticultural activities in the cooler, wetter western half of the state, the majority (99.9%) of wine grape production takes place in the shrub-steppe eastern half. The rain shadow of the Cascade Range leaves the Columbia River Basin with around 8 inches (200 mm) of annual rain fall, making irrigation and water rights of paramount interest to the Washington wine industry. Viticulture in the state is also influenced by long sunlight hours and consistent temperatures.

Knights Valley AVA is an American Viticultural Area (AVA) in Sonoma County, California. One of Sonoma County's original five AVAs, Knights Valley AVA was formally designated an American Viticultural Area on October 21, 1983. Knights Valley AVA includes approximately 37,000 acres (150 km2). Over 30 growers maintain the 2,000 acres (8 km2) planted to wine grape vineyards. The easternmost designated Sonoma County wine region, Knights Valley AVA has the warmest climate in the county. The valley lies between the Alexander Valley AVA and Chalk Hill AVA wine regions to the west and the Mayacamas Mountains to the east. Geographically, the appellation separates the rest of Sonoma County from the Napa Valley AVA.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">B.R. Cohn Winery</span>

B.R. Cohn Winery is a winery in Sonoma Valley, California in the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines</span>

J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines is a winemaking company headquartered in San Jose, California, with over 4,000 acres of estate vineyards in the Paso Robles AVA in San Luis Obispo County, Arroyo Seco and Santa Lucia Highlands AVAs in Monterey County, and the St. Helena AVA in Napa Valley, California. The family-owned and operated company was founded by Jerry Lohr in 1974. The company operates wineries in San Jose, Paso Robles, and Greenfield, California. In 2013, Steve Lohr was appointed CEO of the company. J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines’ product portfolio includes eight tiers of wine: J. Lohr Signature, J. Lohr Cuvée Series, J. Lohr Vineyard Series, J. Lohr Gesture, J. Lohr Pure Paso Proprietary Red Wine, J. Lohr Monterey Roots, J. Lohr Estates and ARIEL Vineyards. The portfolio also includes specialty brands Cypress Vineyards and Painter Bridge. J. Lohr ranks among the top 25 wine producers in the United States, with annual US sales exceeding 1.8 million cases.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mendocino County wine</span>

The Mendocino County wine is an appellation that designates wine made from grapes grown mostly in Mendocino County, California. The region is part of the larger North Coast AVA and one of California's largest and most climatically diverse wine growing regions. Mendocino County is one of the northernmost commercial wine grape regions in the state with two distinct climate zones separated by the Mendocino Range. Ten American Viticultural Areas have been designated within Mendocino County. Mendocino is one of the leading wine growing regions for organically produced wine grapes. Nearly 25% of the acreage in Mendocino County is grown organically. In 2004, the residents of the county voted to become the first GMO-free county in the United States in an initiative that was supported by many of the county's largest wineries. The county's widespread focus on organic viticulture has inspired journalists to describe it as "California's organic wine Mecca".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sonoma County wine</span> Wine made in Sonoma County, California

Sonoma County wine is wine made in Sonoma County, California, in the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">California wine</span> Wine made from grapes grown in California, United States

California wine production has a rich viticulture history since 1680 when Spanish Jesuit missionaries planted Vitis vinifera vines native to the Mediterranean region in their established missions to produce wine for religious services. In the 1770s, Spanish missionaries continued the practice under the direction of the Father Junípero Serra who planted California's first vineyard at Mission San Juan Capistrano.

Dehesa del Carrizal is a Vino de Pago from Spain. This is the highest category on the quality scale of Spanish wines and means that in addition to having a proven track record of consistent quality, the wines have to be both produced from estate-grown grapes and also have to be processed and aged in a winery (bodega) located on the estate.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Champoux Vineyard</span>

Champoux Vineyard is a grape growing estate located in the Horse Heaven Hills AVA of Washington state. Grapes grown in the vineyard have been used to produce some of the most critically acclaimed Washington wines with the name Champoux regularly being featured on vineyard designated wines. Paul Gregutt, wine writer for the Seattle Times and Wine Enthusiast, list Champoux as one of the "top ten" vineyards in the entire state. Cabernet Sauvignon grapes from Champoux vineyards were featured in the consecutive 100 point Robert Parker rated wines from Quilceda Creek Vintners for the 2002 and 2003 vintages.

Cono Sur Vineyards & Winery is a subsidiary of Concha y Toro Winery and is the third largest exporter of bottled wine in Chile. Established in 1993, its name is a reference to its location in the Southern Cone of South America and a play on the word connoisseur. In 2015, it was the official wine of the Tour de France.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Boushey Vineyard</span> Vineyard in Washington

Boushey Vineyard is a grape-growing estate located in the Yakima Valley AVA, north of Grandview, Washington. Grapes grown in the vineyard have been used to produce some of the most critically acclaimed Washington wines with the name Boushey regularly being featured on vineyard designated wines. Paul Gregutt, wine writer for the Seattle Times and Wine Enthusiast, list Boushey as one of the "top ten" vineyards in the entire state. The vineyard is owned and managed by viticulturist Dick Boushey who was honored in 2002 by the Washington State Wine Commission as Washington's "Grower of the Year" and in 2007 by Wine & Spirits as their "Grower of the Year". After Red Willow Vineyard, which was planted with David Lake and Mike Sauer, Boushey was one of the first Washington wine growers to plant Syrah. Today, Boushey Vineyard is considered by wine experts such as Jon Bonné to be "One of the state's top Syrah spots" with many Washington Syrahs made from Boushey's grape receiving critical acclaim.

Araujo Estate Wines is a California winegrowing estate founded by Bart and Daphne Araujo. Located in Calistoga, California within both the Calistoga and Napa Valley AVAs, the estate produces a small portfolio of limited-production wines from the organically and Biodynamically farmed Eisele Vineyard.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cecil O. De Loach Jr.</span> American grape-grower and winemaker

Cecil O. De Loach Jr. is a California grape-grower and winemaker in the Russian River Valley AVA who has contributed to the reputation and notoriety of Sonoma County viticulture.

Lasseter Family Winery is a winery located in Glen Ellen, Sonoma County, California. The winery was founded in 2000 by Pixar film director John Lasseter and his wife, Nancy Lasseter. The winery, once inhabited by the Grand Cru Winery, produces approximately 1,200 cases of French red wine blends annually, with the capacity to produce up to 6,000.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Naches Heights AVA</span> American Viticultural Area in Washington

Naches Heights is an American Viticultural Area (AVA) in Yakima County, Washington. The AVA was recognized officially by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau {TTB), Treasury on January 13, 2012 after reviewing the petition submitted by R. Paul Beveridge, owner of Wilridge Winery and Vineyard, to establish the viticultural area named "Naches Heights." The AVA is located entirely within the vast Columbia Valley AVA with the city of Yakima to the southeast in a valley at a lower elevation. The Naches Heights appellation encompasses 13,254 acres (21 sq mi) and contains 105 acres (42 ha) of commercial vineyards either producing or expecting to produce wine grapes in the foreseeable future. Additionally, it is the first AVA in Washington state to be fully sustainable, with all 7 vineyards practicing in either biodynamic or LIVE certification. At the recognition date, only 37.2 acres (15 ha) were under vine, making the AVA the smallest planted wine region in Washington.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Red Willow Vineyard</span>

Red Willow Vineyard is a grape-growing estate located in the far western end of Yakima Valley AVA, within the Yakama Indian Reservation. Beginning with their relationship with Columbia Winery and Master of Wine David Lake, grapes from Red Willow have been used to produce some of the most critically acclaimed Washington wines with the vineyard's name regularly being featured on vineyard designated wines. Paul Gregutt, wine writer for the Seattle Times and Wine Enthusiast, list Red Willow as one of the "top ten" vineyards in the entire state.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kenwood Vineyards</span> Winery in Kenwood, California

Kenwood Vineyards is a winery in Kenwood, California, located on Highway 12 in the Sonoma Valley wine country. It is currently owned by Pernod Ricard Winemakers.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Peterson, Diane (5 November 2010). "A taste for olive oil". News. Press Democrat. Retrieved 28 June 2016.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Fish, Tim. "The Wizard of Green". Exploring Wine With Tim Fish. Wine Spectator. Retrieved 28 June 2016.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Kallen, Christian (8 March 2016). "Coturri recognized for salmon-friendly vineyards". Sonoma Index-Tribune. Retrieved 28 June 2016.
  4. 1 2 White, Paul (4 November 2013). "Phil Coturri and Sonoma's New AVA – Moon Mountain". Organic Wine Journal. Retrieved 28 June 2016.
  5. 1 2 3 "Leading the way in Wine Country". News. Press Democrat. 26 August 2013. Retrieved 28 June 2016.
  6. ↑ Kallen, Christian (24 May 2016). "Bold, fruity, with a hint of RoundUp..." Press Democrat. Retrieved 28 June 2016.
  7. ↑ Homeyer, Henry. "Ahead of the curve". Rodale Institute. Archived from the original on January 14, 2015. Retrieved 28 June 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  8. ↑ Hartlaub, Phil (12 March 2004). "Fire spells new chapter for Sonoma scriptwriter". SFGate. Retrieved 28 June 2016.
  9. ↑ "Who We Are". Enterprise Vineyard Management. Retrieved 28 June 2016.
  10. ↑ Asimov, Eric (11 August 2004). "A Hollywood Ending". The Pour. New York Times. Retrieved 25 June 2016.
  11. ↑ Asimov, Eric (August 2013). "Calming Words From a Vineyard's Unlikely New Owner". The Pour. New York Times. Retrieved 28 June 2016.
  12. ↑ Feiring, Alice (28 October 2011). "John Lasseter Opens Up About Secret Winery for First Time". Pret-a-reporter. Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 28 June 2016.
  13. ↑ "Phil Coturri". Growers. Bedrock Wine Co. Retrieved 28 June 2016.
  14. ↑ Melnik, Peg. "Hamel Family Wines making a mark on Sonoma". Lifestyle. Press Democrat. Retrieved 28 June 2016.
  15. 1 2 Hardy, Durae. "Meet the Makers: Sixteen 600". sonoma figbits. girl & the fig. Retrieved 28 June 2016.
  16. ↑ Besch, Andy (28 May 2014). "Winery Sixteen 600 Dos Limones Syrah 2010". Organic Wine Journal. Retrieved 28 June 2016.
  17. ↑ Hannigan, Jeannie. "Organic Wine with Sam Coturri of Winery Sixteen 600". Second Glass. Retrieved 28 June 2016.
  18. 1 2 Dashwood, Monica L. "Winery Sixteen 600". Wine Country This Week. Gold Country Media. Retrieved 28 June 2016.
  19. ↑ "Story". Coturri Winery. Retrieved 28 June 2016.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.