The Stevenot Story

Wine, gold, history and heritage are all part of the rich and colorful tradition that is Stevenot Winery. Located in the Sierra Foothills of Calaveras County in the heart of California’s Gold Country, Stevenot’s beginnings hark back long before their first release of wine in 1979.

The first Stevenot’s came to the area during the great Gold Rush of the mid 1800’s. During that time vineyards began cropping up throughout the region as miners from France, Germany, and Italy were creating a demand for wine on an unprecedented scale. At one time the Sierra Foothills rivaled the areas of Napa and Sonoma combined in vineyard acreage with over 100 wineries established.

Although the industry eventually declined with the advent of prohibition, it wasn’t long before a 5th generation member of the Stevenot family took up where his family had left off and established the winery in the late 1970’s. Recognized as one of the pioneers of the rebirth of wine production in the Sierra Foothills, Stevenot Winery quickly secured its reputation for producing world class wines and for their innovative and award winning style.

In January, 2006 a compelling new era at Stevenot Winery began when the Munari family took ownership of the property, bringing with them a new expertise in the wine industry. As stewards for the 350 acre estate, the Munari’s are proud to be part of a long and rich tradition of hand-crafted, artisanal wines.

To further enhance the Stevenot portfolio, the Munari’s immediately set about in creating a second label for the winery called Red Rover. A fun, whimsical, bottle that holds a very serious and sophisticated wine, Red Rover has already burst onto the scene with critical acclaim, creating a high demand both nationally and on the export market.

With wines such as this and with the unveiling of the new Stevenot label in 2006, the Munari’s have demonstrated their commitment to the Stevenot legacy, and continuing the excellence that has preceded them. They are determined that decisions will never be compromised by limited resources, nor will quality suffer because of growth.

The Munari Family’s investment in the winery has ensured that the vineyards and facilities are extensive enough to meet the ongoing demands of their patrons, yet sufficiently hand-tailored to meet the particular needs of their winemaker. In this venture they have been successful, and are looking forward to being part of the winery as it moves into its third decade of producing Sierra Foothill wines of distinction.

Our Winemaker
Kate MacDonald is one of those exceptional winemakers whose career has taken her full circle. As the Director of Winemaking for Stevenot Winery, Kate looks back at her early beginnings as Cellar Master and Assistant Winemaker with a smile. “I began my work here during the crush of 99,” she recalls. “Cleaning tanks and hauling fruit – it was long hours and hard work, but I loved every minute of it.”

Working through six Stevenot harvests Assistant Winemaker, Kate was known for her ability to successfully meld the traditions of the past with modern techniques and approaches. The result was an expressive California style, fruit forward wines that started big and finished even bigger.

In 2004, Kate briefly took leave from Stevenot to work as a consultant winemaker for wineries throughout the Sierra Foothills and the Napa Valley. However, when Al Munari offered Kate the position as Director of Winemaking in 2007, Kate didn’t hesitate in accepting the position – she knew that it was time to return home.

For Kate, artisan style winemaking is based on varietal preservation and regional expression. Kate believes in minimal intervention across all stages of the winemaking process, resulting in wines which are powerful, concentrated, and express the true characteristics of each variety and the region. “I believe in letting the fruit express itself,” Kate comments. “It is not for me to decide what the wine wants to become; it is determined by the varietal itself.”
—Kate MacDonald, Director of Winemaking