Michael Eckstein

Winemaker, Franciscan Estate

Michael Eckstein, a native of California, believes making wine is just like playing a musical instrument - all the notes need to be put together in a harmonious fashion to create a beautiful finished product. He approaches winemaking at Franciscan Estate with much the same dedicated focus a musician brings to making music: "First you feel the music, learn your instrument, practice your scales, move forward to writing your own music, and finally - improvise."

Michael began his winemaking career at Robert Mondavi Winery after graduating from the University of California at Davis in 1985 with a degree in Fermentation Science and continuing on to earn a M.S. degree in 1988 in Food Science. He then spent seven years at Rudd Winery. Michael joined Franciscan Estate in March 2007, where he works with Director of Winemaking Janet Myers.

Michael believes that if you start with great fruit, then winemaking is a matter of caring for the wines in a way that captures the native character of the grapes. "The essence of the grape is not something that can be added or duplicated once the grapes are at the winery," he states. "There is no substitution for the fundamental essence and flavor of a well grown, well cared for, delicious, ripe juicy grape."

Wine is a way of life for Michael, to me family, food, music and wine go hand in hand. Michael lives in Santa Rosa with his wife Janet, son Joseph and twin daughters Sasha and Mia. He enjoys cooking Italian and California Nuevo cuisine, and of course creating his own music with the piano and cello.