An Interview with Alex Ehret of Ehret Family Winery
Photo ©Michael Kelly
Background
In 2024 I met Alex Ehret over an email and subsequent phone calls. Didn’t have the opportunity to meet him in person until last week. He arranged to meet as I was driving to the coast and could stop by. What a great treat hearing the family history, viewing the expansive vineyards and gaining a comprehensive understanding of their operation as well as meeting Alex in person.
While having written some eight stories on their various exquisite wines with some rated 99 points, it is simply not the same as sitting down and “feeling the family story” from Alex.
The Winery
Photo from Ehret Family website
The Ehret Family Winery owners are Pierre and Susan Ehret with their three children Alex, Christian and Isabella. They established the vineyard and started producing grapes in 1996 at the Bavarian Lion Vineyards. It is one of the largest estates in Knights Valley consisting of 1800 acres of both hillside and valley floor terrain. Currently 500 acres are planted in vineyards allowing the balance to provide an ecosystem for plants and birdlife to dwell. From 1996 they sold their fruit to some of the more well-known wineries throughout Napa and Sonoma counties. In 2005, they selected the highest quality grapes and started their family brand, Ehret Family Winery. Today they produce various Cabernet Sauvignon’s, Red Blends, Zinfandel, Merlot and Sauvignon Blanc wines. Their tasting room is located in Healdsburg at 422 Healdsburg Ave and appointments are required.
Knights Valley is located in Northern Sonoma County between Alexander Valley and over the Napa Valley border next to Calistoga.
The winemaker is Erin Green who has been there since 2015. Previously Erin has had experience at Sonoma-Cutrer, Vinewood Cellars and Napa Wine Company. She has also blended wines for various premium projects such as Bryant Family, Colgin Cellars, Martinelli Winery and Pahlmeyer. From 2000-2012 Erin was the winemaker and Director of Winegrowing at Pahlmeyer.
The Wines – “Wine is bottled poetry” – Robert Louis Stevenson
Photo ©Michael Kelly
Many of the wines discussed and the original signage Alex’s grandfather painted.
Photo ©Michael Kelly
Their first production wine was in 2005. Alex showed me a bottle kept under “lock and key”!
Photo of Ehret’s vineyards Knights Valley ©Michael Kelly
Ehret Family Winery in their 20 years of production with 500 acres of planted grapes only uses about 1% for their family winery with the balance being sold off as fruit to some of the more prestigious wineries in the area.
Alex and his brother are planning to increase their wine label production and also have a “top secret” plot of land dedicated to a “non-wine” adventure that will certainly grab the attention of folks.
While reviewing a couple of new vintages, I look forward to purchasing for future enjoyment.
For reference here are the links to previous stories on Ehret Family Winery:
Cabernet Sauvignon:
Merlot:
Sauvignon Blanc:
https://californiawinesandwineries.com/2024/03/14/2022-ehret-family-winery-sauvignon-blanc/
Zinfandel:
https://californiawinesandwineries.com/2024/07/02/2021-ehret-family-zinfandel-from-knights-landing/
Sláinte,
Michael