ifestyleifestyle ifestyleifestyle Authenticity, Innovation, and The Strength Chronometry of Sonoma An Interview with François-Paul Journe, An Interview with Richard Arrowood, Founder, Montres Journe SA The design (left) and execution (right) of the Chronomètre Optimum Winemaster, Amapola Creek Vineyards & Winery Richard Arrowood (above); Fox Trot Vineyard (left); Amapola Creek Cabernet Savignon (below)

EDITORS’ NOTE François-Paul F.P.Journe has been recognized functions without oil and is the only direct im- EDITORS’ NOTE Richard My focus was to try around 2,500 cases – we’ll get to 3,000 when we Journe began his career in his un- around the world since 1994 with pulse escapement to start up on its own, and Arrowood is an iconic to get back to making a start bottling the 2012 vintage. cle’s antique restoration shop in awards at the Geneva Watchmaking also has far greater output than the majority winemaster who has been handful of fi ne gems and You have to remain focused and believe Paris and built his fi rst tourbillon Grand Prix, of which three have re- of escapements: 50 hours without loss of am- making wine exclusively not wheelbarrows full of you can overcome what is happening in the pocket watch at the age of 20. He ceived the ultimate “Golden Hand” dis- plitude; and a balance with a spiral with Phillips in Sonoma County for 47 rhinestones. If you keep marketplace – and I do. set up his fi rst workshop on the rue tinction. F.P.Journe is proud to be one curve that guarantees better equilibrium. years. From 1974 until it small and focused, Our wines can compete with the best de Verneuil in Paris in 1985, and of the last guardians of the fundamental Would you highlight some of your spe- 1990, he created the wines you can do that. of them from other areas and I don’t think in 1987, became a laureate of the values of haute horlogerie, fi rmly com- cial limited edition pieces? for Chateau St. Jean, where The smaller you we have to charge $400 a bottle. Foundation de la Vocation. He was mitted to restoring a dimension of au- Our collection is already limited as we are he developed the fi rst vine- are, of course, the How do you maintain reasonable the recipient of the Balancier d’Or thenticity to the history of time. producing only 900 timekeepers per year. But yard designates produced more limited you are price points while delivering a great Prize in 1989, received the Gaia What best defines F.P.Journe we are also producing limited series such as the in Sonoma County. He and in having a chance to product? Watchmaker of the Year award in is “Authenticity, Innovation and Vagabondage or Boutique Anniversary edition. his wife, Alis, founded Arrowood Winery with blend it out. But if you have enough faith At best, we’re probably breaking even 1994, and recently won his third François-Paul Journe Chronometry “ and all models of the col- We consider our clients carefully in planning the 1985 vintage where he made an extraordi- in growing the best vines you possibly on most of the we sell, Aiguille d’Or (Golden Hand), the lection embody that unique brand spirit. those series. For example, the Vagabondage nary 22 different small-lot varietals and vine- can – it’s not growing grapes but growing but I want people to feel comfortable and ultimate prize at the annual Grand Prix How has the F.P.Journe collection was imagined in three chapters. The fi rst se- yard designates. Arrowood was the winemaster vines – and you maintain a sharp focus to make ours more of a household name. d’Horlogerie de Genève. In 2006, he was hon- evolved over time? ries sold in no time without any advertising nor at Arrowood Winery until June 2010, when he on that, you don’t have to worry about Of course, we won’t be an everyday ored with the title of “Chevalier des Arts et des F.P.Journe is divided into two lines: the promotion and became a legend among the left to devote himself full-time to making wines stubbing your toe. beverage for most people, but the only Lettres” by the French Minister of Culture. collection Souveraine, composed of high-preci- limited series. The second series has already for their new winery, Amapola Creek Vineyards Mother Nature is always go- way we can make this work is to get Journe earned his watchmaker’s diploma from sion mechanical watches with manual winding been launched, sold, and delivered, and for the & Winery. ing to throw you curve balls. I more direct-to-consumer and that’s École d’horlogerie de Paris in 1977. and featuring exclusive complications; and the second chapter, we gave priority to owners of would love to say that 2012 what we’re working on – it’s about Octa collection with automatic winding based the fi rst series so they could acquire the same WINERY BRIEF Amapola Creek (www. amapola would be the vintage that I had getting up to that 3,000-case mark. COMPANY BRIEF The motto for the F.P.Journe on the same calibre but offering a unique power number within the series as the one they ac- creek.com) is located just north of the town of always hoped for, and it is close; If we can sell 50 percent or brand is Invenit et Fecit (Latin for “invented and reserve of 120 hours, with the prowess to insert quired in the fi rst series. The same priority for Sonoma, on the Arrowoods’ 100-plus-acre es- it was probably one of the fi nest more of our product direct-to- made”) and denotes that the company builds the all of the complications of the Octa line in the the third chapter will be given to owners of tate. The 20 acres of vineyards are spread vintages I’ve seen in my 47 years consumer, then the averages will entirety of the watches. Journe designs brand same space. series one and two and that will allow collec- from 350 to 1,000 feet above the valley fl oor of producing wines. But there work out and we can make a nice new movements, even inventing completely F.P.Journe is also producing a limited se- tors to have the three Vagabondage pieces with on a western-facing slope at the top of the is always room for improve- profi t. But if we get greedy, we get new mechanisms, like the resonance chronom- ries, anniversary editions, and the Black Label the exact same limited number, which will give Mayacamas Mountains. The vineyards are ment, although it’s tough to tell in trouble. eter. F.P.Journe (www.fpjourne.com) watches line, accessible only for existing owners of an even more value to their collections. CCOF organically certifi ed and managed by you if there would be any room To be frank, we are talking are available around the world via six bou- F.P.Journe watch, and those limited series are Would you highlight your strength in Phil Coturri, who has been a longtime propo- for improvement from 2012 be- about fermented grape juice. If tiques in Paris, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Beijing, available only in the boutiques and Espaces complicated movements? nent of in Sonoma County. cause that was about as ideal as the magician starts to believe the Geneva, and New York, as well as a few selective F.P.Journe. Regarding the new designs, a few Complication has always been my passion. Amapola Creek produces limited amounts it could be. magic, then you have problems. authorized retailers. projects are in the works. I am still working on I started building my fi rst tourbillon at the age of of Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, Joseph Belli Mother Nature will do what Do you know early in the a special collection for women presenting an 20 and I became a constructor in chronometric Vineyards Chardonnay, and old vine she will, but you rely on your ex- process what your final prod- What makes the F.P.Journe brand special? entirely new watch concept and an exclusive mechanisms at the age of 25. I have no inter- from Amapola Creek’s neighbor, the perience to make things better if uct will be like? I am celebrating over 30 years of innova- timepiece of very high horology. est in producing the same watches as anyone historic Monte Rosso Vineyard, planted in the you have curve balls thrown at Once you know where the tive and exclusive watch creations. Our label You have introduced the Chronomètre else, which is why I always construct entirely 1890s. Amapola Creek, named for the Spanish you. While every vintage has grapes are being grown, your and trademark Invenit et Fecit – applied on all Optimum as a part of the collection. Would new and innovative calibres. When I thought of word for “poppy,” runs through the Arrowoods’ challenges, every vintage also has , and what to expect from of our watches – certifi es that each exclusive you provide an overview of this piece? the Repetition Souveraine, for instance, the idea estate where Richard and Alis planted their great opportunities. that terroir, then you have a pretty and innovative calibre is entirely invented, The Chronomètre Optimum is the new me- was to conceive one like no one that had ever vineyards using the most advanced organic How challenging is it to good semblance of the consistent constructed, and assembled in the workshops chanical timepiece of the collection Souveraine existed; with an ultra slim movement of 4.00 methods in 2000, and Richard made the win- differentiate and show what quality you will be able to gener- of our Geneva Manufacture. with manual winding. It represents 30 years of mm, closer to a calibsazre with three hands ery’s fi rst vintage in 2005. Amapola Creek is makes a specific brand unique ate year in and year out no matter At our 2000-square-meter site, we produce experience in watchmaking and includes a than a grand complication, and a crystal clear an ultra-premium winery in a state-of-the-art in this crowded marketplace? what Mother Nature throws at you. 95 percent of the components necessary to majority of exceptional components of high ho- and strong sound. The goal has been achieved. facility designed to produce just 3,000 hand- You have to get out there Has technology impacted make the F.P.Journe precision chronometers in rology brought together for the fi rst time in one When I conceived the Grande Sonnerie, the crafted cases annually. and push it. There is a plethora of the winemaking process or is it the authentic horological tradition within rigor- watch including two barrels in parallel ensuring objective was to construct a grand strike that brands and the only way you are still much the same as it was in ous craftsmanship. the stability of the driving force, under the clas- could not be damaged, as before this, slight ma- What was the initial vision for Amapola going to have any success is if the the early days? Excellence and chronometry are the es- sic confi guration of precision chronometers; nipulation could damage the movement. The Creek and how has the business evolved consumer knows your name and I believe in science and tech- sence of an F.P.Journe watch and every single a constant-force remontoire, which is pat- Sonnerie Souveraine is today the only grand over time? can associate it with your brand and nology. However, because we’re creation is composed of only the most precious ented and made for the fi rst time in titanium, strike completely safe to use. The Chronomètre The fi rst thoughts Alis and I had were to with quality. producing primarily red wines like Cabernet metals: platinum or red gold. F.P.Journe is also which balances the driving force applied to à Résonance with its twin movement beating in create a focus on quality above all for Sonoma If you can continue to produce wines that Sauvignon and a bit of Chardonnay, we don’t the world’s only watch manufacturer to pro- the escapement to make it constant and en- opposition is one of the most precise watches Valley. We have a great area here from which are uniquely consistent and of top quality, peo- need a lot of super modern technology. I be- duce the movements of its exclusive mecha- sures its isochronism; the high-performance available today. All of these watches have been to grow grapes – Sonoma Valley in California ple will follow that. lieve in letting the wines make themselves and nisms in 18-karat rose gold, a specifi city of our bi-axial escapement, also patented, which is a recognized with international horological prizes is where commercial viniculture began in this We have a 3,000-case use permit and we only doing what is necessary to avoid taking brand. two-wheel direct impulse escapement that and distinctions.• country. haven’t even bottled that yet. We’re probably anything away.• VOLUME 36, NUMBER 2 DISTRIBUTED WITH PERMISSION. COPYRIGHT © 2013 LEADERS MAGAZINE, INC. LEADERS 127