Alex Guarachi Biography
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Media Contact: Erin Vaughen Hlynsky 818-225-5100 Ext. 237 [email protected] ALEX GUARACHI BIOGRAPHY Alex Guarachi is owner and vintner of Guarachi Family Wines and founder of Guarachi Wine Partners. Alex came to The United States almost 30 years ago from Chile on a soccer scholarship that ended with an injury. As a result, he began the uphill journey of importing Chilean wines into the backyard of Napa and Sonoma. Working from a garage and performing every task, Alex was order taker, warehouse manager and truck driver, in an attempt to gain recognition for the wines of South America. His import company, Guarachi Wine Partners (formally TGIC Importers), was hence one of the first importers of Chilean and Argentine wines and has grown to represent wines from around the world. Guarachi Wine Partners is now the second largest importer of South American wines and in 2010 was honored by Wine Enthusiast as Importer of the Year. In 2007, after 25 years of serving as the founder and president of Guarachi Wine Partners, Alex Guarachi poured his passion for building brands into his own boutique label, with well-crafted and limited bottlings of Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley and Pinot Noir from Sonoma Coast. Guarachi Family Wines has recently purchased Meadowrock vineyards in the Atlas Peak appellation of Napa Valley and Sun Chase vineyards, which overlooks Gap’s Crown in the Sonoma Coast Petaluma Wind Gap. From these prestigious estate vineyards, Guarachi Family Wines looks forward to future single vineyard releases as the brand continues on its path of making the best possible wine from the region. ! ! ! Media Contact: Erin Vaughen Hlynsky 818-225-5100 Ext. 237 [email protected] ! ! GUARACHI FAMILY WINES PURCHASES VINEYARD IN ATLAS PEAK AVA NAPA VALLEY ! ! (LOS ANGELES, CA) 2014 – Guarachi Family Wines announces the purchase of Meadowrock, a 62 acre vineyard in the prestigious Atlas Peak Appellation in Napa Valley. Meadowrock, Atlas Peak, is the second Guarachi Family Wines vineyard acquisition, following the estate purchase of Sun Chase vineyard in the Sonoma Coast AVA in spring 2013. ! "We see our purchase of Meadowrock as a great compliment to our recent Sun Chase acquisition, as both are located in the best growing regions in the Napa Valley and Sonoma Coast AVAs,” says Alex Guarachi, owner and chief winemaker of Guarachi Family Wines. ! With top scoring releases of Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinot Noir, Guarachi Family Wines is looking forward to elevating their production even further by utilizing the superior fruit from their new estate vineyards. Both Sun Chase, located on the cool Southern side of Sonoma Mountain, and Meadowrock, which sits near Antica winery and Stagecoach vineyard, are areas proven to produce high-end Pinot Noir and Cabernet Sauvignon. ! Fruit from Atlas Peak is highly sought after by the most prestigious wineries in Napa Valley. Meadowrock demonstrates excellent production, and the high profile vineyard previously housed Meadowrock Winery. ! Planted with 30 acres at an elevation from 1,400 to 1,760 feet, the new Guarachi Family Wines vineyard reflects the best of Atlas Peak, exhibiting rocky volcanic soil in a jagged, mountainous landscape. Although subject to the typical maritime afternoon and evening cooling, the area tends to avoid the fogs that spill into the rest of Napa Valley. As such, Atlas Peak is influenced by full sunlight during the day and temperature drops at night, with warm, dry summers and cool, wet winters. Cabernet Sauvignon is the appellation’s signature varietal, though other varietals include Chardonnay, Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Meadowrock, Atlas Peak, is located northeast of Napa, primarily within the Foss Valley and Soda Canyon areas. ! ABOUT GUARACHI FAMILY WINES ! In 2007, after 25 years of serving as the founder and president of Guarachi Wine Partners, Alex Guarachi poured his passion and experience building brands into his own eponymous boutique label, with very well crafted and limited bottlings of Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley and Pinot Noir from Sonoma Coast. In the past year, Guarachi Family Wines purchased Meadowrock vineyard in the Atlas Peak appellation of Napa Valley and Sun Chase vineyard, which overlooks Gap’s Crown in the Sonoma Coast Petaluma Wind Gap. In 2015, Guarachi’s first single vineyard bottling of Sun Chase Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir will be included among the exciting releases. ESTATE VINEYARDS Meadowrock, Atlas Peak, is the second Guarachi Family Wines vineyard acquisition, following the estate purchase of Sun Chase vineyard in the Sonoma Coast AVA in spring 2013. Both Sun Chase, a premier estate in the Petaluma Wind Gap, and Meadowrock in Atlas Peak, are areas proven to produce high-end Pinot Noir and Cabernet Sauvignon, respectively. SUN CHASE Sun Chase is a 40-acre state-of-the-art vineyard that was developed in 2007 and is situated on the southern side of Sonoma Mountain in the Petaluma Wind Gap. An area heavily influenced by cool, ocean breezes, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay excel in this region, where Sun Chase is considered one of the premiere estates. More than a dozen high-end wineries buy grapes from this vineyard, which is at an elevation of between 900 and 1200 feet. This vineyard is above the fog line so the fruit sees sun all throughout the day. MEADOWROCK Fruit from Atlas Peak is highly sought after by the most prestigious wineries in Napa Valley. Planted with 30 acres at an elevation from 1,400 to 1,760 feet, Meadowrock reflects the best of Atlas Peak, exhibiting red rocky volcanic soil in a jagged, mountainous landscape. Although subject to the typical maritime afternoon and evening cooling, the area tends to avoid the fogs that spill into the rest of Napa Valley. As such, Atlas Peak is influenced by full sunlight during the day and temperature drops at night. GUARACHI FAMILY WINES Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon (Broken Rock vineyard) - Named for its rocky soil, this 48 acre vineyard is situated on a steep, western facing slope. This hillside location, blessed with high drainage and low fertility soil, consistently produces wines of unusual intensity and concentration. Broken Rock is located on the eastern ridge of Napa Valley at the foot of Atlas Peak near Soda Canyon. (Suggested retail: $80) Beckstoffer Las Piedras Heritage Single Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon (Las Piedras) – A signature red sourced entirely from Las Piedras. Known for its gravely soil, this Beckstoffer Heritage vineyard traces its roots back to the original Mexican land grants more than 150 years ago. Powerful with a lingering finish. (Suggested retail: $250) Sun Chase Pinot Noir (Sun Chase) – Sun Chase vineyard is situated on the southern side of Sonoma Mountain in the Petaluma Wind Gap. An area heavily influenced by cool, ocean breezes, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay excel in this region, where Sun Chase is considered one of the premiere estates. (Suggested retail: $65) Gap’s Crown Single Vineyard Pinot Noir (Gap’s Crown) – Cool ocean breezes between the Sonoma Mountain and the Petaluma Wind Gap trap coastal fog just before harvest to ensure slow, and evenly ripened fruit. Oak-inspired spice with a soft yet lively acidity. (Suggested retail: $75) .