The Winemakers
Sterling Albert
Owner, Winegrower, WinemakerFor as long as I can remember I have been fascinated by plants. From cloning orchids personally as well as professionally for Rod McCellen in South San Francisco, to hand managing our vineyards my approach has always remained the same, All or nothing.
In between I became a successful landscape and engineering contractor in the east Bay as it gave me the opportunity to not only earn a living doing what I love, but stay on the cutting edge of the growing industry.
In the early 80's I was introduced to fine wines while working at a well known
French restaurant as assistant cook. We tasted a lot of "Chateau whoevers", all the while being told that only the French make great wines. Napa beckoned and I discovered California wines, and began wondering if I could improve the breed. Some forgotten wine maker mentioned "Wine is a moment of time in a bottle" and I was hooked.
Steve and I began winemaking and I realized that growing grapes and making wine was what I was going to do.
We planted our first vineyard together in 1996 and the opportunity to build a much larger vineyard presented itself in 1998.
With Richard and Karen Mangini providing the land I was able to design and plant our Mount Diablo Estate Vineyards.
The drive to create art in a bottle from each vintage defines who I am.
Wine truly is a moment of time in a bottle that I am honored to produce.
Steven Albert
Owner, Asst. Wine makerSteve and Sterling planted their first vineyard together in 1996 during Steve's long convalescence from a racing accident. Sterling's extensive expertise with plants and commercial landscaping made him the obvious choice as advisor for the fledgling vineyard, and Steve's keen infatuation with making wine allowed them each to directly experience the results of their work.
The Albert's have a long history of personal bests and successes. Steven is the President and owner of an award winning Design/ Build firm which bears his own name. He has a keen and seasoned business sense which he brings to the winery and it is in his perpetual striving for excellence that he finds his Zen.
These two brothers have come a long way since that first vineyard. Sterling went on to UC Davis and planted successful vineyards of his own and Steve, becoming frustrated by the many limitations of home wine making began to position himself to make excellent wine of a far higher standard.
Being an Albert, the transition into "all or nothing" was as easy as it is familiar and goes well beyond the romance of a pinch of this and a dash of that! He wanted to bring the alchemy of real chemistry together with his great love of wine.
As it turned out Sterling had the same resolve and so the timing was ripe for them to form the prefect alliance. Both are driven and each one brings to their partnership expertise that dovetails brilliantly with the other.
Today Steve and Sterling are doing with wine what they both do individually with everything they touch; they take ownership and strive for excellence. Their future together will be what ever they can envision for themselves. One thing is certain, alone they are quite formidable ...together they make a relentless team.
Dave Albert
Cellar MasterDave's passion is Chardonnay but as he says, "...we don't make any!" Still, he left his home in Australia to spend six months helping his brothers to finish the construction of their winery.
He has since returned Down Under and both Sterling and Steve admit that they couldn't have finished everything on time without him.
'Dave is in everything, from the forklifts to the tanks, and from set-up to clean-up," Sterling recalls. "He was new to the business but not to hard work! And even with all the long hours he's an absolute professional." I hope we can fly him in for 08.
Asst. Cellarmaster, IT guru.
How proud can I be, my nephew has come to work in the family business, Taylor is great lot's of energy and youth just what we need, as harvest ages all of us.
