Hi Berserkers,
My name is Kurt Beitler, owner of Bohème Wines in Occidental, CA.
Like many vintners, I’d not be in the wine business if it weren’t for family and a bit of luck—good or otherwise.
My great-great-grandfather, Lafayette Stice (mustache with wine glass) at the Brun & Chaix Winery in Angwin c. 1890:
Lafayette lived his entire life in Napa Valley and oversaw Inglenook winemaking from 1911 till Prohibition in 1919.
Lafayette’s granddaughter would go on to marry the son of an Alsatian immigrant, Carl Wagner:
A brewer in San Francisco, Carl went north to Napa Valley after the earthquake of 1906, finding land to buy in Rutherford. There he started a bulk wine business, which too was shut down at Prohibition in 1919. His winery under construction in 1915:
Carl’s son/ my grandfather, Charlie Wagner, related childhood memories (from age 7 or 8) of feds pulling bungs and turning the family’s barrels down the drain. He never did warm to bureaucrats.
Charlie was a strong and independent man who worked his life farming orchards & vineyards in Napa Valley. In 1972 at age 60, he founded Caymus. With my grandmother, Lorna, at their vineyard in Rutherford:
Me as an infant with Grandpa Charlie, Grandma Lorna and her sister (my great aunt) Helen Glos, 1977
Grandpa Charlie with my mother, Connie:
The wine business was good to my family. I spent most summers riding bikes around Caymus and working on the bottling line. My brother, Derek, Uncle Chuck Wagner and me c. 1988:
After college I thought hard about joining the family wine tradition and, in 2000, took the leap. Chuck hired me to farm his Pinot Noir vineyard on the Sonoma Coast, west of Occidental. Here I learned to run a tractor, speak Spanish and tend vines.
Around this time my grandfather was near the end of his life, but still lucid. We cherished every moment. In his Rutherford kitchen with daytime 'tinis, as you do.
l to r: Charlie Wagner, cousin Charlie, yours truly, mother Connie, brother Derek (maker of Carne Humana & Cerro) and dear buddy, Mike Berghan (Gifford Hirlinger Winery in Walla Walla)
Working on the quaint road in west Sonoma, I grew close with neighbor, Al Rago, owner of Que Syrah Vineyard. Al convinced me in 2004 to farm his vineyard and make its wine. We harvested 4 tons (9 barrels) that first vintage, which I made over the hill at Caymus. In one of countless acts of generosity, Chuck gave carte blanche to new French barrels! I chose 5 and, to this day, admit to over-oaking. The wine was named Bohème to honor our local Bohemian Highway and the project’s Bohemian spirit.
Harvesting Que Syrah in 2004:
Al’s son, Vincent Rago, became a dear friend, too. In fact I consider him a brother.
Starting 2005 Bohème leased & farmed his beautiful Taylor Ridge Vineyard:
Al Rago, me, Vincent Rago and Joe Vivio (Vivio Vineyard Syrah) at Press in St Helena:
That same year I planted a vineyard of my own in southwest Sebastopol Hills, near the Marin County line, English Hill Vineyard:
Finally, Stuller Vineyard, planted to rocky soils on Willow Creek Rd, came in 2006.
Stuller produces our most concentrated Pinot Noir:
In 2012 we moved winemaking closer to home, from Rutherford to Forestville. Pax Mahle leased us part of the American Wine Building, where we crushed 20 tons:
Today, with much help, I devote my life to growing grapes and making wine. It’s an enriching craft with a close and honest community. I’ve learned how vignerons’ skills are honed over years and, like budwood, passed through generations. I’m grateful to many for their love, generosity and support.
With my dad in Forestville, 2014:
2016 Bohème Harvest Crew, Sebastopol: