Jed Steele
Born in New York, but moved to San Francisco in 1950. In 1961, he received a basketball scholarship to Gonzaga in Washington State. Following that, in 1968, Jed started as a cellar worker for Stony Hill Winery in Napa Valley and then went on to earn his Master’s degree from UC Davis. From 1974 - 1982 he was the founding Winemaker/Vineyard Manager at Edmeades Winery in Mendocino County. Jed then went on to become Head Winemaker and VP in charge of Production at Kendall Jackson from 1983 - 1991. During his tenure, Jed took the winery from 35,000 to over 1 million cases. He was instrumental in creating the Cambria brand while at Kendall Jackson.
In 1991 Jed started Steele Wines in Lower Lake, California. In 1996 he expanded the business, buying the Mt. Konocti Winery in Kelseyville. Jed had a vision to make several different varietals, but to make them in small lots. He launched Steele and Shooting Star in 1991, then created Stymie in 1999 and launched Writer’s Block with his son Quincy in 2002.
Today he has attained his vision working with 16 different varietals, making 40 wines with many under 1,000 cases each. Jed owns 5 vineyards totaling 70 planted acres: Catfish (Zinfandel), Jacobsen (Syrah and Counoise), Silva (Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Tempranillo, Malbec, Petit Verdot), Pacini (Zinfandel, Petite Sirah) and the winery vineyard (Touriga Nacional). In addition, he leases 3 other vineyards owned by the Dorn family, one of the first settling families of Lake County.
Jed does not buy ANY bulk fruit, but chooses to work with the same families year in and year out. After 50 years in the business, 25 of which in his winery, Jed is still the head winemaker running the day to day operations at Steele.
Steele:
This is Jed’s flagship label that began with his passion for Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Zinfandel. He focuses on vineyard specific wines from our own vineyards and from vineyards he has worked with since the 1970’s. The varietals under this label have grown to include Pinot Blanc, Viognier, Cabernet Franc Rose, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Syrah. The largest production of these are Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Cabernet Sauvignon. It is Jed’s belief that wines under this label exemplify the varietal correctness and taste of the AVA’s they represent.
Stymie:
Jed only makes 2 varietals under this label, Merlot and Syrah which come from his Silva and Jacobsen properties. These 2 wines represent Jed’s personal statement and are the best of the best grown and vinified in Lake County of Bordeaux and Rhone varietals. These wines are a tribute to his father. Please ask us about the “Stymie” story.
Our offerings this year will be focused on our incredible single vineyard wines and our Stymie Reserve wines.