|  Jason
Drew - Proprietor/Winemaker
Jason believes that the generation
before his guided him towards where he is today in the
winemaking world. His passion for learning the vineyards
during his early years helped propel him towards understanding
and managing world class winery estate vineyards on
the North Coast of California. He believes that having
a complete understanding of the vineyard is absolutely
vital to understanding how balanced wines are ultimately
made.
Jason has completed fourteen vintages
in the wine industry. He developed a higher level of
appreciation in agriculture after studying Agricultural
Ecology with an emphasis in Viticulture from the University
of California, Santa Cruz. After graduating at UCSC
and interning at St. Supery Winery in 1991 Jason began
his professional career in the wine industry with Carmenet
Winery as the Vineyard Manager, managing 70 acres of
Bordeaux varieties on Mt. Veeder, (Sonoma side) for
the next four harvests. In early 1996 Jason and his
better half moved to Mendocino where he spent a year
managing and developing vineyards for Navarro vineyards
in Anderson Valley. It was there that Jason’s
passion for winemaking took off, and so he and wife
Molly set out for South Australia where he entered a
dynamic program in Oenology (Winemaking) and received
a graduate degree from the University of Adelaide, one
of the top winemaking schools in Australia. Jason, Molly
and four-week old Owen returned from the great Down
Under in October of 1998 just in time to spend a harvest
with Joseph Phelps and then go on to help friends at
Luna winery and Corison Winery (as Assistant Winemaker).
During the Fall of 1999 Jason struck up a relationship
with Bryan Babcock of Babcock Vineyards and Winery where
he was entranced by the great potential of Santa Barbara
County and moreover the incredible intrigue of Santa
Ynez Valley and Santa Rita Hills. The excitement of
the new and bourgeoning thrills of a frontier for Syrah
and Pinot Noir hooked Jason immediately and he was hired
as the new Associate Winemaker for Babcock Vineyards
and Winery. Jason spent the next four vintages working
with Bryan, becoming immersed in one of the greatest
new appellations of California – Santa Rita Hills.
The challenge and opportunity could not be ignored.
Drew was born.
Today, Jason’s passion continues
to grow as he hones his skills toward wines that are
balanced, elegant and rich.
 Molly
Drew - Co-Proprietor
Molly brings her tremendous organization
and creative skills to the business. She and Jason are
partners in business and life. Molly has shared the
wine adventure that has become Drew since the early
days in Northern California. Having earned a Bachelor
of Arts in English Literature and then entering the
field of Social Services, Molly began her professional
life working with children with developmental challenges
for several years in the US and abroad. As Molly puts
it “there are many layers to a well lived life”.
Molly feels these life experiences have given her immeasurable
appreciation for all that life has to offer and she
comes to the business equipped for the many challenges
a small wine business brings.
Molly is heavily involved in tastings,
vintage decisions and blending trials. In addition to
managing the day to day business in the office, Molly
can be found assisting Jason in the cellar during harvest,
as well as helping out with racking, topping and bottling.
Molly shares with Jason a passion
for wine made by hand from the vine to the bottle.
She sees Drew wines as a return to a tradition of handcrafted
wines made in small batches. She believes keeping their
production small gives them the advantage of
being closely involved with every single barrel in the
cellar.
|
