JT's Winemaking Philosophy
For nearly four decades, winemakers Jon Theurich - JT, father Alfred Theurich Jr. and now son Matthew Theurich have quietly and unpretentiously been plying their trade handcrafting award-winning wold-class wines. Santiago Canyon Winery's wines reflect the quality and attention to detail of technically trained winemakers, and consistently win Gold Medals at prestigious local and state competitions. From buttery Chardonnay to crisp Sauvignon Blanc, spicy Viognier, spicy Zinfandel, lush Merlot'and opulent Cabernet and elegant Pinot Noir, all of our wines are all meticulously handcrafted by winemaker JT to highlight and enrich the distinct flavor profiles and unique individuality of each varietal we source from our award winning vineyards.
At Santiago Canyon Winery, founder and winemaker JT is dedicated to producing wines that use the best fruit from single vineyards in the best appellation and for each varietal he makes. This unique approach to wine making means we are not tied to our own vineyards and JT carefully chooses fruit from time proven vineyards known to grow the highest quality wine grapes for each varietal we make. All of our wine lots are kept separate from harvesting until just before bottling. After picking by hand, every load of grapes is assigned its own fermentation tank. With no need to turn tanks quickly for another batch, each lot can be crafted slowly, in its own time, for maximum flavor expression. This effectively creates a collection of limited-production wines with each vintage.
Every lot of grapes are nurtured with a pre-fermentation cold soak for up to five days. Cold soaking thegrapes endows the resulting wine with rich body and vibrant fruit not found in wines without this treatment. Following fermentation, our wines are allowed to further macerate on the skins to develop more complex tannins and a silky mouthfeel. This level of detail requires planning, continuous care and constant monitoring. Winemaker JT works with and samples each separate batch every day during fermentation.
JT hand selects only the best wine barrels for aging our wines, and barrel selection is unique for each wine we craft. A barrel manufacturer and barrel style are selected to artfully highlight each wine's native characteristic, impart complimentary characteristics and integrate aromas, flavors and structure that are desired for each vintage. By way of example, JT's Vigneron Select Cabernet Sauvignon is aged only in ultra-premium French Radoux Bordeaux barrels for up to 24 months. Depending on their qualities from the vineyard, varietals like Syrah and Zinfandel, are often paired with Hungarian French or American oak barrels, or a combination of the three.
JT's philosophy is straightforward and grounded: "The art of making award winning wines is a delicate and intricate craft that demands great attention to detail - with vigilance and perseverance over many years and across many disciplines - to produce a finely finished wine that I will be equally pleased to share with my family, closest friends and devoted customers."
At Santiago Canyon Winery, founder and winemaker JT is dedicated to producing wines that use the best fruit from single vineyards in the best appellation and for each varietal he makes. This unique approach to wine making means we are not tied to our own vineyards and JT carefully chooses fruit from time proven vineyards known to grow the highest quality wine grapes for each varietal we make. All of our wine lots are kept separate from harvesting until just before bottling. After picking by hand, every load of grapes is assigned its own fermentation tank. With no need to turn tanks quickly for another batch, each lot can be crafted slowly, in its own time, for maximum flavor expression. This effectively creates a collection of limited-production wines with each vintage.
Every lot of grapes are nurtured with a pre-fermentation cold soak for up to five days. Cold soaking thegrapes endows the resulting wine with rich body and vibrant fruit not found in wines without this treatment. Following fermentation, our wines are allowed to further macerate on the skins to develop more complex tannins and a silky mouthfeel. This level of detail requires planning, continuous care and constant monitoring. Winemaker JT works with and samples each separate batch every day during fermentation.
JT hand selects only the best wine barrels for aging our wines, and barrel selection is unique for each wine we craft. A barrel manufacturer and barrel style are selected to artfully highlight each wine's native characteristic, impart complimentary characteristics and integrate aromas, flavors and structure that are desired for each vintage. By way of example, JT's Vigneron Select Cabernet Sauvignon is aged only in ultra-premium French Radoux Bordeaux barrels for up to 24 months. Depending on their qualities from the vineyard, varietals like Syrah and Zinfandel, are often paired with Hungarian French or American oak barrels, or a combination of the three.
JT's philosophy is straightforward and grounded: "The art of making award winning wines is a delicate and intricate craft that demands great attention to detail - with vigilance and perseverance over many years and across many disciplines - to produce a finely finished wine that I will be equally pleased to share with my family, closest friends and devoted customers."
"We hear of the conversion of water into wine as a miracle. But this conversion is, through the goodness of God, made every day before our eyes. Behold the rain which descends from heaven upon our vineyards, and which incorporates itself with the grapes, to be changed into wine; a constant proof that God loves us, and loves to see us happy." ~ Benjamin Franklin