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C.G. Di Arie Vineyard & Winery
Sierra Foothills AVA
An estate known for its superior winemaking facility and estate-grown wines
Perched at 1,700 feet in the hills of Northern California's Shenandoah Valley sits C.G. Di Arie Vineyard and Winery, an estate known for its superior winemaking facility, excellent loam soils, and unique estate-grown wines. The property was purchased in 2000 by winery owner Chaim Gur-Arieh and his wife Elisheva. At the time, the land was uncultivated, but the couple knew the region’s temperate climate and rugged geography had the capability of producing mountain fruit of superior character and concentration. This was Chaim and Elisheva’a first venture into the world of wine, but for them, it was a long time coming.
Prior to becoming a winemaker, Chain, born in Istanbul, Turkey, had earned a Masters and PhD. in food science with minors in biochemistry and chemical engineering. Chaim had a long and successful career as a food scientist, food developer, and businessman, with involvement in the development of such food products as Cap’n Crunch Cereal, Hidden Valley Ranch Salad Dressing, Power Bars, and Pudding Cups. Elisheva, on the other hand, completed her degree in anthropology and became an artist, having many of her paintings on display in Chicago, New York, and Washington, among other places. Chaim sold his food development and flavor company in 1998 and decided to pursue his life-long dream of creating world-class wines. His food science background made him the perfect fit to become a winemaker, while Elisheva’s art eye would later be pivotal in developing the winery’s brand image.
After purchasing their Shenandoah Valley estate, Chaim and Elisheva planted and co-designed a 20-acre vineyard and winemaking facility. They knew that attention to detail would be necessary for such an untapped region, and in order to take advantage of the hilly terrain, they had to implement modern, innovative techniques. They built their winery on two plateaus, using gravity to aid in the grape growing and winemaking process. Today, the Gur-Ariehs tend to about forty vineyard acres, in addition to an orchard, olive grove, vegetable farm, and even a full art gallery. We can't wait to see more from this innovative and dynamic pair in the future.
