Podcast
Annie Favia and Andy Erickson with Andy Chabot
July 13, 2021
With this episode, we're throwing it back to our first ever Blackberry Mountain House Party! Blackberry Vice President of Food and Beverage Andy Chabot connected with winemakers Annie Favia-Erickson and Andy Erickson to talk about their personal and professional journeys. Hear them talk about the world of wine, what they're creating, how they met and more.
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Guest
Annie Favia-Erickson
Viticulturist and Tea Grower
Raised on a small bustling farm in Connecticut, Annie’s early exposure to an agrarian lifestyle shaped her love of agriculture and nature. Her mother, an avid gardener and father, a sausage and winemaking-“garagiste” set a precedent of a household oof nature for their six children. Studying abroad in France during college reinforced her passion for wine. Following graduation, she began her wine career at Newton Vineyards under the tutelage of John Kongsgaard. A master at his craft, John taught the intricacies of winemaking, the symbiotic relationship between art and science. It was also John who introduced Annie to Cabernet Franc – a love for which continues to this day. She went on to work with Cathy Corison, a model of willpower and ingenuity, who set a precedent for women in the wine industry. It was during her time with Cathy that Annie truly found her place, in the vineyard. Having returned to school for a post-baccalaureate in Viticulture, Annie then began working as a viticulturist for David Abreu Vineyard Management. Over her tenure for the next ten plus years, she worked to direct vineyard establishment and development for several of Napa Valley’s most highly regarded vineyards sites. In 2009, she turned her full focus toward Favia Wines and the subsequent restoration of the winery. At the forefront of all vineyard decisions is her philosophy that balance falls within the order of nature. Working carefully with each chosen vineyard site is an exercise in learning how to achieve a natural, balanced, and unique expression of the fruit. Though always paying strict attention to detail, ultimately Mother Nature reigns supreme. As first experienced in her formative years, Annie continues to find her deepest sense of self while elbow deep in dirt, whether growing winegrapes, vegetables, or herbal teas for ERDA.
Guest
Andy Erickson
Winemaker
Shortly after arriving in Napa Valley in 1994, I met Annie, and we connected through a shared passion for where we lived, what we did, and what we could do. We loved (and continue to love) growing things, creating, building, cooking, fermenting, preserving, and of course the results of all that activity. Growing grapes and making wine has become the center of our daily work lives, and it has brought us to many incredible places and helped us forge great and meaningful friendships. Without wine business, what started literally as a garage project has bloomed into something sustainable, and we have attracted a small but formidable team, strengthening our ability to grow and improve. As a winemaker, my goal is to highlight the character of each of the unique vineyard sites with which I work, whether at my clients’ estate vineyards, or the vineyards that produce our own Favia wines. A summer in France during university, and many subsequent trips too winegrowing regions in Europe, have fueled my enthusiasm for the concept of terroir, and wines made from special places. While I am fortunate to travel and work with wineries in other parts of the world, I feel incredibly lucky to call Napa Valley my home, and I am constantly marveled by the diversity of soils and microclimates in this small but diverse valley.