April 2006
The American Grand Cru Debate
BY LETTIE TEAGUE

10 Grand Cru California Winemakers
These winemakers are so great they deserve to be designated grand cru.

David Ramey Ramey has worked for some of California's best-known wineries, including Dominus Estate and Rudd Vineyards & Winery, and he's now concentrating on his own label.

Paul Draper An icon for some 30 years, Draper makes astonishing Cabs and Zins for Ridge Vineyards.

Heidi Barrett Barrett's winemaking credentials include the most cultish of cult Cabs, Screaming Eagle.

Helen Turley Robert M. Parker, Jr. has declared Turley a goddess. She turns out otherwordly wines for several wineries, including Martinelli Winery and Marcassin.

Bob Levy In the way that great prose stylists are "writer's writers," Levy is a winemaker's winemaker, turning out brilliant bottles for Bond and Harlan Estate.

Ed Sbragia The genius behind much that is great about Beringer Vineyards bottlings for nearly three decades.

Philippe Melka He's made an enormous impact on California wine in the past decade; clients include Bryant Family Vineyard and Lail Vineyards.

Manfred Krankl There are no Syrahs quite like those of Manfred Krankl's Sine Qua Non.

Elias Fernandez He has kept Shafer Vineyards on the lists of serious Napa Cab collectors for over two decades.

John Alban Alban produced the first great California Viogniers, not to mention other great Rhône varieties.

Copyright © 2006, American Express Publishing. All rights reserved.