TWO MINUTES WITH | Beth Weber Novak, Spottswoode
Spottswoode was founded by Mary Weber Novak in 1972 and quietly but quickly established itself as one of the Napa Valley’s most admired – and understated – wineries. Beth Weber Novak joined her mother at the helm in 1987 and has since burnished this reputation through a determined commitment to organic viticulture and an adherence to the estate’s elegant, balanced style while emerging as a leader of the wider Napa wine community, advocating on social and environmental causes
What is your ‘last supper’ wine?
I love Alsatian Riesling, in particular those of Domaine Weinbach, and its Cuvée Catherine, which is simply a lovely wine. Like Spottswoode, Weinbach farms its vineyards organically and biodynamically, and the wines have that beautiful sense of minerality, of their soils and aspect in which they are grown. They are authentic wines that truly express their vintage and place. When I visited in 2022, we tried the 2020, so I’d choose that to bring back the memory.
In terms of a red, I would love nothing more than the opportunity to enjoy a beautifully cellared 1961 Bordeaux, my birth year. Which producer? Honestly, I would need some advice here. I would rely on the input of Jancis Robinson MW and Fiona Morrison MW.
Where is your dream vineyard?
I have been fortunate to travel quite widely, experiencing many different wine regions around the world and I can honestly say that Napa Valley – indeed the whole of Central and Northern California – is such a beautiful place. And San Francisco is one of the most amazing cities in the world. But given my love of hiking, mountain biking, skiing and the outdoors, I might choose Piedmont. The wines produced there are capable of expressing such an intense sense of place, of great focus, purity and beauty.
Who is your wine hero?
I would place Jancis Robinson at the highest level. She is so knowledgeable, she works harder than anyone I know, she is humble, always curious, always wanting to learn more. She does not hold herself apart. She is willing to tackle controversial subjects, and she has courage.
The same is true of Karen MacNeil, who lives and works here in Napa Valley – and who is also known worldwide. She is deeply engaged with our community, yet equally engaged in and knowledgeable of the whole world of wine. Both are remarkable, studied and astute.
What’s the next big thing in wine?
I hope it will be grape growers setting the best example by farming to the highest environmental standards, born out of a cognisance that, as the proverbial canary in the coalmine for climate change, our industry will do all it can to steward its lands responsibly, without chemical inputs. I believe we also need to come together as an industry to communicate the crucial role of wine in bringing people together. This is so important for community, for camaraderie, for understanding. There are times in history when us coming together is more important than ever. As we witness chaos in our own country, this is one of those times.
What’s your favorite wine memory?
This was in 2014, when my Mom, Mary Novak, and I were among three wineries from around the world featured at the Post Hotel’s Wine Summit in Lake Louise, Canada. We had gone through ten vintages of Spottswoode Cabernet with Anthony Gismondi, a well-known wine personality and writer from British Columbia. My Mom had not said much throughout – I did my best to defer to her, but she was rather shy on stage. In an effort to bring her out, at the end of the tasting Tony asked my Mom which vintage had been her favourite. She said right out that her preferred wine was our Sauvignon Blanc that we’d had as a welcome drink, and went on to say that she vastly preferred it to all the Cabernets. The room just fell apart, everyone laughing and clapping for her honesty and courage. We still talk about it.
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WHAT
I’VE
LEARNED
Olivier Humbrecht MW, Zind Humbrecht
ON
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LIST
Mariachiara Faccin
IN
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VINEYARD
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