Warm Greetings to All,
“Shoe Shine Wine® ” is a loving extension of our heart
and soul, and is the first offering from our family run micro
winery— Justice Grace Vineyards™.
We are, somewhat uniquely, focused exclusively
on Petite Sirah; dedicated to making world-class
wines that are food friendly, complex, elegant, and
above all—balanced. Wines that reflect
the inherent intensity of Petite Sirah
and yet retain a distinct sense of place
from each vineyard site—wines that speak volumes
about a unique place on Earth, rather than the hand
that guides them…
Eventually, as our premier vineyard sources expand, we hope
to offer an exciting, intriguing, and relatively unique collection
of balanced, vineyard-driven wines from many
of the top Petite Sirah sites around.
With all honesty—our winemaking goals are perhaps, not
very unique. Thankfully for the consumer, there are now a
growing number of wonderful small wineries that are increasingly
focused on balanced, “terroir” (the complex collection
of natural, site specific, and man-made influences that determine
a wine’s character) driven wines. So, besides handcrafting
some enjoyable wines, what else makes Justice Grace Vineyards
worthy of your support?
Beyond what’s in the bottle, I am equally passionate,
and truly committed over the long-term to (See “Ideals”):
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Lowering the barriers that
prevent more people from making wine a simple pleasure
in their daily lives |
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Making low-volume, labor-intensive
“artisinal” wines more affordable than generally
available today |
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Our Social and Environmental responsibilities--
actually improving every community that we touch |
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The “Slow Food”
movement |
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Creating Positive Change in this world... |
This journey began after having had
my very first glass of “fine” wine at a business
dinner in New York, while I was 23. That singular “ah-ha”
moment sparked (what will surely be) a life-long exploration
of wine that, happily, has no end in sight. This path is probably
similar to many who have followed their hearts into the wine
business: what began as learning and tasting, quickly became
learning and dreaming… then learning and planning…
and finally, more than a (hazy) decade later, learning and
actually doing. Upon the nudging of a friend, mentor, and
truly exceptional winemaker (Christopher), and after spending
the better part of 10+ years (i.e. just getting started) methodically
learning about my passion, I finally took the plunge in the
Fall of 2003. Thus, launching the beginning of a life
of simple pleasures, good times, endless learning, new challenges,
and amazing new friends—
I wouldn't have it any other way…
I am thrilled, eager, anxious, but above all—deeply
Grateful:
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to our families,
friends, mentors, and all those “strangers”
in the wine business who have readily shared so much with
us. |
A Toast to You All!
Now—a bit about us:
 Eric: a mongrel of sorts (just as many have suspected)
has taken the best parts of Cleveland, Baltimore, Massachusetts,
New York City, and now San Francisco into his life. He had
spent far too long (according to his boss) following the
vicissitudes of the high-tech industry, while (not-so) secretly
honing his skills in two of his passions that sit at the
intersection of Art and Science: winemaking and photography.
He is a Vespa riding vegetarian who can often be found in
bookstores and newsstands in a never ending quest for future “clippings”—anything
that could ever remotely be useful knowledge at some point
in his life.
 Shea: The
rumors are true—I was, in fact named after Dad’s
Che Guevara pez dispenser. Gee, I really hope I can live up
to those thoughtful standards… At 19 months, life is
really not all that complicated—I really don’t
see what all the fuss is about. Wake up cranky. Demand
food. Let ensuing carbo rush wash over me as I wreak
havoc until I get to go outside. Demand food. Let ensuing carbo
rush wash over me until the frenzy of physical activity causes
me to crash. Sleep. Wake up cranky. Repeat. I’d like
to share my wisdom if I could: the key is low expectations. My
dad makes that real easy.
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