Meet John Eppler

johneppler@jrewines.com

John Eppler's interest in the wine industry began in 1974, while working in the Neiman Marcus Wine Cellars in his home town of Dallas, Texas. He went on to become a wine steward and sommelier in many fine restaurants in the area. But his most influencial moment came when he attended a tasting in Austin.

Present was a Burgundian small lot producer who had such a love and passion for winemaking that John was inspired to choose the same career. With that in mind, he finished college with a degree in fruit culture and chemistry.

John moved to California in 1986 where he produced his first vintage of Zinfandel, under the name “Zoom", with grapes from St. Helena. Being a one man operation, he picked the 1.5 tons of grapes himself and hand crushed. Although grueling and physical, he knew winemaking would always be a part of his life.

In 2001, John started a new wine company under his own name, JRE-John Robert Eppler Wines, and continues to produce not only Zinfandel, but Syrah, Petitie Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon and special blends as well.

For the past nine years he has enjoyed the same experience that began his career, hand picking grapes, now at Julie and Wayne’s Cavedale Zinfandel vineyard in Sonoma.

John’s mission is to produce wines that are rich, intense, and expressive of the soil and climate from which they grow.