"The Last Word On Dessert Wine"

A bit more about the winecrafter, Jeff Sowells....

 

I'm a humble baby-boomer from the central California town of Kingsburg where I was neighbors with Rafer Johnson and Louie Martini.

 

When I graduated from high school in 1970 our nation was in the midst of the Vietnam War.  Society was rife with civil unrest and social change. What was a boy to do? After a summer of travel and adventure I heard of a temporary harvest position at a refinery sized winery nearby that produced bulk wines, brandy and grape juice concentrate. I would work there seasonally for the next six years. When the season would come to an end I was off seeking adventure, backpacking and kayaking in the Sierras, rowing a 16 foot raft down the Grand Canyon on a 30 day trip and serving as first mate aboard a 32 foot sloop sailing from San Francisco to Baja and the Sea of Cortez and then back to San Diego on a four month cruise.

 

I have resided in the Napa Valley since the late 1978. I have been married to my wonderful and supportive wife Dawn, a licensed vocational nurse, for over 25 years. We have three grown children, Julie, Evan and Kari, and a spirited singing and dancing granddaughter, Idarah.

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In my spare time I can be found rattling my drums and jamming on the blues harp.  I grow killer Cherokee Purple tomatoes, chase fish, scare squirrels, toss the Frisbee, stir-up some mean smokey BBQ and enjoy a cool brew.  Hike, dream, read, sleep. Repeat as necessary.