Zach Rasmuson
Winemaker for Goldeneye
After a decade learning from some of the most respected wine producers in the industry, Zach Rasmuson brings his passion for Anderson Valley Pinot Noir to his role as winemaker at Goldeneye.
Raised in rural Massachusetts, Zach studied the history of science and philosophy at St. John's College in Annapolis, MD. During college he had the opportunity to meet and learn about wine from Warren Winiarski, founder of Stag's Leap Wine Cellars. When Warren personally offered him a job at Stag's Leap, Zach accepted.
While working in the cellar at Stag's Leap, Zach began training under winemaker Michael Salacci. From Michael, Zach learned that quality is determined in the vineyard, not the winery. He also taught Zach to maintain the integrity of vineyard lots, keeping them separate until blending; a practice Zach continues at Goldeneye.
Despite his joy making world-class Bordeaux varietal wines, Zach found himself fascinated by the challenge of producing Pinot Noir. In 1998, he left Stag's Leap to pursue this goal as assistant winemaker at Robert Sinskey Vineyards, where he worked side-by-side with winemaker Jeff Virnig. In May of 2000, Zach was hired as the winemaker of Husch Vineyards in the Anderson Valley. There, he was able to further refine his own distinctive Pinot Noir philosophy.
Zach grew to believe that the Anderson Valley was perfectly suited for growing world-class California Pinot Noirs. With clay-based soils and coastal ocean fog, the Anderson Valley offered rich conditions and unique microclimates within the appellation. In August of 2003, Zach joined the Goldeneye team as winemaker.
Since his arrival, Zach has focused on the cultivation of Goldeneye's four Anderson Valley estate vineyards, while working to define the evolving style of the wine. "Pinot Noir is an amazing, malleable grape. You need to be gentle shaping the wine. It's a process of minimal intervention, of finesse not muscle. We're not trying to replicate the wines of Burgundy at Goldeneye, nor are we trying to make a lighter style California Pinot Noir. Pinot Noir reflects its terroir with remarkable clarity. Using fruit from our estate vineyards we have an extensive palette of flavors from which to create our Pinot Noir. The result is an extracted, elegant wine."
