Native Londoner and early Silicon Valley entrepreneur Sir Peter Michael is the recipient of Wine Spectator’s Distinguished Service Award for 2014. Michael has produced outstanding wines for over 24 years. He made his fortune in high-tech before pursuing a dream to build a world-class winery in California. He will accept the award at the New York Wine Experience on Oct. 18.
Sir Peter Michael also takes the cover of the Nov. 15 issue of Wine Spectator—on newsstands Oct. 21—which highlights the Englishman’s quest (over 6,000 miles from London) to make great wine in California. Peter Michael Winery is located in Sonoma County’s remote Knights Valley, just north of Napa Valley. Highlights of Michael’s winery and career include:
· When Michael bought the estate in 1982, it was a derelict ranch and he spent years developing the mountainside vineyards.
· Since 1997, eight of its wines have earned spots on Wine Spectator’s Top 100 lists, and three of those made the Top 10.
· Along his path, Michael hired some of California’s top winemakers early in their careers, including Helen Turley, Mark Aubert and current winemaker Nick Morlet.
· In his charitable work through the Peter Michael Foundation, he has raised $15 million to fight prostate cancer.
· Michael was knighted by the Queen of England in 1989.
You can also view more on the award here: https://www.winespectator.com/webfeature/show/id/50683.
