One of the great advantages of my job is getting the opportunity to meet some of the most important men and women in the wine industry. I had the chance to spend some time with one of these men at an annual spring event at the baseball park in Jacksonville. Every year for as long as I can remember, Jed Steele the founder of Steele Wines, has treated the local wine community to a day of baseball, burgers, hotdogs and beverages. I have been going to this event for the last 10 or 12 years. It is a wonderful family event that we always look forward to and is enjoyed by everyone that attends. None of this, of course, can take place without the generosity of our guest of honor, Jed Steele.

Jed Steele and I spending a day at the ballpark.

Jed Steele has been a big part of the California wine community since 1968. Jed started his wine career as a cellar rat in Napa Valley’s Stony Hill Winery. From there he went on to earn a Masters Degree in Enology from the prestigious University of California at Davis. After earning his degree he spent the next 10 years, along with Jess Jackson, at the Edmeades Winery in the Mendocino County AVA of Anderson Valley. I guess Jess Jackson liked what Jed was doing, because from there Jed Steele became the winemaker for the first nine years of the Kendall-Jackson Winery's existence. And look how did that winery ended up doing! Jed eventually decided it was time to put his name on the front door, and thus Steele Wines began in 1991.

Over 45 years later, Jed Steele's large frame has cast a very big shadow on many areas of the California wine industry. Steele Wines has five labels using over 20 different varietals from eight individual wine areas that produce some of California’s most interesting and approachable wines. From Steele's single vinyard Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Zinfandel to the Shooting Star Aligote and sparkling Syrah, you can be sure that the quality and flavor of these wines come from the many years of experience of one of the icons of the California wine scene…Jed Steele. 

Ken Amendola, ABC Fine Wine & Spirits wine supervisor

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