Guest Speaker - August 23, 2016
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Sean Minor founded Sean Minor Wines and Four Bears Winery in 2005 with a passion for producing wines of exceptional varietal characteristics and expressive terroir distinctiveness.
A veteran of the wine industry with more than 25 years of experience, Sean Minor’s fine wine career began with Beaulieu Vineyard (BV) in Napa Valley before taking an opportunity to manage Oregon’s King Estate Winery, and later accepting an appointment as President of Benton-Lane Winery. He returned to California to manage Renwood Winery before he and his wife Nicole decided to start their own.
We are all about family and we named our business for our four children: Nick, Elle, Jack and Charlie. Starting our own winery is both a professional and personal dream. Not long after Nicole and I were married, we discovered our second largest monthly expense was wine. We enjoy wine every day with dinner, when friends and family come to visit, during celebrations… actually, I can’t think of times we don’t enjoy wine.
After a number of years in the industry, I knew there had to be a better and more affordable way to produce great wines without severe consequences on the pocket book. We started Four Bears Winery and began producing wines from premier appellations throughout California. With the help of a family friend and colleague, Will Bucklin, our initial production featured a Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, Central Coast Chardonnay, and Dry Creek Sauvignon Blanc.
Just as our family and children have grown, so has our business. We decided our winery would eventually include more than one label – each with a different focus and personality – much like our children. We offer wines under three labels; Four Bears – California Sauvignon Blanc, Central Coast Chardonnay, Central Coast Pinot Noir and Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon; Sean Minor – Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, Carneros Pinot Noir, Napa Valley Red Blend; and Point North – Oregon Pinot Noir.