How Heidi Barrett is Changing Wine Making for the Better

Winemaking is not just about harvesting grapes and producing bottles of wine. It entails great decision making that styles and designs a wine. It requires great attention to all the little details and utmost care so that each bottle will be worth the wait. 

Fantesca Estate & Winery has been producing wines of great quality for years now. They have been delivering the best results which people can enjoy over dinners and celebrations. However, all of these would not be made possible if not for their resident winemaker who gives her all in making these great bottles of wine. 

Let’s meet the woman behind Fantesca’s wines, Heidi P. Barrett.

Fantesca’s Fantastic Winemaker

One of the most sought out winemakers in California is Heidi P. Barrett. She has been dubbed as the “The Wine Diva of Napa” and “The First Lady of Wine”. Heidi was born into a family of influential winemakers so there is no doubt that she also acquired the same trait as her parents. She attended UC Davis and earned a  Bachelor of Science degree in Fermentation Science. Her internships in the German and Austrian wine industries also contributed into her winemaking techniques which she eventually brought back home to California.

Winery Career

Heidi’s first position was at Buehler Vineyards as their resident winemaker when she was only 25. After five years of working for Buehler, she took her services to Dalla Valle Vineyards where she created the Cabernet cult blend wine, “Maya”. In 1992, she then started crafting wines for Screaming Eagle and become widely known for the winery’s eponymous 1992 Cabernet. It set a world record during the 2000 Napa Valley Wine Auction when a 6-litre bottle was sold at a whopping $500,000. The next year, her Cabernet reached a higher offer for $650,000. From then on, Heidi has been working for different wineries such as Amuse Bouche, Revana Family Vineyards, Paradigm Winery, Grace Family Vineyards, Lamborn Family, and, of course, Fantesca Estate & Winery.

Fantesca Creations

It was in 2008 when she took up residency at Fantesca Estate & Winery. While Heidi is known for her Cabernet, she is also well-versed into making other wines. Heidi only makes one Chardonnay and one Spring Mountain Cabernet and they belong to Fantesca’s wine lineup. Because the winery only produces 3,000 cases annually, Heidi’s wines are definitely one of a kind. The 2016 Fantesca Chardonnay has a very clean feel and pure aromas of pear, green apple, and fresh citrus. On the other hand, the 2015 All Great Things “Freedom” Red Blend is a big, dense wine with complex aromas of black cherries, berry compote, vanilla, and fine leather. These two Fantesca wines are both enticing and delicious and held to Heidi P. Barrett’s exacting standards. 

Master Winemaker

Throughout the years, it can be said that Heidi has perfected the art of making wine. She has dedicated her time to make sure that the bottles she is producing will come out great. From the grapes used to the winemaking process, Heidi ensures that she only uses the best. She does not rush and takes her time in crafting wines of her own design. Her patience and perseverance are evident in the finished products. Time and time again, Heidi has proved that she is the master of winemaking. 

Aside from Fantesca and other wineries, Heidi has her own line of artful wines called “La Sirena”.