About Calistoga Estate Wines

Managing Director

Marvin Stirman

The history of the wine business in Washington, DC is the story of the professional life of Marvin Stirman. The son of the successful liquor retailer who owned Calvert Liquor, young Stirman knew the difference between bourbon, scotch and rum but had no idea about wine until he served in the army in Germany during the Korean War. There, in the early 1950's, he started visiting wineries and sampling the fruit of the German vines.

When he returned to the States and joined the family business, Stirman wondered how he was going to make his mark. Wine, he figured, was the way. He stocked the shelves with wines from around the world, but nobody bought. It was going to take some creativity.

What he needed, decided Stirman, was a Frenchman. A Frenchman, who, just by accident of birth, had the authority and accent to talk about wine. The perfect candidate walked in, and Stirman hired Robere Gourdin, a liquor representative for a national distributor, and dressed him in a sommelier's uniform complete with silver chain and tasting cup. Interest in wine - or at least interest in the man with the exotic outfit - was piqued.

People were starting to drink wine in Washington, DC but didn't know how or what to buy. To help both the serious and curious, Stirman created Les Amis du Vin, the first-of-its-kind wine club. The society was a vehicle for wine education, seminars, sales, and even offered a retailer wine training course through the mail. Soon wine shops around the country were lining up to become affiliate members of the society, with Stirman ordering the wine for their shops. In addition, Les Amis du Vin was the first wine society to offer a newsletter. Serious interest in wine was taking hold and Les Amis du Vin grew to 240 chapters and 25,000+ members around the world.

In 1959, Stirman hired Alfio Moriconi, a multi-lingual, multi-talented Italian who later partnered with him to form the distributorship Wines Ltd. Together they toured Europe to taste and buy, and to bring in containers of wines from boutique growers. Moriconi, with his language skills and understanding of European cultures and business styles, was crucial to the development of the growing wholesale business, and soon the two were buying wines for other retailers. They even bought a vineyard, and in the 1970's produced La Fleur, which became one of the top-selling jug wines in Washington, DC.

Marvin Stirman's sixth sense about his business has given him title to many "firsts." In 1970, he introduced cheese and pate to Calvert Liquor. They were an instant hit. He created an early cooking newsletter and got a young man named Bill Rice to write it. Rice went on to have a distinguished career as a food writer and editor for the Washington Post and later, the Chicago Tribune. Stirman was also a leader in introducing the concept of buying wine futures when, in 1961, he pre-bought 96 cases of every one of the 55 Grand Crus and sold them as futures around the country. It turned out to be the second greatest vintage in wine history.

Today, Marvin Stirman travels back and forth between his home in Silver Spring, Maryland and Calistoga. Every wine that is bottled under the Calistoga Estate label is hand-blended to Stirman's specifications. He's not in a hurry; he knows what he wants and he's willing to wait until it's right. And what Marvin Stirman wants are wines that people will enjoy and remember. "It's a double your money back guarantee," says Stirman.

Our Partners

Walter Scheib
White House Executive Chef, 1994-2005,
The American Chef and Culinary Consultant to Calistoga Estate Wine

As Executive Chef to the President of the United States, the First Lady and the First Family, no one understands better the role of American food and wine as it reflects our country. We are honored that Walter Scheib is part of our Calistoga Estate family, partnering with us as Culinary Consultant to Calistoga Estate Wines.

In his eleven years at the White House, Scheib oversaw all the preparations and management for state dinners, private entertaining and family meals. From midnight snacks and vegetarian meals for teenage Chelsea Clinton, elaborate state dinners for world leaders, working lunches for congressmen and journalists and organic specialties for Laura Bush in the private residence, Scheib created a uniquely American repertoire for the nation's First House.

Walter Scheib is committed to using farm-fresh ingredients in simple ways that enhance the natural flavor and attributes of the food he prepares. He fills his market basket with the bounty of artisan cheesemakers, green grocers, foragers, farmers, fishermen, ranchers and bakers and pairs his creations with the best of America's vineyards.

Now, in his new role as founder of The American Chef (www.theamericanchef.com), Walter will suggest food and wine pairings and create recipes to complement Calistoga Estate Wines.

Harry Parducci, Jr.

Calistoga Estate Wines are all handcrafted exclusively with Napa Valley grapes by legendary winemaker Harry Parducci, Jr. As Director of Winemaking and Production for Adler Fels since 2001, Parducci, oversees all grape harvest, wine blending and bottling operations. A third generation member of one of Sonoma Valley's pioneering winemaking families, Parducci has almost 30 years of winemaking and viticulture experience at prominent Sonoma wineries including Valley of the Moon, Kenwood and Chateau Diana. The Parducci family is also one of the leading Sonoma Valley grape growers, producing top-notch Cabernet Sauvignon and Zinfandel.

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