THE STORY OF BEEKEEPER
Beekeeper Cellars is the vision of best friends and co-winemakers Ian Blackburn and Clay Mauritson. The two collaborated after adventurous individual careers in the wine business, and at last, decided to work together on a project of their own.
Clay, a 7th generation grape grower, and his family found themselves the owners of a significant slice of the Rockpile Appellation, through an amazing set of historical land transactions. The Mauritson family realized the potential and parented the creation of the ROCKPILE AVA. In 1998, Ian and Clay climbed the hill and watched the Madrone Spring Vineyard get planted, while discussing the future of Rockpile and the dream it represented.
In 2008, Clay saw the fruits of his family's labor taking shape and came to Ian with a unique opportunity to source some of the Rockpile fruit. He told Ian in the difficult days of 2008, “now is the time to get in and build the business and have it take shape as the market improves, and to not wait until business is strong as you will have a hard time getting access to the right quality assets.” Ian took heed of Clay’s wise comment and said "When your best friend is Clay Mauritson and he offers Rockpile fruit and to assist with winemaking…... you make Zinfandel.”
In Los Angeles, Ian operates a specialty wine marketing organization known as wineLA and has pioneered wine education for the past 20 years (since 1995) through www.learnaboutwine.com and www.wineLA.com. Beekeeper Cellars is also involved in Ian’s Masters of Wine Thesis project and provides him the winemaking training he requires to help pass the difficult Masters of Wine exam...an ongoing pursuit.
Clay, a 7th generation grape grower, and his family found themselves the owners of a significant slice of the Rockpile Appellation, through an amazing set of historical land transactions. The Mauritson family realized the potential and parented the creation of the ROCKPILE AVA. In 1998, Ian and Clay climbed the hill and watched the Madrone Spring Vineyard get planted, while discussing the future of Rockpile and the dream it represented.
In 2008, Clay saw the fruits of his family's labor taking shape and came to Ian with a unique opportunity to source some of the Rockpile fruit. He told Ian in the difficult days of 2008, “now is the time to get in and build the business and have it take shape as the market improves, and to not wait until business is strong as you will have a hard time getting access to the right quality assets.” Ian took heed of Clay’s wise comment and said "When your best friend is Clay Mauritson and he offers Rockpile fruit and to assist with winemaking…... you make Zinfandel.”
In Los Angeles, Ian operates a specialty wine marketing organization known as wineLA and has pioneered wine education for the past 20 years (since 1995) through www.learnaboutwine.com and www.wineLA.com. Beekeeper Cellars is also involved in Ian’s Masters of Wine Thesis project and provides him the winemaking training he requires to help pass the difficult Masters of Wine exam...an ongoing pursuit.
OUR MISSION
Beekeeper started with a simple vow: "craft beautiful vineyard expressions from premier vineyard sites, and reintroduce the quality wine audience to Zinfandel.” Today, we continue towards this goal. Our wines are crafted with all the attention to detail of an ultra premium Cabernet; premier vineyards, low yields, careful hand selection of fruit, artisan winemaking, quality focused, not quantity and the expensive use of time in quality French Oak barrels. Because of this meticulous approach and our mission, our wines are built to age. In fact, they require age. We strive to assure our audience that our Zinfandel is a worthy investment and that patience will be rewarded with additional cellarage. Ian, Clay, and day to day winemaker Emma Kudritzki Hall cannot be more excited about sharing their wines for years to come.
WHY BEEKEEPER CELLARS
In the 1800s, you needed to have a noble profession to enter into America, my Great Grandparents were entertainers “pre” Vaudeville - and that was NOT considered a noble profession…. quite the opposite…. I think they were actually trying to keep “us” types out of America! Our family was modest and lived off the land and were at one point Beekeepers, hunters, farmers… and singing and dancing was part of that life…. so they took some liberties and said “we are Beekeepers” and that was and still is "a noble profession." The family “bi-line” was established… “we come from a long line of Beekeepers.”
My Uncle, by whom I’m named after, used the radio handle "Beekeeper” during his time as a Naval officer. Thus continuing the family expression “we come from a long line of Beekeepers” … and now, I’m a Beekeeper too.
We also support local Bee oriented Charities - such as Honey Love and know the secrets of the beehive are still coming forward… and that the future of all our lives is predicated on the survival of the Honey Bee. Love live BEEKEEPER and may we continued to be blessed by Mother Nature herself.
My Uncle, by whom I’m named after, used the radio handle "Beekeeper” during his time as a Naval officer. Thus continuing the family expression “we come from a long line of Beekeepers” … and now, I’m a Beekeeper too.
We also support local Bee oriented Charities - such as Honey Love and know the secrets of the beehive are still coming forward… and that the future of all our lives is predicated on the survival of the Honey Bee. Love live BEEKEEPER and may we continued to be blessed by Mother Nature herself.
OUR LABEL
To increase the features and benefits of our wine package, we decided to move away from the traditional format of paper labels. Instead, we went with a revolutionary new printing process and a high-end finishing touch of real bee's wax. We aim to create a rich three-dimensional and eye catching package that is memorable, functional and creates the brand signature. Our cork is one of the best on the market. The cork detailing features our signature honeycomb pattern and is sealed and topped with real bee’s wax. This new approach also helps with functionality– allowing our package to be placed in wire racks with little to no label damage.
Each vineyard has a distinctive color theme for ease of identification in your cellar! Our 2015 Rockpile Zinfandel is characterized with copper accents and natural gold wax finish. The Monticello Vineyard Zinfandel is blue in tone on the label and has a soft blue wax finish. Our 2015 reserve features a platinum silver signature on the label and has a beautiful silver wax finish.
Details on the back label informs the consumer where the wine came from, who the winemakers are, technical information and the grapes selected. The information also improves our communication with our friends and customers.
Award winning designer - Peter Greco’s first wine label (original concept in pencil)
CAD Computer designed/Engineered by Greg Barnett
State of the art printing services by Savannah Bergin
Each vineyard has a distinctive color theme for ease of identification in your cellar! Our 2015 Rockpile Zinfandel is characterized with copper accents and natural gold wax finish. The Monticello Vineyard Zinfandel is blue in tone on the label and has a soft blue wax finish. Our 2015 reserve features a platinum silver signature on the label and has a beautiful silver wax finish.
Details on the back label informs the consumer where the wine came from, who the winemakers are, technical information and the grapes selected. The information also improves our communication with our friends and customers.
Award winning designer - Peter Greco’s first wine label (original concept in pencil)
CAD Computer designed/Engineered by Greg Barnett
State of the art printing services by Savannah Bergin