Aaron Pott

About Aaron Pott

• Grew up in Eugene, Oregon, and later Davis, California; worked in the Robert Mondavi lab while studying at UC Davis.
• Started his winemaking career in 1990 as assistant winemaker to John Kongsgaard at Newton Vineyard.
• Made wine in Saint-Emilion: Chateau Troplong Mondot (1993-1995), then general manager and winemaker at Chateau La Tour Figeac (1995-1998).
• Earned a master's in viticulture from the Universite de Bourgogne in Dijon.
• Back in California, made wine for Beringer Wine Estates' international brands in Chile, Italy and France, and later at St. Clement.
• Winemaker and general manager at Quintessa in Rutherford from 2004, leaving the full-time role around 2006-2007 to consult.
• Bought a former prune orchard on Mount Veeder in 2004 and founded Pott Wine with his wife Claire in 2007; added 130+ acres in 2017.
• Named Winemaker of the Year by Food & Wine in 2012.
• Took over the neighbouring Lagier Meredith vineyard in 2022 and bottles its fruit under the Pott label.
• In 2024 joined Pestoni Family Estate as consulting winemaker and co-created the de-alcoholized wine Missing Thorn.

Aaron's own wines

• Pott Wine · since 2007

Where Aaron makes wine today

• Blackbird Vineyards · consulting winemaker
• Seven Stones Estate · consulting winemaker
• Pestoni Family Estate Winery · consulting winemaker

Wineries Aaron has made wine for

Consulting relationships change often; these are clients past and recent as reported over the years.

• Greer Wine
• Perliss Estate
• St. Helena Winery
• Martin Estate
• Hoopes Vineyard
• Fe Vineyards
• Bernard Magrez Napa Valley
• Remedium
• Covalence Wines
• Quintessa (and second label Faust)
• Fisher Vineyards
• St. Clement Vineyards
• Beringer Wine Estates (international brands)
• Newton Vineyard
• Chateau La Tour Figeac (Saint-Emilion)
• Chateau Troplong Mondot (Saint-Emilion)

Notable wines and scores

• 2018 Pott Cabernet Sauvignon Chateauneuf du Pott Incubo Vineyard: 98 pts, Lisa Perrotti-Brown / Wine Advocate (also 98 Vinous)
• 2018 Pott Space and Time: 98 pts, Antonio Galloni / Vinous (97 Wine Advocate)
• 2013 Greer Cabernet Sauvignon, Rutherford: 98+ pts, Jeb Dunnuck

Recognition

• Food & Wine Winemaker of the Year, 2012

Taste Aaron's wines in wine country

Many of these wineries are by appointment only, and some sell only to their mailing lists. Tell us which wines you would like to taste and your chauffeur will book what is possible and build the day around it. See our Napa Valley wine tours and Sonoma County wine tours, or plan a private tour.

Sources

en.wikipedia.org · winespectator.com · wineindustryadvisor.com · thewineindependent.com · napawineproject.com · vinfolio.com · shop.klwines.com