Lane Tanner
Lane Tanner | |
|---|---|
| Born | Kelseyville, California, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Winemaker, consultant |
| Years active | 1981–2010, 2012–present |
| Known for | Second woman winemaker in Santa Barbara County; founder of Lane Tanner Winery; "Pinot Czarina" |
Lane Tanner is an American winemaker and consultant who began her career in 1981, becoming the second woman to hold a winemaking position in Santa Barbara County.[1] Renowned as the "Pinot Czarina," she has garnered significant recognition within the wine sector.[2]
Personal life and education
Raised in Kelseyville, California, Tanner completed her studies at San Jose State University, earning a degree in chemistry in 1976.[3] After a brief period working in the air pollution field, including spending a winter in Glendive, Montana, she returned to Kelseyville to embark on a career in winemaking.[4] Tanner was formerly married to the proprietor of The Hitching Post and is presently married to fellow winemaker Ariki Hill.[2][5]
Career
Tanner's entry into the wine industry commenced in 1980 at Konocti Winery located in Kelseyville, where she started in the bottling department before transitioning to a laboratory technician role, leveraging her chemistry expertise.[2][3][4] Working alongside Andre Tchelistcheff, she received his endorsement for a winemaking role at Firestone Winery, which she joined in 1981.[5] During her tenure at Firestone, Tanner honed her wine tasting abilities and initiated a consulting business in 1984; her initial client crafted wines for The Hitching Post.[3] She was among the pioneers to utilize Pinot grapes sourced from Bien Nacido Vineyard.[5] Tanner stepped away from the wine industry in late 2010,[1] but resumed winemaking duties in 2012 at Sierra Madre Vineyard, where she oversees production of Pinot noir, Chardonnay, and Pinot blanc.[4][6][4]
Lane Tanner Winery
Established in 1989, Lane Tanner Winery holds the distinction of being California's first label within the Central Coast region dedicated solely to Pinot noir. Situated in the Santa Maria Valley AVA, the winery produced approximately 1,800 cases per year, concentrating on Pinot noir and Syrah varietals. The Pinot noir grapes were sourced from three vineyards in Santa Barbara County: Julia's Vineyard, Bien Nacido Vineyard, and Melville Vineyard, while Syrah grapes originated from French Camp Vineyard located in San Luis Obispo County. Tanner prioritized crafting wines with reduced alcohol content and sulfite levels, influenced partly by her own sensitivity to sulfites. Her Pinot noir underwent fermentation with yeast for over two weeks and was subsequently matured for eleven months in barrels that were 46% French oak. The winery's final vintage was produced in 2009. The branding for Lane Tanner featured the slogan "laugh more–flirt often," which appeared on the back labels of her Pinot noir bottles.
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