Steve Pepe ('The Vigneron') and Catherine Pepe ('L'agent')

Steve Pepe ('The Vigneron') and Catherine Pepe strut their stuff at a wine dinner at Hearst Castle:

Steve Pepe, voted one of the Country's 'Top Fifty Labor Attorneys' in 2002, changed professions at the end of that year.  Splitting his time between legal consultation and running the vineyard and winery, Steve is living his lifelong dream of vineyard and winery ownership.  Steve's family has a long and colorful history of home winemaking back in New Jersey, stretching back to Prohibition.  Steve has been a Wine Judge at the L.A. County Fair for two decades, and takes an active part in many wine societies including the Chevaliers du Tastevin, California Vintage Wine Society, as well as the 'official' societies for Alsatian, Beaujolais, and Bordeaux wines.  Steve is currently finalizing a deal to publish his memoirs "To the Vineyard", a compilation of his newsletters and commentary concerning the establishment of a home vineyard, and then a commercial wine enterprise. Steve is enjoying his retirement, and works tirelessly during harvest, both picking fruit and making wine.

Catherine (Hagen) Pepe is known on the vineyard by her nickname L'agent, which suggests she has final say over how much money the 'boys' can spend on the vineyard, the winery, and wines -- leaving just enough so she can build her dream home here on the vineyard.  The house is finished, Steve and Cathy have moved in, and the vineyard is now able to provide an unmatched level of hospitality. Besides being an amazingly successful labor attorney for a large law firm, Cathy finds the time to create Best-of-Show quality doll houses (L.A County Fair) and amazingly intricate needlepoint designs.  She also loves to spend time with her two precious Grand-daughters, Jennifer and Nicole Hagen.

Wes Hagen ('Viticulturist-in-Residence') and Chanda Hagen

Wes Hagen (Winemaker/Vineyard Manager) and Chanda Hagen (Assistant Winemaker)

Wes Hagen: Vineyard Manager, Winemaker.  Wes has run the show here at Clos Pepe since 1998.  He manages the vineyard and the crew, communicates with our producers and fine-tunes viticulture to suit the stylistic needs of their winemaking.  Involving himself in every aspect of the planting, growing, harvest, crush, fermentation, aging, bottling, shipping and marketing (jncluding the photography and text in the website), Wes is passionate about his life's goal -- producing and celebrating world-class Santa Rita Hills Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.  From 1997-98, Wes researched and wrote the petition that established the Santa Rita Hills American Viticultural Area with help from Bryan Babcock, Richard Sanford and other local wine personalities.  The 'Santa Rita Hills AVA' was approved in 2001, and the name was changed a few years later to 'Sta Rita Hills AVA'.  In his quest to promote the wines of Santa Barbara County, and the Santa Rita Hills in particular, Wes created and served as Director of the Santa Barbara County Fair Wine Competition from 2002 until 2004.  As a result of his hard work promoting the region and penning the AVA Petition, Wes was awarded the Central Coast Winegrower's Association 'Grower of the Year Award' for the 2001-2002 growing seasons.  Wes writes a bi-monthly column for WineMaker Magazine called 'Backyard Vines', and has written content for the 'Burgundy-Report', WestCoastWine.Net, VineSwinger.com and other small publications.  In his free time Wes consults on establihsing small vineyards (hillside Pinot Noir only), and has judged the L.A County Fair Wine Competition for eleven years, Riverside International for five, and the Long Beach Grand Cru for seven years.

Chanda Hagen: Assistant Winemaker, Olive Tree Pruner, Animal Trainer, Shepherdess.  Chanda and Wes met in April 1999 over a bottle of Beaujolais at a college-style party in Isla Vista (UCSB).  Their first date was the Vintner's Festival the next weekend, and they have been inseparable ever since.  The marriage proposal was accepted on New Years 1999-2000, and the couple was married at Clos Pepe on September 9th, 2000.  Their Honeymoon was spent picking and crushing the grapes from the 2000 Vintage, which resulted in a Pinot Noir that Robert Parker called 'brilliant', 'complex' and 'promising'; just like their marriage! Chanda's influence as assistant winemaker runs deep.  She makes sure Wes' energies are tempered by common sense and an obsessive degree of winery sanitation and organization.  Besides Pinot Noir, Chanda's passion is horses: Hunter/Jumpers and Dressage.  Chanda is training her horse, Charlemagne (Chase for short), for Dressage competition. Chanda also takes care of our miniature sheep here at the Clos, which will be bred into a flock for eating winter weeds and fertilizing the vineyard organically and sustainably.

Cesar Corona

Cesar Corona:

Cesar Corona assumed the Vineyard Foreman position in 2008 after nearly a decade of hard work and dedication as our Assistant Foreman. Cesar has a knack for organization, tractor skills, and his perseverance is formidable. He is careful to listen and make sure the crew follows up on all the cultural practices suggested by our producers, Wes and Chanda. We are very lucky to have Cesar running the crew in the field, as it frees Wes up to complete winemaking, tours, computer work and customer service. Thanks, Cesar, for farming our wine six days a week!

Miguel and Felipe

Miguel Rodriguez and Felipe Martinez

Miguel and Felipe work with the vines, the olive trees, irrigation, and about every other aspect of farming here at Clos Pepe. Working closely under the direction of Cesar and Wes, they complete the daily work that is necessary to grow world-class pinot noir and chardonnay winegrapes. Miguel has been harvesting with us seasonally for many years, and Felipe began work with us in early 2007. Even though their work is equally perfect, their personalities couldn't be more different. Miguel is loud and funny, Felipe is serious and paternal. We try to take as much care with Miguel and Felipe as they take with our vines. We think the vines know the difference and the wine tastes better knowing Miguel and Felipe are comfortable working here.

Rob, Stacy, Jennifer and Nicole Hagen

Rob, Stacy, Jennifer and Nicole Hagen:

Our extended Vineyard Family! Rob is Wes' brother and Catherine's eldest son.  Rob, Stacy and the girls love coming up to 'Grandma Cathy's Farm' as often as they can, especially since the new house and the pool have been completed.  Both the young girls have helped with some winemaking, and Jennifer seems to have an excellent palate for fine wines when she is given small sips from her Dad's or from the Vigneron's glass.  Both Rob and Stacy work in the financial world, and have lived in exotic locales such as Singapore, San Jose and Scottsdale before settling in the cozy community of Coto de Caza in Orange County.  Rob struggles to beat Wes (from time to time) on the golf course, while Jennifer spends her time daydreaming about horses, and Nicole practices her dancing and acting skills.  Recently, Wes was spared the embarrassment of losing to Rob at La Purisima Golf Course when he was viciously attacked by a red tailed hawk. Wes intends to turn Jennifer into a winemaker here at the Clos.

Bud

Bud R.I.P. (1988-2003):

You may recognize Bud from our 2002 Clos Pepe Estate labels, where his 'mugshot' is prominently featured.  Bud was the first 'Clos Puppy' and will be missed sorely.  Highlights of his celebrated life include: saving the Long Beach house from a fire and being saved by Steve Pepe ('Vigneron')when he was drowning in our vineyard's pond.  Bud lived a dream life for a dog -- having 40 fenced acres to roam every day.  He was a loving dog that spent many good years with us after being rescued from a Riverside Animal Control kennel in 1990.  Bud's enthusiasm for love and tasty treats were, unfortunately, cut short by back and leg problems at the ripe old age of 15.  Bud was put down in Summer 2003, and buried overlooking the pond at Clos Pepe.  He was and will always be 'Le Chien Formidable!'

Indi

Indi:

Indi is an ex-racing greyhound from Arizona. In his youth he refused to run after a mechincal rabbit on the track, so he was 'retired' very early in his career and ended up here on the vineyard as a rescue. Indi loves to chase rabbits and squirrels, and on occasion even catches one! He doesn't have the heart to kill anything, so he tends to bring back perfectly healthy rabbits, drops them, they run away and the chase starts anew. Indi sleeps about 20 hours a day like most greyhounds, and is the best behaved canine I have ever seen. He is a gentle 'alpha' on the property, plays gently with Oliver and Trillian, and even welcomes his brother Tiva in a wonderfully hospitable manner when he visits from Colorado. He's lost a little speed on his top end as he nears 10 years old, but he can still let loose when he wants to, topping out around 35 mph these days. Sometimes known as Indi, sometimes known as 'Cletus the Slack-Jawed Greyhound', he's always a loving and devoted pet.

Trillian

Trillian:

Trillian is an ex-racing greyhound that came to us from the Caliente Race Track in Tijuana, Mexico in December, 2006. She won 4 out of 34 races there, which was a poor enough record for her to get booted off the track and into our hearts. She's the fastest dog on the property, still able to hit speeds in excess of 40 mph. She is a shy hound. It takes a while to get to know her and earn her trust, but she is a sweet beauty that we wouldn't give up for anything. She enjoys sleeping around 20 hours a day, punctuated by spastic and goofy play. Her favorite time of the day is when Chanda gets on her golf cart and leads the hounds around the vineyard. Her favorite line? Of course it HAS to be, "Show me the bunny." Hares beware--Trillian WILL keep you out of the vineyard. This pic is for our accountant: 'Can we write off her dog food NOW?' She's Trillian to us, but to the IRS she's 'Organic Pest Management'.

Oliver

Oliver:

Even though Oliver is a show-quality Italian Greyhound, we believe his breed should be renamed the 'shovel-nosed snuggle-hound'. Italian Greyhounds love to use their slender noses to burrow under sheets, covers (even Chanda's sweater) to warm themselves. Oliver completed his training to become Chanda's Medical Alert Dog in 2005, a registered Service Dog that goes everywhere with us. Oliver has walked the deck of the Queen Mary, eaten at restaurants including The French Laundry (Healdsburg), Cuvee (Napa), Melisse (Santa Monica) and George's (La Jolla), has been to the Aquarium of the Pacific, Big Sur, Napa, Colorado, and has helped Chanda develop a new lifestyle that would not have been possible without his amazing skills and love.

Winston

Winston R.I.P. (1991-2007):

Here is Winston's Eulogy from August, 2007:

After a 24 hour period of Winston’s health rapidly declining, Chanda and I had him put down this morning at 8:00 am.  We stayed up with him last night and rubbed him and soothed him—but he let us know that he was in pain and it was time.  We were with him during his passing and it was swift and peaceful.

His was a life any dog would covet.  Thirteen years on Chanda’s lap complete with adventures on planes, to the beach, the big city, the snow, and then the life of a retired pug gentleman on the vineyard.  He was a crazy and wild beast in his youth—trying at every moment to gnaw on power cords or eat anything he could get his flat little face around.  Given the chance he would bolt out of doors and run into streets.  The fact that he died a natural death at the age of almost 16 is a miracle of dog husbandry and the great love Chanda has always towards her pets.

As Chanda said, Winston has been the only thing she’s kept in the last 15+ years, the one constant presence.  When I first (clears throat) spent the night with Chanda, I also spent the night with Winston, and his raspy little snoring kept me up all night.  But I was smitten, and I didn’t complain.  Although Winston more than once came between Chanda and me (sometimes I want her lap for myself!), I always gave them their space—his fuzzy weight seemed to comfort and even heal her, and that relationship deserved respect (plus those little peg teeth can do more damage than you’d think!)

Winston has had some close calls:

When we first got the greyhounds Indy and Tiva, Tiva tried to play with Winston and ended up landing on Winston’s neck and doing some spinal damage.  Winston was paralyzed for a number of days, and miraculously came back at least 80%.

A few years after that, Winston broke into the cabinets and knocked over a trash can and preceded to devour two entire game hen carcasses still covered in meat—nothing was left—he ate the bones.  When we came home he was standing by the trash can, his distended pot belly nearly dragging on the ground.  He was so overstuffed that he couldn’t lie down or he’d stop breathing from the pressure….so he stood all night long and panted and whined, and that was a long, long night.

Years of having bulging eyes takes a toll.  Brushed by everything from pant legs to shoes to bushes and other dogs—one of Winston’s eyes started slipping a lens and had to be removed.  We were surprised how quickly he recovered with one eye—he was much perkier without the eye pain, and within a  week he had totally adapted to his Cyclopian nature.  To lessen the psychological impact of having an eye removed, we declared that he looked butch and distinguished—like a pirate!  So we started calling him the Pirate Pug.  He thought it was stupid.

Well, Winston…farewell little snarfle-upugus.  You were a cantankerous little bastard, a devoted snuggler, a swirling dervish of destruction and one hell of a little dog.

Rosa

Rosa:

Our Border Collie Rosa is a miracle dog.  Born with four separate congenital heart defects, the vets that checked her health as a puppy warned that she would not live past her second birthday, and would likely be dead even quicker if we didn't confine her to the house.  We are pleased to announce that Rosa's tenth birthday has come and gone, and she seems as healthy as ever.  She has a new job in 2006 that she's thrilled with: flock protection dog. She lives permanently with our flock of Southdown Babydoll Sheep, keeping them safe from coyotes and mountain lions. Her brown-eyed stare is so intelligent as to be spooky.  She still loves to play frisbee with anyone she can hurl it towards, and she seems to be happy with her new sheep family. 2008 and the miracle dog is still living large and battling coyotes!

Henley, our Foundation Ram

Southdown Babydoll (miniature) Sheep :

Pinot Noir makes me think. One night, as I was under the influence of the fermented grape, we were discussing miniature Kobe beef, and I said out loud, "Hey, I wonder if there are such things as miniature sheep..? If they were small enough they would eat the weeds but they couldn't reach the vines." The next morning we launched into some research, and Chanda was able to find Canvas Ranch, a wonderful organic farm that raises this breed of sheep. They brought the sheep to Clos Pepe in late May, and we have fallen in love with Henley (our ram), and his harem-to-be, Matilda and Althea, who were named by our Allocation List in a contest. Chanda takes care of the sheep with help from max, our Australian Kelpie (herding dog). We expect 2-4 lambs in the late Spring of 2008. The picture to the left is of Henley, one of our two foundation rams.

The sheep are already working in the vineyard as the picture below illustrates, eating weeds and leaving fertilizer behind. Sheep are yet another way we are attempting to make the viticulture here at Clos Pepe increasingly chemical-free and sustainable. Our rams are Henley and Woodward. Our ewes are Matilda, Althea, Penelope, Tawny and Pearl. Our wethers (males without bits) are Walden and Loki (who is an icelandic sheep--not a Babydoll).

Charlemagne

Charlemagne:

Charlemagne is the 'show name' for Chanda's horse, who is called 'Chase' on a daily basis.  He is a proud 12 year old Hanoverian Warmblood with a serious athlete's attitude.  This horse might be Chanda's greatest challenge beyond managing Wes.  Chase has recently changed gears from a Jumper to a Dressage horse, and he seems very pleased with the new saddle and all the fancy new footwork. His 'show name' was derived from the Corton-Charlemagne vineyards in Burgundy, which represents the only Burgundian Grand Cru vineyard that produces both Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.  We thought it appropriate when the Vigneron suggested it.

Samson

Samson R.I.P (1997-2007):

Samson came to the vineyard as yet another rescue.  He was found wandering the Staples Center parking lot after a Lakers Game, which immediately impressed Wes and Rob Hagen, dog lovers and lifelong Lakers fans.  Samson has got to be the mellowest Dalmatian ever.  The 'ultimate couch potato', Samson will not get up from his doggie bed unless he is promised food or lots of love.  Also famed for his lack of memory, Samson continues to bark furiously at our cars and trucks every time we pull up to the house, eternally surprised that his owners are inside.  Our grumpy little friend had a number of degenerative health issues and went downhill fairly quickly. He wandered into the vineyard after a walk with Steve and passed away peacefully in 2007.

Emerald

Emerald:

Emerald is a captive-bred Giant Day Gecko given to Wes as a birthday present from Chanda.  She's been with us four years now, and is as healthy as ever. You might recognize the species from the 'Geico Auto Insurance' commercials.  You might also notice that Emerald is a bit...well....HUGE! She eats fruit nectar, banana and mango puree, and crickets with zest and has been gaining weight steadily since she came to the Clos.  We plan on letting her eat as much as she pleases until she can no longer cling to the walls and bamboo in her cage.  Her species still lives in Madagascar, and she was bred here in the U.S. so the native population was not impacted.