Growing up in Napa Valley in a winemaking family, Heidi Barrett was destined to become one of California’s leading winemakers. Graduated from UC Davis with a B.S. Degree in Fermentation Science in 1980, Heidi has exposed herself to a wide range of winemaking experiences and started making her own wine in 1994.
In 2002, she found Amuse Bouche, commonly known as the Pomerol-inspired Merlot from Napa Valley with her longtime friend, John Schwartz. Recognizing that the cult wine phenomenon has created an almost aspirational class structure among collectors, the partners decided to make this limited-edition wine available to a much broader consumer base.
Heidi Barrett has been a wine judge at various competitions over the last 20 years, was president of Napa Valley Wine Tech, and has graced the covers of both The Wine News and The Wine Enthusiast. She has been a featured guest on several television programs, was winemaker of the year, made Parker’s list of wine personalities of the year 1994,1995 and is on Parker’s wine heroines list of 1998. Parker has dubbed her the “first lady of wine”.
LeRoy Neiman Red Blend 2019
Amuse Bouche Prêt à Boire Rosé 2022
THE ARTIST
Some of you may not be aware that the world lost George Rodrigue on December 14, 2013. He was 69 years old. George, and his wife Wendy, have been dear friends of ours since 2005 when we initially commissioned George to paint a "blue dog" for our 2006 Amuse Bouche release. A native of Louisiana, George launched his painting career in the 1960s. He was not only a magnificent artist; George was a true community leader, philanthropist and advocate of arts education, inspiring a new generation of artists through the George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts. Our hearts are heavy with George's absence. We are fortunate to be able to surround ourselves with so many vivid, vibrant reminders of his beautiful, whimsical outlook on life.