February 25, 2022 – You can tell by their wide smiles and laid back demeanor that Pamela Minnis and Joseph Quink have found the home and lifestyle they didn’t even know they wanted until they found themselves living it. They both literally light up when talking about this special 16-acre vineyard property, that they fell in love with and purchased in 2011. It happens to be right next door to the Gruner Veltliner portion of Richard Alfaro’s vineyard.
“We had been thinking about buying something much smaller in Aptos,” says Minnis. “The plan was to maybe plant a few vines and see how we liked it. But then we discovered this place and the vineyard was already planted. We didn’t know a thing about growing grapes or making wine, but we knew we could make it work!”
In 2012 the couple moved from a very typical urban existence in Willow Glen to what has become their personal paradise on a vineyard in the hills of the Pleasant Valley area of Corralitos, just past Storrs and before you get to Lester. Getting here requires a climb around a tree around which the road has been paved, and past a gorgeous old barn graced by calla lilies. The scene looks like a painting. You descend down into the bottom of the bowl, surrounded by olive trees and vines, where center stage is the big red barn, the first floor of which is the tasting and barrel and tank storage room. Minnis—a self-described “gym rat” has all her gym equipment on the second floor—because she missed going to the gym in Willow Glen. In fact, she and Quink met at a gym that no longer exists next to Dry Creek Kitchen. “We love this place and we would never go back!” she says.
The barn, which definitely qualifies as old, is magnificent, thanks to the fact that Joseph is a contractor. He added the second floor for his wife’s gym and the stairwell proved as good a place as any for bottle storage.
The couple is building their forever home on the bones of the house constructed by the former owners. Its Mediterranean tiled roof, fireplaces and verandas suit the spot well. Their dream house happens to be multi-level, but they have a secret weapon: an elevator. Meanwhile, they have been living in a lovely flat they built above their garage. They utterly love every minute they spend up there with their big Saint Bernard Gustavo, gazing down on the thriving Chardonnay and Pinot Noir vines that sprawl down the swales into the meadow.
Driving out into the vineyard, we could see abundant bud break, especially in the Chardonnay, which was having a very flamboyant coming out party ahead of this cold snap. Some of the shoots were six inches plus. The cover crop was lush and mostly grass, and begged for a flock of sheep to mow and fertilize.
Planted in 1997 by Wayne Coleman—to whom a plaque is dedicated on the property (he passed away in his early 40’s of cancer)—the 12-acre vineyard is planted to eight acres of Pinot Noir (clones 113, 114, 115, 667 and Mt. Eden) and four acres of Chardonnay (clones 95, 96 and Mt. Eden), in blocks named for family members and also for the former owners, Ted and Nancy Biagini. Nancy owned Casa Casa, the iconic home furnishing shop in Willow Glen until her passing. “It was the light of Lincoln Avenue,” says Minnis.
The estate olive grove is comprised of 100 Italian olive trees, including 50% Leccino, 25% Frantoio, 15% Maurino and 10% Pendolino. The resulting olive oil is 100% fantastic.
Oh, and the wines: they, too, are 100% fantastic. It should be noted that the couple had been making a bit of wine at Vino Tabi with some friends before it closed down. Thanks to their neighbor, Bill Kellerman, who had 25 years of experience making wine and had taken classes through UC Davis, Quink learned the ins and outs of fermentation. “I am not a book person,” he says. “I learn with my hands, by doing.” He learned well and thoroughly.
We toasted the beauty of the day, this amazing place, their good fortune in being able to steward it and their vida bella, with the lovely pink crimson 2020 sparkling rosé of Pinot Noir made by Dan Person of Carboniste. Its solid raspberry core and perfumey bouquet makes you forget all your troubles. It also reminded Pamela to be thankful once more for her blessed health after beating cervical cancer a few years back. That got us to reminiscing, which often happens when wine finds itself into your glass. We could have consumed the entire bottle, toasting all the folks we knew who had been lost to the Big C. And we’re not talking about Covid, although it happens to be the reason for this wine.
Up until the pandemic shut everything down, the entire vineyard here had been contracted to Fogarty. “Suddenly, Nate (Kandler) told us he could not buy any outside fruit, as their event business went to zero. We had no buyer, so I took fruit to Dan. We paid him in grapes and he made this for us,” says Joseph. “It worked out just fine, actually, as Pamela had been wanting a sparkling. A Brut is in the works as well. I’m not sure who was more excited by that news, her or me.”
Quink absolutely nailed the 2018 Unoaked “Volar” Chardonnay, with its soaring minerality and bracing acid. Dare I say it is downright Chablis-like in its sleek weight and clean, crisp delivery that is brisk and balanced from start to finish. Not a crumb from that lemon pie is left behind. It is fittingly named, as volar means “to fly.” All their wines have Spanish nicknames echoing joyous themes, like “to live” and “to dance.”
A 2020 oaked Chardonnay is not yet released, but we did try a 2015 “Bailar” (to dance) Chardonnay made from Mt. Eden clone, which is the owner’s favorite. It was aged 12 months in once used French oak,\ and was utterly beguiling with its cinnamon baked apple aromas and rich velvety texture. It just kept opening and developing more depth and weight with each passing moment. Quink said he tried American oak once on Chardonnay. And that was one time too many.
One look at the 2018 “Reir” Pinot Noir, with its ravishingly garnet hue and completely engaging aromas of floral perfume, cranberry, raspberry and cherry, and you will be smitten. Although its name means ”to laugh” in Spanish, its flavors are no laughing matter. Gorgeous cherry, raspberry and dark chocolate just sing as they coat your tongue with cocoa and baking spice. This is some righteous Pinot Noir.
They also have a 2019 “Alegre” Estate Pinot Noir Rose, which looks as cheerful as its name and was done in stainless steel from clone 667. Quink really has some fun making wines from the different clones to let them all express their unique personalities.
The fruit from this vineyard is the first to ripen in the area. “Nate would start picking in mid to late August, and was always done by mid-September,” says Quink. “We love how cleanly it picks. There is no dehydration.”
They credit their full time vineyard manager and all around wonderful helper, Domingo, with taking stellar care of the vineyard. Hats off also to Prudy Foxx, who helped them get on their feet when they first purchased the vineyard.
Minnis is totally excited to be pouring at the Aptos Wine Wander on Saturday, February 26. Her daughter Tari, for whom one of the vineyard blocks is named, will be assisting her. Fittingly, they will be stationed at Warmth & Company, which delights her to no end. “Tari will be pouring: I’ll be shopping!” she beams. “I’ll be working on the house,” says Joseph. A true division of labor and love.
The La Vida Bella tasting room is open the first Saturday of the month from 12—5pm. Call (831) 722-3394 or drop them an e-mail to make a reservation.
La Vida Bella Vineyard is at 1624 Chardonnay Ridge Road, Aptos.
About the author
Laura Ness is a longtime wine journalist, columnist and judge who contributes regularly to Edible Monterey Bay, Spirited, WineOh.Tv, Los Gatos Magazine and Wine Industry Network, and a variety of consumer publications. Her passion is telling stories about the intriguing characters who inhabit the fascinating world of wine and food.
