Fifth Generation French American Winemaker Joins Seven Apart Winery
+1 Fifth Generation French American Winemaker Joins Seven Apart Winery
Fifth Generation French American Winemaker Joins Seven Apart Winery
Fifth Generation French American Winemaker Joins Seven Apart Winery
Fifth Generation French American Winemaker Joins Seven Apart Winery
A relatively new winery, Seven Apart launched with its 2018 vintage which debuted in the fall of 2020. At that time, legendary winemaker Andy Erickson was leading the production of the first vintages (2018 – 2022) for the winery. As of March 2023, Morgan Maurèze took the reins from Andy and is the new head winemaker. Maurèze has worked with Erickson for 15 years refining his expertise, but his training started in his childhood.
Born in France, Maurèze’s parents both have a long lineage of winemakers.
He is a fifth-generation winemaker on his father’s side and third on his mother’s. From a young age, Maurèze knew he wanted to work in the industry and had several impactful internships at Dominus Estate before attending UC Davis, earning a degree in viticulture and oenology. He continued his formal training at the University of Bordeaux – learning new and old-world techniques while also working at Château Petrus, Château Haut-Brion and Domaine de la Romanée-Conti and others. Maurèze’s career took off in Napa Valley when he began assisting Erickson at several estates including Arietta Wines, Dalle Valle, Ovid, Screaming Eagle and Marciano Estate.
Erickson helped establish Seven Apart as the world-class winery it aims to be, and he did it with gusto. When he turned his focus to his own wine brand, Favia, we knew Morgan was an excellent steward to pass the baton to. They have similar styles of winemaking and Morgan will continue to evolve Andy’s vision while letting the harvests dictate the vintages
Seven Apart’s production facility and hospitality building is nestled on Napa’s Silverado Trail. Seven Apart has two main vineyards – its Base Camp and the label’s prized Stags Ridge Vineyard on Atlas Peak AVA, the two are seven miles apart. Maurèze is dedicated to closely monitoring the vineyards and honoring how special they are. Seven Apart’s Stags Ridge vineyard sits 1,475 feet atop Atlas Peak, an elevation that only a few of Napa’s elite vineyards reap the benefits of. This vineyard has a prolific history of producing award-winning wines. With its unique exposure and orientation, it has the optimal conditions for growing Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. The soil is mostly red volcanic clay with little moisture and the vines date back to 1999, nothing has been replanted, it produces small berries rich in color and tannins. These elements combine to make Stags Ridge a sought-after gem.
While Maurèze worked closely with Erickson on finalizing and blending the 2022 vintages, the 2023 Seven Apart Expedition, slated to be released in September 2025, will be the first release solely under his helm. For those looking to be the first to enjoy this wine, it will be available through the winery’s allocation list.
Seven Apart welcomes visitors to its state-of-the-art production facility and hospitality building that features modern touches and luxury amenities. It is located on a beautiful site tucked between the vineyards, with a 360-degree view that shows off the Mayacamas range to the west, the Vaca range on the east and Mount St. Helena facing north.
When visiting Napa, seek out a visit to Seven Apart to gain an immersive and wonderful experience that beautifully showcases all that Napa has to offer. You will leave with a sense of calm and enjoyment while hopefully gaining a new appreciation for Napa Valley cabernets and hospitality.
