Michael

With more than thirty seven years’ experience in the Chalone AVA, Michael Michaud is synonymous with artisan, vineyard-centric wines from the historic Chalone appellation. His home estate, Michaud Vineyard, is the crown jewel of the Chalone AVA – its ageworthy, award-winning, limited releases define and express this unique winegrowing district.

Michaud Vineyard is a family-owned passion and partnership, established with Carol Hastings Michaud and Michael Michaud as co-proprietors. Their first vintage was 1997: the 2012 crush will mark their sixteenth Michaud label vintage. But their history in the Chalone district began many years before.

After earning a BS in Chemistry and moving on to the Enology and Viticulture department at U.C. Davis, Michael got his feet (and most of the rest of him) wet via 19 years experience in winegrowing and winemaking at Chalone Vineyard. In January of 1998, he left Chalone to pursue the further development of his own Michaud Vineyard, just down the road.

Michael has established a long track record of critically acclaimed vintages, beginning with the wines he made while winemaker at Chalone Vineyard. His own Michaud Vineyard label has continued to receive impressive scores and excellent reviews from some of the most well respected wine critics. the 2000 Chardonnay placed first in the San Francisco Vintner's Club Tasting. His first release was a 1997 estate grown Chardonnay and since then he has expanded his label to include a Pinot Noir, a Syrah, a Sangiovese, Marsanne and a Pinot Blanc. In 2015 an acre each of Barbera, Cabernet franc, Tempranillo, Grenache blanc and 2 acres of Garnacha negra (Grenache) were planted. All the Michaud releases are 100% estate grown with Michael farming the land, harvesting the grapes, and crafting the wines.

In April 2016, Michael returned to Chalone Vineyard as Consulting Winemaker, to assist Foley Family Wine Estates return Chalone Vineyard to its formerly internationally respected status.

Carol Hastings Michaud, Michael's wife and co-proprietor of Michaud Vineyard, had been selling and marketing wines since 1984. She was  a partner and Vice President of Sales & Marketing for Chambers and Chambers, a distributor of ultra premium imported and domestic wines in California and Hawaii.

Carol passed away suddenly, in her sleep on May 10, 2014. She will be eternally in our hearts, Michael and James Michaud, pere et fils.

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