Congress Springs Wines is the personal expression of winemaker Daniel Gehrs, whose vision of wine is simply this: “The holy grail of my winemaking is the taste of the grape on the day of harvest.” Dan hastens to add: “A wine must taste good. Not just for ‘tasting’ but for ‘drinking’!” Dan firmly believes in wine as food. He remembers: “My greatest experiences with wine have always been in the company of food. So when I’m making and blending wine I’m really thinking about it in terms of complimenting and enhancing food. That rules out blatantly ‘over the top’ or ‘trophy’ wine styles that the press loves to fawn over. They can be terrible with a meal!”
Dan, as he is known to his friends, entered the California wine business in 1974 having just graduated from college He worked for Paul Masson Vineyards in Saratoga, CA for two years in public relations but really craved a career in hands-on winemaking and grape growing. His chance came in 1976 when Dan, his wife Robin and Victor Erickson founded Congress Springs Vineyards on Erickson’s property in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Congress Springs grew and prospered and in 1980 Dan’s Congress Spring’s 1978 Pinot Noir was awarded Wine Spectator’s “Spectator Selection” honors. This was followed up with the ’85 Chardonnay which, in 1986, became the most awarded wine in California, surpassing all other varietals, according to the annual California Grapevine survey. In 1990 Dan and his family left Congress Springs and founded Daniel Gehrs Wines.
In 1993 Dan and the family left the Bay Area and moved to Santa Barbara County where Dan became the winemaker at Zaca Mesa Winery. This started a successful, five year period in which Dan electrified the region and the industry by producing Zaca Mesa’s renowned 1993 Syrah; Wine Spectator’s #6 wine in the world in 1996. Dan also produced a 1996 Roussanne while at Zaca Mesa which became the first non-Chardonnay to win “Best of Show” honors in the white wine category at the prestigious San Francisco International Wine Competition.
After the 1997 vintage Dan left Zaca Mesa to pursue his own interests, as an independent winery and also as a successful, consulting winemaker. The 1998 Bridlewood Syrah, for instance, became the most highly awarded California Syrah of 2000.
In 2006 Dan partnered with Fred, Joe and John Franzia to bring the venerable Congress Springs name and brand back to life with a focus on the historic Lodi appellation. A new label and package debuted in 2009 featuring five varietals which excel in the unique terrior of Lodi. Already the recipients of numerous awards these wines mark the return of a revitalized Congress Springs Vineyards.
Today he consults for a select clientele crafting wines of passion and finesse from varietals ranging from Burgundian to Italian together with all the major Bordeaux varieties. Life is good but the wine business is also extremely competitive and challenging. Dan likes to joke that when he goes to Las Vegas he doesn’t gamble. Why? “I don’t need to — I’m in the wine business!” Yet, with over 30 years in the business, at nearly 30 years in the business, he’s still loving it, still going strong, still optimistic. “The world would be a better place if more people drank wine!”