Passalacqua Winery: Award Winning Wines from Select Sonoma Appellations

Growing up among the orchards and vineyards of West Santa Clara Valley, Passalacqua’s award-winning winemaker Margaret Davenport enjoyed an early introduction to wine, fine food, and winemaking.

“My parents ordered wine when we went out to dinner, which was often…We were encouraged to taste everything,” says Margaret. “And we always took visiting relatives to the Paul Masson bottling facility and tasting room in Saratoga.”

With an appreciation of wine always hovering in the background, Margaret went on to pursue her interests in the sciences with a degree in biochemistry at San Francisco State University. Various positions in chemistry and life sciences followed, until a move to Sonoma County brought her to the literal doorstep of a new career.

After a period of avoiding winery work for fear she’d be stuck at a lab bench, curiosity and a growing appreciation of wine enticed her to apply to work the 1980 harvest at Simi Winery in Healdsburg. Her interview appointment there was a memorable turning point.

“It was a hot day in August. I opened the big redwood doors that led into the cool, dark barrel cellar, and the course of my life was literally changed,” Margaret recalls. “The people in charge at the time were two extremely nice women, winemaker Zelma Long and enologist Barbara Lindblom. Not only did they give me a job, they also helped me apply to graduate school at UC Davis.”

Several years and winemaking awards later, Margaret is directing Passalacqua’s small-lot production of Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Zinfandel, Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon. Previously Winemaker for Clos du Bois in Geyserville, Margaret became renowned for the barrel-fermented Chardonnays and red Bordeaux table wines she perfected during her 16-year tenure there. Under her leadership, Clos du Bois was named “Winery of the Year” in Wine and Spirits Buying Guide more often than any other winery, and received such other industry honors as a “Best Value” rating from Wine Spectator for its 2001 Sonoma County Sauvignon Blanc and high points from both Wine Spectator and Wine Advocate for its 1997 red wines. Margaret’s many other honors include being named 1998 “Winemaker of the Year” by nationally syndicated columnist Dan Berger.

Margaret relishes the opportunity to transfer her extensive knowledge and experience from production scenarios involving millions of cases per year to the more handcrafted production at Passalacqua Winery. “Like most winemakers, I’ve always wanted more control over the wines I make. Here at Passalacqua, I’m hands-on from the vineyard to the bottle, coaxing each vineyard to express its unique qualities, whether Chardonnay or Cabernet. I can personally craft each wine according to my winemaking philosophy: Pure varietal intensity tempered with balance and finesse,” says Margaret.

And her wine tasting advice for consumers? “Simply to taste more wines and more often,” she says. “Wine is really the only beverage to pair with food, so be adventurous in wine-food matches. If something doesn’t work, recork it for another meal and try a different wine. And let Cabernet age a bit—just put away a bottle or two from each vintage and learn how wine can become more complex as it ages.”