World-Renowned Winemaker Aaron Pott Teams Up With Napa Vintner Joseph Carr on New Small Production Wine

NAPA, Calif., May 3, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Award-winning California wine producer Joseph Carr has hired one of the country's most highly lauded winemakers, Aaron Pott, to oversee winemaking for the Joseph Carr wine brand.

"I'm really excited to get my hands into a project that will delight so many people," said Aaron Pott. "At $20 a bottle, the Joseph Carr wines are accessible to everyone. I want to prove that you can still make wines of world-class quality to compete with the best of Napa and Bordeaux, but at a price everyone can enjoy." 

One of the premier winemakers in Napa Valley, Pott was recently called "the Mouth Behind Some of Napa's Best Wines" in the April 6th edition of The Wall Street Journal. Aaron Pott is at the top of his game with a career that spans 2 decades, some of the finest estate vineyards in Bordeaux and Napa, and a seemingly unending list of 90+ scores from Wine Advocate and Wine Spectator. 

"When talking about the best of the best, Aaron immediately comes to mind. He is one of the most skilled, seasoned, and smartest winemakers around, and we look forward to delivering our first wine under Aaron's stewardship this fall," said Joseph Carr.

Pott's client roster includes: Blackbird Vineyards, Seven Stones Winery, Bello Family Vineyards, Fisher Vineyards, Quixote, Krupp Brothers Estate (Stagecoach Vineyard), and St. Helena Estate. He also makes his own wine under the label Pott Wines with his wife, Claire, from their estate atop Mt. Veeder in the Napa Valley.

Pott will maintain his current projects, most of which retail at $100 per bottle or more, but is eager to collaborate with Joseph Carr, making wines for a much larger audience. Pott will immediately take over winemaking responsibilities for the complete line of Joseph Carr wines (Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Merlot, $19.99) but will also create a new, limited-production red blend under the Carr brand, set to release this fall. 

"Let's just say, it will surprise you," said Carr. "This new wine will have a unique blend of varietals from some of California's top growers. What shows up in the bottle will knock your socks off." The wine will be at a price premium to the current Joseph Carr line and is set to release this fall.

The 45-year-old Pott has worked for leading, prestigious wineries in both Napa and Bordeaux. Upon his graduation from the University of California at Davis in 1990 he joined Napa's Newton Vineyard as assistant winemaker. Upon the referral of legendary winemaker Michel Rolland, who was consulting with Newton Vineyard, Pott accepted a winemaking position at Premier Grand Cru Classe Chateau Troplong-Mondot in St. Emilion, Bordeaux. He spent six years living, working, and studying in France, earning a master's degree in viticulture at the Universite de Bourgogne in Dijon, and in 1994, joining another Grand Cru Classe Bordeaux producer, Chateau la Tour Figeac.He returned to the U.S. in 1998 to join Beringer where he made wines in Italy, France and Chile. In 2004 he joined Quintessa Estate, as Head Winemaker and General Manager. In 2007, Pott and his wife Claire started Pott Wine.

With more than 30 years in the industry, Joseph Carr is recognized as a leading American negociant, producing ultra-premium, old-world-inspired Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Chardonnay. Carr also produces an ultra-premium line under the label Josh Cellars, a tribute to his father. Both wine labels are marketed nationally by W.J. Deutsch & Sons.

Photo of Aaron Pott: www.ereleases.com/pic/AARON-POTT.jpg

About W.J. Deutsch & Sons: W.J. Deutsch & Sons, Ltd. was founded in 1981 by Chairman Bill Deutsch to market quality wines produced by prestigious families from major wine regions of the world. In 2009, it announced the expansion of the award-winning company to include a Spirits Portfolio. W.J. Deutsch brands are sold to the trade with well-planned marketing support and are offered to U.S. consumers at fair market prices. Today the company is renowned for its brand building prowess and its ability to meet the needs of the modern consumer. Bill's son Peter Deutsch is CEO; thus two generations of the Deutsch family work side by side in their continuous quest to build strong brands and relationships throughout the wine and spirit industry.

The portfolio includes award-winning wines from Australia: [ yellow tail ], [ yellow tail ] The Reserve, [ yellow tail ] Bubbles; California: Girard Winery, Windsor Sonoma, Sonoma Coast Vineyards, Kunde Family Estate, Joseph Carr, Josh Cellars, Flirt; France: Andre Lurton, Georges Duboeuf, Hob Nob Vineyards, Patch Block, Pierre Sparr, Sauvion et Fils, Vidal Fleury; Italy: Barone Fini, Lionello Marchesi, Villa Pozzi; New Zealand: The Crossings, Nine Walks; Portugal: Quinta Do Vale Meao; Spain: Mar De Frades, Cruz de Alba, Ramon Bilbao Vinos Y Vinedo, and Volteo; Chile: Llai Llai; Argentina: Ruta 22; and award-winning spirits from LANDY Cognac (France), LUKSUSOWA Vodka (Poland), The Original MOONSHINE® and Adult Beverage Company (USA), VILLA MASSA® Limoncello (Italy) and LICOR 43® (Spain). www.deutschfamily.com  

Press Contact: Melanie Young, W.J. Deutsch & Sons
[email protected] 917-478-5899

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SOURCE W.J. Deutsch & Sons, Ltd.