Winemaker Profile – Chateau St. Jean

MARGO VAN STAAVEREN

by Danae Blythe Rubenstein
Margo Van Staaveren always thought that the pharmacists and librarians of the world looked like they were having a rather decent time. Originally from San Rafael, California, Margo was leaning towards a career in anything but the wine industry. It was Margo’s time at Davis when something clicked, where studying wine “just felt right.” Margo found that she had a natural gravitation toward the sciences. Whatever the reason, Chateau St. Jean, along with wine aficionados everywhere, particularly Akron, Ohio (I’ll get to that part later) give thanks for that kismet moment in which Margot Van Staaveren, in her fifth year at Davis, decided it was a winemaker she was destined to be.
If a bad day as told by Margo is “one packed with budget and board meetings,” they must not be too awful to tolerate; Margo has been a part of the winemaking process at Chateau
St. Jean for 26 years now. Though finances and marketing are integral parts of any business, Margo values that she has the freedom to be left to what she does best; making great wine. She describes her winemaking style as classic and elegant, where fruit governs both a ten-dollar and a ninety-dollar bottle of Chateau St. Jean wine. And that is what Margo believes lifts her wine above the rest. With the finest equipment available, she has access and opportunities that is not realized by many winemakers and wineries alike. With such benefits, Margo is able to develop award-winning wines both for mass distribution, and also limited editions exclusively for her wine club. Margo is keenly aware that she has the best of both worlds, Chateau St. Jean has both a widely recognized brand name and distribution, and boutique style releases that stay close to home (and her heart).
It is the long relationship with contracted vineyards in the Russian River, Alexander and Carneros Valleys that yield that “nummy” taste Margo has so aptly named. Wine drinkers all appreciate the terroir that carries the wine in the valley but with so many options, now in so many other regions of the states, Margo believes that it is Chateau St. Jean’s dedication to sustainability and investment in the land that will continue to generate superior wine.
Chateau St. Jean produces between 350,000-400,000 cases a year and roughly half is their renowned Sonoma County Chardonnay. Acclaim for such a large production is representative of Chateau St. Jean’s authenticity. Chateau St. Jean is recognized as a household name in this valley, but it is when Margo is invited and attends an art gallery event in Akron, Ohio, where a Chateau
St. Jean wine is the toast and feature of the evening, that it truly comes full circle. It is then that the cyclical demeanor of wine making is in its truest form. Margo’s journey with her wine is complete.
Chateau St. Jean is located at 8555 Sonoma Highway in Kenwood and is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, phone (707) 833-4134 or visit them on the internet at www.chateaustjean.com.

Related Information

• Chateau St. Jean