When The Show Must Go On

All Broadway power couple David R. Gordon and Kristin Piro knew when the COVID-19 pandemic shut down the New York theatre industry in March of 2020 was that they needed to find a new, momentary, creative outlet. Turns out, the couple remembered, perhaps over a glass of California wine country gold itself, they had a mutual passion for wine.
“I always worked at restaurants between acting jobs,” said Broadway actor and winemaker, David R. Gordon. “When the pandemic closed both of our shows, my wife Kristin and I decided to try out the wine industry.”
And what better place to — quite literally — dip one’s toes in the wine than among the community where the couple not only fell in love but were already well-known thanks to their outstanding performances with Sonoma’s Transcendence Theatre Company.
With the destination clear, Gordon took his past experiences under some of New York City’s most lauded restaurant sommeliers and quickly landed an internship at Kenwood’s prestigious Deerfield Ranch.
“I learned so, so much by working harvest and being immersed in the wine culture at Deerfield,” Gordon said. “Kristin was also soon hired on as well to work in the tasting room. Our tryout in the wine world was shaping up really well.”

A New Winery Waiting In The Wings

It was a little luck and gentle coax, however, from friends — longtime Sonoma residents, Chuck and Cathy Williamson — that changed the game for Gordon and Piro. “Chuck and Cathy had their one-acre vineyard — now our “Front Row” — made by a different winemaker for years,” Gordon said, “but two weeks prior to the 2020 harvest, he informed them he wasn’t able to make the wine for them. Thankfully though, Deerfield was able to fit them in for a custom crush and we got the grapes processed.”
Shortly after fermentation was completed on the Williamson’s wine, the couple invited Gordon and Piro over for dinner.
“After the meal, when Chuck asked us, ‘So, what are you going to do with all that wine?’ We initially said, ‘huh?’” Gordon recalled of the magical moment. “Once we realized he was giving us the yield, Chuck said, ‘David, you guys have been toying with this idea a while now. The wine is yours.”
“We were stunned, and so incredibly thankful,” Gordon went on. “And, we are loving this new way of making art.”

The Featured Ensemble

Because Gordon and Piro were able to get their hands on a large number of different organic or sustainably farmed Sonoma County varieties, the new winemakers chose to release four cuveés as their fledgling lineup.
The first, a Provence-style rosé of Syrah called “Made You Blush” offers a bright but balanced palate with a nuanced hint of acidity and notes of summer strawberry. “Front Row,” the 2020 Rhône-style blend sourced directly from the aforementioned tiny sunkissed vineyard smack dab in the middle of the Valley of the Moon, suggests a perfect symmetry between citrus and stone fruit bite and bloomy botanicals.
The first of the Intermission’s two reds is a bold, dark berried Zinfandel known as “RED.LIP.ZIN.” The hint of black currant and blueberry from the Zin are ripened up perfectly with notes of cocoa and white pepper deriving straight from the 5% “kiss” of Sonoma Cab the winemakers added for some earthiness.
The grand finale of the lineup is the robust Bordeaux-style, “Octave”. The wine’s eight-varietal blend brings the best of Sonoma Valley right into the spotlight and delivers a full-bodied, fruitforward, silky, and satisfyingly textured cuveé.
“For our ‘RED.LIP.ZIN.’ and ‘Octave’, we were able to purchase the juice in barrel from different vineyards and blend them to our taste and what we believe our audience is looking for in wines,” Gordon said. “Depth, personality, and a smooth finish.”

A Tasting and a Show

One of the greatest joys of coming to wine country is getting the chance to taste wine with the folks who make it — and, it’s hard to beat the opportunity to taste delectable wines with vintners who also happen to be Broadway celebrities.
“Our tastings are very personal and include a wine pairing with some beautiful small bites,” Gordon said. “We’ve also done tastings paired with a couple of songs — and, for our Wine Club members, we have exclusive tastings where we invite a Broadway guest with a short Q & A at the end. We also say, got an idea? Throw it at us and we will see what we can do.”
To purchase wines, read more, or set up a tasting, visit IntermissionCellars.com.
Be sure to follow the winery on Instagram
@intermissioncellars.