Anthony Beckman has made Balletto Vineyards wine since 2007, starting as an enologist and earning a promotion to winemaker just two years later. His unorthodox path to winemaking gives Anthony a unique and unbridled perspective on winemaking. While Anthony has had a life-long passion for wine and food, his first career was as a daily news reporter working for prominent newspapers in Washington, D.C., and Philadelphia, followed by a stint in San Francisco working in technology.
But the realization that he needed to pursue wine as a career came quickly. He quit his day job in San Francisco and a month later worked harvest at Quivira Vineyards in Dry Creek Valley. His second harvest took him to New Zealand working for Delegats, where he gained exposure to cold-climate viticulture and learned the ins and outs of grape varieties like Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. After returning to California, Anthony worked for three years as the wine buyer for Taylor’s Market in Sacramento while putting himself through the UC Davis Viticulture and Enology program. He graduated from Davis with high honors and department-wide recognition.
Since becoming winemaker at Balletto, Anthony has applied his style and point of view to Balletto Vineyards wines. Anthony strives to make wines that are elegant, balanced and reflective of the variety. He perfectly matches the lively natural acidity with the fruit to create wines with depth, structure and finesse. When it comes to the single vineyard Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, Anthony strives to create wines that express each site so those enjoying can experience the nuances of the cool, foggy Russian River Valley estate vineyards at their essence.