Episode 43: Gary Burk

Gary Burk is the quintessential winemaker. Farmer, businessman, winemaker, musician, dreamer-he and his family’s Costa de Oro Winery located right off the 101 Freeway in Santa Maria, Calif. have been producing award-winning Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and other varietals and blends. Keith and Mark talk to Gary about everything from his writing children’s music to the similarities between a music career and a wine career–and what makes Pinot Noir so magic!

In 1993, while visiting Santa Maria, Gary was invited to dinner with Jim Clendenen of Au Bon Climat and Dominique Lafon of Domaine des Comtes Lafon. After that evening, Gary was hooked…funny what a great glass of Meursault will do! In 1994, Burk was invited to work harvest at the Au Bon Climat/Qupe facility and was hired full time in 1995. He worked in production and marketing for ABC/Qupé until August of 2002, when he left to devote all of his time and energy to Costa de Oro. Since then, the production of Costa de Oro increased each year to the current level of 7,500 cases annually. Costa de Oro currently operates out of the Central Coast Wines Services facility in Santa Maria.

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