1 Harvest Changed Everything: Freestone Winemaker Justin Ennis's Sonoma Coast Story Pt. 1

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Tonight's Episode

Justin Ennis, senior director of winemaking for Joseph Phelps Vineyards and the steward of its Freestone brand along the Sonoma Coast, where he's spent the last twenty years shaping the wines. Justin grew up surrounded by wine without ever planning to make a career of it — his grandfather kept a full table, and his mother's family in Healdsburg tended an old field-planted vineyard in the heart of the Russian River Valley. It wasn't until his stepfather, who worked facilities at what's now Hartford Family Winery, nudged him toward a harvest internship that everything changed. Justin signed on as cellar help for his first vintage in 1995 under winemaker Dan Goldfield, expecting little more than hard, unglamorous labor: power washing, barrel cleaning, and punch-downs. What he found instead reshaped his entire worldview. That first harvest, he worked alongside cellar hands from Portugal, France, and Australia, brought to the United States through agricultural exchange visa programs like CAEP. For a young guy from what he calls an "insular" Sonoma County, the camaraderie and global perspective of harvest work opened a door he hadn't known existed — one that would eventually take him as far as New Zealand using that same visa program. Justin reflects on falling into winemaking purely by chance, simply applying for a job that needed warm bodies, and discovering a calling he never set out to find.

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Key Takeaways

Justin Ennis is the senior director of winemaking for Joseph Phelps Vineyards and steward of its Freestone brand on the Sonoma Coast, where he has worked for twenty years.
Ennis began his winemaking career in 1995 as cellar help during his first harvest under winemaker Dan Goldfield, performing tasks like power washing, barrel cleaning, and punch-downs.
His first harvest exposed him to international perspectives through working alongside cellar hands from Portugal, France, and Australia who came through agricultural exchange visa programs like CAEP.
Ennis later used the same visa program to work in New Zealand, expanding his winemaking experience globally.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Justin Ennis's current role?

He is the senior director of winemaking for Joseph Phelps Vineyards and steward of its Freestone brand along the Sonoma Coast.

How did Justin Ennis get into winemaking?

His stepfather, who worked facilities at what is now Hartford Family Winery, nudged him toward a harvest internship, which led to his first vintage in 1995.

Who was Justin Ennis's first winemaking mentor?

Dan Goldfield, the winemaker under whom he worked as cellar help during his first harvest in 1995.

What visa program brought international workers to Justin's first harvest?

Agricultural exchange visa programs like CAEP brought cellar hands from Portugal, France, and Australia to work during harvest.