Vision and fervent passion earned Bob "Taz" Steinhauer the Tasmanian devil nickname.
From the vineyards to the scale houses, this nickname stuck as he feverishly led the development of some of California's most notable vineyards. While his legendary career spanned four decades of grape growing in the Napa Valley, it was the rustic spirit of Santa Barbara that stole his heart. Perfect soils and climate led him to this spectacular region to plant vineyards.
"Taz" Steinhauer is considered a pioneer whose unwavering dedication to unlocking the secrets of the Central Coast over the past several years has contributed directly to the rising acclaim for wines from the region. He shared his passion and his insights broadly with local growers, always pushing for higher levels of quality and an approach that allowed each vineyard to evolve to its fullest viticultural expression.
"Taz" knew there was a secret waiting to be unlocked in the Santa Rita Hills. In his search to plant the next great vineyard, serendipity caused Bob Steinhauer and Fiddlehead Proprietor Kathy Joseph to find each other - just as each was longing for an exceptional bit of dirt on which to grow Pinot Noir.
The Fiddlestix Vineyard and a unique partnership resulted from their musings, and soon, TAZ came to life.
TAZ Vineyards, like many artisan producers in Santa Barbara County, is located in a winemaker's cooperative warehouse.
Winemaker Natasha Boffman and a small team of cellar workers handcraft TAZ wines in a wing of the cooperative.
www.tazvineyards.com
