Our Philosophy | Our People | Our Process

Our People

Dave Ball first made wine in 8th grade with a home winemaking kit. He was so entranced with the process that he scoured the refrigerator and made wine from every type of fruit juice he could find (you have not lived until you have tasted wine made from orange juice- it is as bad as it sounds!). In addition to making wine, Dave is a successful healthcare business attorney practicing in Greenville, SC and was a dealer of fine art photographs and prints, with a virtual gallery and online sales back in the mid to late 90’s (when the Web was still in its infancy). He is rated as one of the top healthcare lawyers in the state.

Dave’s legal training fits well with artisanal winemaking, both requiring the highest standards and meticulous attention to detail. Dave works in close collaboration with our talented wine making team and growers in California. Email, the web, unlimited cell minutes, Fed Ex and great Delta connections to San Francisco make this all possible; Thomas Friedman said it – The World Is Flat. We live on the Right Coast, but make great Left Coast wine. Dave’s personal favorite is Pinot Noir but only when it is very good. He also enjoys good Cab, Syrah, Zin, Merlot and even the occasional big white wine.

Chris Nelson is our Pinot Noir winemaker. Chris, a former Tarheel, received his undergraduate degree in Chemistry at Vanderbilt and pursued his Masters in Enology at Fresno State. He has worked with outstanding winemakers at Lynmar Winery in the Russian River Valley, Dry River Winery in Martinsboro, New Zealand and Araujo Wines in Calistoga.

Kian Tavakoli is our Cabernet Sauvignon winemaker. Kian most recently was the winemaker at Clos du Val where he ran their red wine program- including their highly acclaimed reserve bottling. Before joining Clos du Val in 1996, Kian spent four years learning Cabernet winemaking at Opus One.

Allison Ball is a graphic artist and photographer in Charleston, South Carolina. She loves sampling the food and wine available in this Mecca of New South cuisine. She helps out as and when her busy schedule permits.