Jewish Vintners Celebration - Festival of Israeli Wine in the Napa Valley, California

Al Brounstein meritorious service award

Al Brounstein at Diamond Creek Vineyards

ANNOUNCING THE 2nd ANNUAL

Al Brounstein Meritorious Service Award

PRESENTED TO

ERNIE WEIR

Vintner, Dreamer, Community Leader

The Jewish Vintners Celebration is delighted to announce that we are bestowing the Al Brounstein Meritorious Service Award of 2008 upon Vintner/Winemaker Ernie Weir, because he continues to sow new seeds, tends the vines, teaches and leads and shares his bounty with the entire Napa Community. He continues to travel along the iconic path of generosity of spirit and loving kindness that was Al's, for a lifetime.

Ernie Weir

Ernie first visited the Napa Valley in the early 1970's and knew that he had found the place to "plant his roots". He returned to Napa and worked at Domaine Chandon while attending UC Davis, studying viticulture and enology. He earned his B.S degree in Viticulture and began making his own wine under the name Hagafen. Hagafen in Hebrew means "vine.” rnie's first Hagafen vintage was in 1979 and over the next 20 years, while Ernie continued his work at Domaine Chandon as vineyard and nursery manager, he expanded Hagafen's production from three hundred bottles in its first year to three hundred cases in its second year, to three thousand cases by the end of the 1980's.

In 1997, Ernie left Domaine Chandon to build the Hagafen Cellars winery and tasting room on the Silverado Trail. Today, Hagafen Cellars has a yearly production of 8000 cases. The wines have earned numerous awards throughout the years and were first poured at the While House in 1981.

Ernie has been an involved member of the Jewish Community of the Napa Valley and presently, serves as the President, of Congregation Beth Sholom. Though born in Los Angeles, Ernie has successfully planted his roots in Napa where he and his wife, Irit, are raising two daughters. His dedication and evolution as a successful business owner, along with his tender efforts to reveal the inner secrets of the grape, have been a gift to the Napa Valley.