Joel Gott, the founder of Joel Gott Wines, is a fifth-generation California vintner, a lover of great food, an entrepreneur and an athlete. Born into a family of California vintners—his grandfather ran Inglenook Winery in the 60s, and his father founded Montevina Winery in the 70s—Joel grew up in the vineyards and learned to drive a tractor before he could legally drive a car!
Joel’s first venture in the wine business was the Palisades Market, a boutique grocery store and wine shop in Calistoga, CA that he and his brother bought in 1993. There, he learned the art of running a business, creating food and selling wine. In particular, he recognized a growing need for quality wines in the sub-$20 category. He also met his future wife and business partner, Sarah, while running the market and they bonded over a shared love of wine.
In 1996, Joel and Sarah worked together to release Joel’s first wine, a Zinfandel blended with grapes from Amador County. The wine earned stellar reviews from Robert Parker and Wine Spectator, and Joel Gott Wines was born. From there, the two developed some of Joel’s most celebrated vintages, and today, Sarah heads up the winemaking operation for Joel Gott Wines.
Food is another great passion of Joel’s. In 1999, Joel and family purchased a small restaurant in St. Helena, CA called Taylor’s Refresher, where they began dishing out American roadhouse classics with a modern twist, earning a James Beard Award in 2006. Later changing the name to Gott’s Roadside, the iconic restaurant has grown to six locations in California, plus an outpost at San Francisco International Airport, and has been recognized across the country for its California-inspired menu featuring local ingredients as well as a wine and beer list hand-picked by Joel.
In 2009, Joel established a valued partnership with Trinchero Family Estates in 2009. The relationship enables Joel and his team to focus on sourcing the best fruit to produce high-quality wines, while Trinchero Family Estates helps Joel execute his vision for sales, distribution and marketing.
Today, Joel is most proud of the team he has built at Joel Gott Wines, the quality of wines they create, and the food they serve at Gott’s Roadside. Joel and Sarah happily reside in the heart of Napa Valley with their three childre
