Michael Davies is the chief winemaker for Rex Hill in Willamette Valley, Oregon, part of the Chateau Ste. Michelle Wine Group. A small-town New Zealander, Michael Davies completed a Bachelor of Arts in Economics, Scandinavian Studies and Political Science at the University of Auckland, which led to some unusual jobs before returning to Lincoln University for a post-graduate diploma in Viticulture & Enology. Prior to joining A to Z, he served as Vineyard Manager and Assistant Winemaker for 6 years at Chehalem, as well as in Burgundy, California, the Hunter Valley of Australia and numerous regions of New Zealand.
Media Inquiries: Jaeger, Katie Katie.Jaeger@smwe.com | https://rexhill.com/
What’s the ONE THING most unique, authentic, & memorable about your brand?
REX HILL represents a brand that is like an old friend that you haven’t seen for some time. Someone who you can reconnect with instantaneously as if no time has passed: one you can be yourself with, who is ultimately familiar and who has your back, no questions asked! Though not one of the founding wineries of the Willamette Valley, REX HILL made a splash in the next generation of wineries, hence we have both history & pedigree elevating substance & style of Pinot Noir & Chardonnay. We are infinitely proud of being an ambassador for the complex and nuanced Chehalem Mountains AVA, for offering our friends a fuller, darker and richer style of Pinot Noir, and being a champion of both organic and biodynamic grape-growing while supporting our community as an extension of our immediate working family. We embrace the distinctiveness that whole-cluster fermentations & native yeast can bring to our Pinot Noirs and see the value in old vines, deep roots, and colleagues with tenure, experience and humility.
Describe how and what you’d do with your winemaking career or winery business if you were not constrained.
I would insist on every REX HILL customer buying a case of wine at every purchase, and then committing to opening just one bottle each year during the same season over 12 years. This would elucidate how wine is supposed to change & evolve, tell a different story with maturation and time and demonstrate how our experience of wine should be directly related to our environment & the social context. Life happens and wine is our constant companion.
What is the One Wine most emblematic of your brand and/or winemaking style? Tell us its story.
For me the Jacob-Hart Estate Vineyard Pinot Noir! This is a mercurial wine, presenting a slightly different face of Pinot Noir every year, subject to the season at hand and the people involved in crafting it. Never boring, it can range from being ethereal, fruity and pure to bold, savory and intense. Bright acidity and layered tannins are the true dance partners, with alcohol and fruit sweetness leaning against the wall. I share my experience at Jacob-Hart Vineyard and review the wine here.
Bonus Question: Why Winemaking?
Because it offers a smorgasbord of diverse opportunities, encouraging me to gain new skills and let go of old habits. It provides the window through which I can meet some great people and stay young!