Maria Concetto Winery, Calistoga

Maria Reznikova was already an expat in the United States when she made the bold leap to move to Garmisch-Partenkirchen at the breathtaking intersection of Switzerland, Austria, and Germany. Sipping wine in this town was heavenly. The Alps were a majestic backdrop against which she held up her glass and drank in the deep cardinal hues that only a Baden pinot noir could maintain against the brilliant whites and blues of the mountains. Maria Reznikova fell deeper in love with wine and developed an explorer’s spirit, finding herself wide-eyed and exhilarated on the streets of Italy. From Verona and Venice during Carnevale, to the lower river wine regions of Bordeaux and Burgundy, to the Mosel and Rhine, wine was her guide, seducing her through Europe. She eventually made her way back to North America, to the sweeping hills of Napa and Calistoga, CA. Her palate matured and noted the distinct variations between each region’s signature aromas and savors.