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Mia Klein
Mia Klein is a Californian winemaker and entrepreneur, founder of Selene Wines in Napa, California.[1] Her career has spanned decades in the food and wine industry in both Northern and Southern California. Before studying enology at the University of California, Davis, Klein was a professional chef in San Francisco. Mentored by well-known Napa Valley winemakers, Cathy Corison and Tony Soter,[2] Klein has made wine for several critically acclaimed wineries including Palmaz Vineyards, Chappellet Winery, Araujo Estate Wines, Cimarossa, Spottswoode, Viader, Dalla Valle Vineyard and Robert Pepi Winery.[3] She is currently producing wine under her own-labeled, Selene, as well as producing wine for Bressler Winery and Boyanci.[4] Personal life and educationMia Klein grew up in Hermosa Beach, California.[5] When she was a senior in high school her family relocated to San Francisco. She worked at a wine shop in San Francisco.[6] Klein was a chef working in a seafood restaurant.[7] While at work, she would taste wine, which invoked her interest in wine.[2] She started studying enology at the University of California, Davis, where she worked as a lab assistant for Professor Ann Noble.[8][9] Klein graduated in 1983.[6] CareerAfter graduating from Davis, she worked at Chappellet Winery under winemaker Cathy Corison.[9] In the early 1980s she became assistant winemaker.[6] After Chappellet, she worked at Robert Pepi Winery. She met Tony Soter, while working at Robert Pepi. Soter and Klein would go start a consulting business, providing services to numerous Napa Valley wineries. Klein also worked at Dalla Valle Vineyard. She replaced winemaker Heidi Peterson Barrett at Dalla Valle.[9] Klein was the first winemaker for Bressler Winery in 1999. She is the winemaker for Boyanci and Cimarossa Vineyards (since 2009[10]), and has provided consulting services to Palmaz Vineyards, Spottswoode, Viader and cult wine label Araujo.[6][7][11] Soter left the consulting business in 1999 and Klein continues to consult.[12] Selene WinesKlein started her own wine label, Selene Wines, in 1991. The label makes Merlot, Sauvignon blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon, and a red wine blend.[9] The Merlots are macerated in tanks with skins being kept on for 21-days. The wine is aged in 70% new French Oak barrels. The Napa Valley Merlot's grapes are sourced from grapes in St. Helena and near Calistoga.[7] The Sauvignon blanc, Selene Sauvignon blanc, uses Musqué grapes from the Hyde Vineyard in the Carneros AVA.[7][9] The first vintage was in 1992.[13] The wine is not processed via malolactic fermentation. It's fermented, in 40% to 50% new French oak barrels, and half in stainless steel barrels.[7] The blend is called Chesler. The wines are made at the Laird Family Estate winery.[9] A large portion of the Merlot and Sauvignon blanc wines are distributed to restaurants.[7] References
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