HAPPY FRIDAY POU!
We continue our series on African American Winemakers with….
VANCE SHARP
Sharp Cellars
Sonoma County, California
Vance and Monika’s love for wine began in 1968 in Saarlouis, Germany where they met in a discotheque. Monika was born and raised in Germany, while Vance’s stint in the U.S. Air Force took him there in 1968. They were married in 1970, and Vance, a graduate of University of Maryland, spent the next 17 years in Germany as owner/operator of a multi-make import car dealership that catered to U.S. forces, tourists and diplomats as well as German Nationals. Vance is fluent in German. He also owned an insurance business. The Sharps moved to Maryland in 1988.
While vacationing in California, the Sharps fell in love with Sonoma, where they “retired” in 1997. A year later, October 18, 1998, they founded Sharp Cellars on a picturesque hilltop estate in the Mayacamas Mountains. Sharp planted Zinfandel and Petit Sirah in what is now known as the Hailey’s Creek Vineyard. A year later, they acquired 50 acres of land on the San Pablo Bay coast just south of the Carneros appellation and planted it to Pinot Noir, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris and Chardonnay.
Sharp began producing wines under his own label, Sharp Cellars with the first release being the 2001 Hailey’s Creek 
Zinfandel. Since then, Sharp has released limited bottlings of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon from the Danny Glover Vineyard (yes, the famous actor, who was, at that time, Sharp’s neighbor). In 2003, Sharp produced his first Pinot Blanc from Tyla’s Point. In 2004 Keenan’s Cove Pinot Noir was born followed by Pinot Gris from Kalyn and Kole Vineyard in 2005. By the way, each vineyard is named after the Sharp grandchildren.
Sharp’s wines were met with immediate acclaim. The Sharp Cellars 2001 Hailey’s Creek Zinfandel won the Double Gold Medal and took Best of Class honors at the prestigious Taster’s Guild Consumer Wine Judging. This was especially significant, as Vance is African-American, and the first African-American owned winery to receive such an honor. Additionally, Sharp’s wines have consistently received 90+ point ratings from prominent wine critics. In fact Sharps 2003 Pinot Blanc received a 90-point rating and was selected Editors Choice by Wine Enthusiast Magazine for June 2005. On June 6th it was served at a Presidential Dinner in The Blue Room of The White House in celebration of Black Music Month.
Sharp Cellars’ production is very limited. Concerned more with quality, each varietal rarely exceeds 300 cases.
Vance and Monika Sharp have been very involved with local charities as well. Vance was, for 9 years, on the Board of Directors of the Valley of the Moon Boys and Girls Club, on the Advisory Board of The Mentoring Alliance, he works with the Hospital Foundation, Becoming Independent, the Sonoma Museum of Art, and others. Vance is a member of the Sonoma Valley Chamber of Commerce and the Sonoma Valley Vintners and Growers Alliance. He is also a Rotary Club Past-President and the current President of the Association of African American Vintner’s.
AWARDS
2004 Pinot Noir
SF Chronicle Wine Competition 2x Gold Medal and Best in Class
93 Points Pinofile
2005 Pinot Noir
SF Chronicle Wine Competition Silver Medal
2006 Pinot Noir
SF Chronicle Wine Competition Silver Medal
2007 Pinot Noir
Affairs of the Vine “Pinot Shootout” Gold Medal
2008 Pinot Noir
SF Chronicle Wine Competition Silver Medal
Affairs of the Vine “Pinot Shootout” Bronze Medal
Florida State Fair Wine Competition Gold Medal
2009 Pinot Noir
Florida State Fair Wine Competition Double Gold
2001 Zinfandel
Taster’s Guild Double Gold Medal
2007 Zinfandel
SF Chronicle Wine Competition Bronze Medal
97 Points Sonoma Sommelier Wine Magazine
2008 Zinfandel
SF Chronicle Wine Competition Gold Medal
Florida State Fair Wine Competition Silver Medal
2003 Pinot Blanc
90 Points Wine Enthusiast and Editor’s Choice
Served at White House Dinner June 5th, 2005
(SOURCE: Sharp Cellars)
In this video, Mr. Sharp explains how he bottles his wines by hand:
For More Information, Check Out Sharp Cellars.