Sonoma’s Patz & Hall winery has been known for making exquisite Pinots and Chardonnays since they founded their winery in 1988. So when behemoth Ste Michelle Wine Estates came calling with a buyout offer in 2016, majority shareholder James Hall couldn’t say no. But with a corporate takeover in 2021, Ste Michelle was looking to divest itself of its CA wineries and Hall couldn’t resist buying his shares back and jumping back into being the head of his self-titled winery again. A second kick at the wine bottle rarely happens, so the Insider thought it’d be cool to get James to do the NSI quiz. And James was happy to comply and at its end, said, “that was fun, everybody should do it.”

Cheers and enjoy.

What was last night’s dinner? Cuban pork chops with fresh made pesto, green salad and Patz & Hall’s 2021 Rosé.

What’s your favorite drink? Chardonnay. Could say white burgundy, but that gets too expensive. I drink a lot of iced tea and water as well.

What’s your favorite music? I like acoustic jazz. Still love classic rock from the 70s and 80s but if I’m just trying  to relax and read. I like artists like Wayne Shorter and Miles Davis.

What’s your favorite restaurant in Sonoma? Single Thread without a doubt. Just an incredible meal and experience, but keep in mind it costs $550 when you make the reservation and that’s before wine. For a more down to earth experience I like El Dorado Kitchen. Great place for a working lunch.

What makes a great winery? Consistency. When people buy a Patz & Hall wine they know they’re going to get a well-balanced wine between the oak and acidity.

Favorite thing about living and working in Sonoma? Oh the nature. Just amazing that you can go 20 minutes in any direction and be in incredible nature, redwood trees, ocean, vineyards, just one of the best places in the world to live.

Any brush with celebrity? I did a barrel tasting with the guy who wrote the margarita song.. Who was that? Jimmy Buffett.. Yeah, that’s it.. nice guy who liked our wines.

Any wine, restaurant or trip on your bucket list? I’d love to dine at Tour d’Argent in Paris, supposed to be one of the best restaurants in the world. And I wouldn’t mind trying Eleven Madison Park in New York, see if a vegan menu can actually pull off a 3 star Michelin restaurant experience.

Final thoughts? Oh this has been fun, just like to say how much I enjoy and proud to be part of this great wine industry. When I was a waiter it was fun to make a wine recommendation and see how much more people enjoyed their meal with the right wine pairing. And I feel the same about the wines we produce, spreading a little joy, one bottle at a time.