#400 Six Questions with... Emilio Estevez

Emilio Estevez is an actor, film director and writer, best known for starring in The Breakfast Club, St Elmo's Fire (I think the Stakeout films he starred in are great!) and writing and directing films including Bobby and the new film The Way.  In his new film, Estevez directs his father, Martin Sheen, in a story of a man who loses his son in the French Pyrenees and decides to make the Christian pilgrimage known as The Way of St. James.  The film opens on October 13th in the Heartland Film Festival in Indianapolis.

But something that is not well known is Estevez's career making wine, starting when he decided to rip up his 1 acre backyard in Malibu to plant vines in 2005 when making 'Bobby'. 

When buying flowers from a local florist he was asked by the lady working there why he was sunburnt and exhausted.  He told her, and she asked if she could help as she was eager to learn about the wine making process from the ground up.  He said yes, and the lady, Sonja Magdevski, is now his winemaker and, in a Hollywood-esque storyline - they are now engaged.

So, eager to learn more about a man who apparently on a whim started making his own wine, I asked Emilio Estevez six questions...

Who or what got you interested in wine?
Wine is something that comes along when you least expect it and you think "hmmm, this is interesting".  It also becomes challenging.  It allows for exploration and really emphasizes tastes that are new and exciting.  It is quite enticing and nuanced and so from there you can't help but be hooked.  It wasn't necessarily one bottle or one experience, but there are plenty of those memorable moments and glasses along the way.

Aside from your own wines, what do you like to drink?
I am really enjoying various Spanish Grenache bottles right now.  My fiance, Sonja Magdevski, also the winemaker for our wines, is always bringing home some new and interesting wines that I have never heard of. 

Last night we enjoyed a lovely Traminer from Palmina winery in Santa Ynez.  The ideas of seeking power versus finesse in a wine is something we play with  depending on our mood and company.  And, of course, what we are eating.  Or not eating!  So we are always looking for new things we haven't tried, which allows you to appreciate the wines we love on a regular basis.  Our regular list includes plenty of California Central Coast wines.  That is our neighborhood that we support.

What drove you to dig up your garden and plant vines?
The desire to grow something beautiful and useful in my yard besides green grass, which I never used.  I have always wanted to plant a vineyard but never lived in an area that was viable for a vineyard.  The first chance I got I tore up the grass and started digging holes.  It is quite rewarding working with the soil, earth and sunlight to create something to share with loved ones.

What are your future plans for Casa Dumetz?
Casa Dumetz is growing steadily at a sustainable pace.  We don't want to create a wine corporation that we no longer can be hands on with.  That is the beauty of what we do.  Our wines, from grape to bottle enclosure, is an expression and extension of ourselves and our personalities.  That is what makes it special.  So we have tripled production this  year from last year which is a big jump for us with 650 cases, yet still tiny compared to so many other wineries. 

Describe yourself in three words?
Passionate, hardworking, genuine.

Name three people, real or fictional, living or dead that would be guests at your dream dinner party, and what would you be drinking?
I am not trying to evade the questions, but my dream dinner party happens on a regular basis with my fiance and close friends.   We gather weekly to break bread, eat from the garden and enjoy a nice glass.  It is always very informal, simple and welcoming to anyone who is around the join us.  That is our community.  This ideal is something I try and live as often as possible in the fleeting moments we get to relax amidst the fast paced world we live in. 




Links
Casa Dumetz Website
The Way - a movie by Emilio Estevez 

Twitter
@CasaDumetz
@EMILIOTHEWAY 
@TheWayTheMovie

Facebook
Casa Dumetz
Emilio Estevez

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