A Pennsylvanian makes his name in Napa

Pennsylvania native Paul Maroon made his name selling cardiac devices. But his passion was always wine. So, in 2000, he dived into the wine world headfirst by buying a superb vineyard on top of Howell Mountain, one of the best places in the country to grow spectacular cabernet sauvignon. And now, his CrauforD wines are generating increasing acclaim. I recently visited with Paul to talk about how his Pennsylvania roots led to owning vines in California. 

How did you get involved in wine?

While working in the medical industry, I lived in Portola Valley, CA, in Silicon Valley. I have always loved wine, and … I decided to try growing grapes on my five-acre property there. 

How did that turn into a full-fledged business?

I enjoyed it so much that in 2000 I decided to give up the endless workdays and move from Silicon Valley to Napa Valley, which is truly one of the best wine regions in the world. I purchased two vineyards, one in Pope Valley and the other on Howell Mountain. At my larger vineyard in Pope Valley we grow sauvignon blanc, cabernet sauvignon and some chardonnay. But the cabernet we decided to use in our wine comes from the steep hillsides of northeast Howell Mountain, at 1,200- to 1,300-foot elevation. The grapes were of such good quality that it was easy to find a great partner in Cory Frampton, a wine industry veteran. Cory helped line up an outstanding winemaker, Chris Corley from Monticello Vineyards.

Why did you name your wines CrauforD?

My love was producing wine, not selling it. We were already selling grapes to the three ladies who founded CrauforD, and we decided to partner with them instead of proceeding with our own Maroon label. Cory and I would get the wines in the bottles, and the CrauforD team would be responsible for sales. … Around two years ago, one of CrauforD’s founders, Marilyn Crawford Corley, retired, and Cory and I took over responsibility for CrauforD sales. So now I’m more involved in the wine industry than ever.
 

What have you learned from your experience?

Wine is art. If a person has a passion for art and the dream to live among the vines, by all means they should pursue it. It is a wonderful way of life. But it is not easy, nor profitable. It is definitely a labor of love. You have to love wine to make a great one.

SPARKLERS THAT SHINE

Forget Champagne. These California wines are worthy of your holiday toast

It’s tradition to break out the bubbly around the holidays — but you don’t need to spend hundreds of dollars on Dom Perignon. The Champagne region still produces the world’s most famous sparkling wines—and they’re even pricier with the weak dollar. Fortunately, the French don’t have any exclusive secret to making great sparkling wine. American sparkling wine has come of age and is giving the French a run for their Euro. Here are a few of my favorites:

2000 Gloria Ferrer Carneros Cuvee: This is the top-of-the-line wine for Gloria Ferrer, the California outpost of a family-run Spanish company. It’s a blend of pinot noir and chardonnay grapes from Northern California’s Carneros region, which is famous for both, and it’s aged for more than seven years on its lees to develop complex flavors. It’s priced similarly to many entry-level Champagnes, but it’s comparable in quality to the much more expensive French tete-de-cuvees. $50 at Wine & Spirits Store, Newtown. 

2004 Iron Horse Wedding Cuvee Blanc de Noirs: Cool weather is best for sparkling wine grapes, and they thrive in the foggy, chilly Green Valley of Russian River Valley where the Iron Horse vineyards are located. Blanc de Noirs means it’s a white wine made from red grapes, in this case pinot noir. Deliciously creamy and easy to drink, this wine has been served at many White House dinners. $36.99 by special order at Wine & Spirits Store, Doylestown. 

2003 Schramsberg Brut Rosé: Pink wines are hot these days — particularly pink bubblies. A major reason is the popularity of pinot noir, the primary grape in high-quality sparkling rosés. You can really taste the pinot in this wine, with sexy red-fruit flavors, complexity and a finish that just keeps going. Schramsberg was arguably the first California winery to make top-quality sparkling wine, starting in the 1960s, and continuing today. $42.99 at Wine & Spirits Store, New Hope. —JM