Dimitri Tchelistcheff
Winemaker

We are extremely fortunate to have Dimitri Tchelistcheff, a world-class winemaker and renowned international consultant in the fields of enology and viticulture, as our winemaker here at Jarvis.

Dimitri’s winemaking career began over a half of a century ago, in the summer of 1944, when he worked as a lab assistant for his father, André Tchelistcheff, at the Beaulieu Vineyard lab. The following year, Dimitri spent his time both after school and during summer break working in his father’s own lab in St. Helena (the Napa Valley Enological Research Laboratory). It is worth noting that in 2007 André was inducted into the Vintners Hall of Fame. In 1948, Dimitri began studying Viticulture and Enology at The University of California Davis. Until his graduation from Davis in January 1953, he continued to spend his summer breaks working for his father, as a cellar man at Buena Vista Vineyards.

In the early years of his career Dimitri held winemaking positions at Schramsberg, E & J Gallo and Bodegas De Santo Tomas. In 1977 he began working as an independent consultant of viticulture and enology, consulting for such wineries as Beaulieu Vineyard, Christian Brothers, Inglenook, Franciscan, Chateau Ste. Michelle, Conn Creek, and the Ornellaia Estate in Italy.

In the summer of 1988, Dimitri began his consulting relationship with William and Leticia. For the next 4 years, Dimitri assisted in making their first experimental wines. Dimitri continued consulting during the production of the new winery’s first two vintages 1992 and 1993. Impressed with the results of their joint efforts, Dimitri agreed to become the winemaker for Jarvis starting with the 1994 vintage. He continues in that role today.

The use of 100% new oak barrels at Jarvis reflects Dimitri’s emphasis on barrel aging and barrel fermentation. Dimitri is also a firm believer in sur lie aging and the malolactic fermentation of both red and white wines. Over the years Dimitri has assembled a line of truly outstanding ultra premium wines.