About Us
And so forth and so on…
Mark Beringer, David Duckhorn and Matt Miller all grew up together, in St. Helena, CA. Since their first meeting in kindergarten, all three have been close friends ever since. Forays into the wine cellars of the Beringer and Duckhorn families for evening sustenance, followed by the thirst quenching respite of an ice cold Coors from the Miller pantry, Mark, David and Matt enjoyed a privileged introduction to the world of food and wine.
In 1980, the Nadalié family from Bordeaux, France, arrived in St. Helena to establish Tonnellerie Nadalié USA. Stéphane was quickly embraced by the trio, and his savvy French palate added to the growing repertoire of fine food and wine! As their passion was shaped by mid-night raids on family cellars, each of the four entered into their university years with a focus on the wine and beer industries.
In 1989, Mark and David met Harry Merlo while studying at Cal State Fresno. The final piece of the quintet was established as Harry provided the venue at his family's bucolic Dry Creek Valley vineyard, for some of the most memorable evenings of food and wine education!
In
2008, the five decided to take their years of knowledge to task, and they formed Et Cetera Wine Company. Their goal: produce wines from the great growing regions of Northern California that could be enjoyed daily. The memories of those early years of wine, beer and food discovery are alive in each bottle.
My Name: Bringer Childhood Ambition: To be a
professional musician (Rockstar) Fondest Memory: Seeing my wife walk
down the aisle Soundtrack: Rush 2112 Biggest Challenge: Every new vintage Favorite Wine: Cabernet
Sauvignon Perfect Day: Sleep in, coffee, walk
on the beach, tennis, pool, cocktails, wine, dinner, bed... First Job: Wine Stock Clerk -
Beringer Winery Indulgence: Fois Gras Last Purchase: Anniversary gift for
my wife Favorite Movie: Clerks Inspiration: My children Best Place to pop a cork: In our
back yard My Name: Giant leader (in Chinese) Childhood Ambition: Architect designing a
famous bridge Fondest Memory: Underage driving in the
vineyards Soundtrack: Led Zeppelin - Song Remains
the Same Biggest Challenge: Second languages Favorite Wine: Sauvignon Blanc Perfect Day: Coffee, run in a vineyard,
day by water (ocean, lake or river), BBQ with family and friends sharing lots
of different wines First Job: Busboy at a Napa Valley
restaurant Indulgence: Off the beaten path travel Last Purchase: Bluetooth Boombox Favorite Movie: The Good, the Bad and the
Ugly Inspiration: Anyone under 20 that's
well-mannered and ambitious Best Place to Pop a Cork: Outside My Name: 3rd generation! Childhood Ambition: Pilot Fondest Memory: My first Archery Kill Soundtrack: Biggest Challenge: Raising a Teenager Favorite Wine: Barbera Perfect Day: All day sitting in a
tree in the Mid-west First Job: Busboy Indulgence: Pedicure Last Purchase: Kindle Favorite Movie: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly Inspiration: Hugh Hefner Best Place to pop a cork: Where ever
there is some gravity My Name: "gift of
God" Childhood Ambition: Cattle Rancher Fondest Memory: Carpy Gang
Football Soundtrack: Grateful Dead
- Touch of Grey Biggest Challenge: High School
Chemistry Favorite Wine: Merlot Perfect Day: Sunrise to
Sunset on Lake Tahoe First Job: Delivering
Beer at age 12 Indulgence: Time with my
family Last Purchase: Anniversary
Gift Favorite Movie: Lonesome Dove Inspiration: A child's
laughter Best Place to pop a
cork: Under
a full moon My Name: Stéphane Nadalié Childhood Ambition: Work in the wine industry Fondest Memory: The birth of my children Soundtrack: James Blunt Biggest Challenge: Run a Marathon Favorite Wine: Yquem 1968 Perfect Day: Have a pleasant busy day First Job: Cook helper – Taylor’s (St Helena) Indulgence: Chocolate and wine Last Purchase: iPad Favorite Movie: All Clint Eastwood movies Inspiration: Comes from the inside Best Place to pop a cork: Anytime Anywhere
The
Et Cetera Quintet is shaped by Winemaker, Mark Beringer, a native of
St. Helena (Napa Valley), and a fifth generation winemaker from one of
Napa's oldest wine making families.
David Duckhorn, the Financial player, grew up in St. Helena, working with his family that transitioned from growing grape vines to producing highly acclaimed wines.
Harry Merlo, the Viticulturist, is a
third generation winegrower from Sonoma County, CA with an 800 year old
link to his ancestral home in Alessandria, Italy.
Their famed wine estate, Ca'Bella, from their Villa di Merlo property
located adjacent to Lake Sonoma, in the Dry Creek Valley, is also the
sole fruit source for the Et Cetera wines.
Matt
Miller joins in as the Distributor, leveraging three generations of
Coors distribution in CA and deep beer distributor roots across the USA.
Completing the ensemble is Stéphane
Nadalié, the Cooper, who comes from four generations of barrel builders
from Bordeaux, France.