Alex & Jeannette Golitzin

Alex Golitzin
Alex was born in France at the beginning of World War II and lived in Paris for the entire duration of the war. In 1946 his family immigrated to California, where they settled in San Francisco, close to the Napa Valley where his Uncle Andre Tchelistcheff was winemaker at Beaulieu Vineyards.

Alex received a degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of California in Berkeley. Following two years as an officer in the Army Chemical Corp, half of which were spent at Fort Lewis, Washington, he worked for Standard Oil at the Richmond, California refinery for three years. However, he and Jeannette had come to love the Northwest and moved back to Washington in 1967 when Alex joined Scott Paper Company where he worked for the next 27 years.

In 1974, with Uncle Andre’s help, Alex made his first barrel of Cabernet. Following three more vintages and three more barrels, Alex and Jeannette bonded the winery in 1978 and produced the first Quilceda Creek Cabernet in 1979. Four years later this wine received a Gold Medal and a Grand Prize at the Enological Society Festival in Seattle, the only Cabernet to achieve this honor to this day.

Alex retired from Scott Paper in 1994 and together with his son Paul, Marv Crum and son-in-law John Ware are pursing the quest for the ultimate Cabernet.

 
Jeannette Golitzin
Jeannette was brought up in San Francisco by paternal Grandparents who were from France. Everything in their household revolved around France including language, traditions, winemaking and exquisite French cooking.

Alex and Jeannette are High School sweet-hearts and married in 1963. Shortly afterwards they moved to the Northwest where they started a family. They had three wonderful children who along with their friends pitched in and helped with crushes, bottlings, etc. When Jeannette thinks about all of the winemaker dinners, tastings, and trips it makes her so thankful to have been in this exciting business. Also she insists she enjoys the benefits of drinking truly fine wines!

Jeannette could not be a more proud wife and mother. All of her dreams have come true and she has enjoyed being a part of the Washington Wine industry and watching it develop over the years. Cheers!