Michael Thomas, Winemaker, Wrath Winery, Soledad Ca.

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  Wrath is the brainchild of co-owner Michael Thomas. Born in Texas, Michael graduated from Duke University and went on to receive a Ph.D. in Classical Art and Archaeology from the University of Texas at Austin. He has excavated in Italy for the past sixteen years. Michael has taught at Southern Methodist University, the University of Michigan, Tufts University, and the University of Texas at Austin, where he holds a research position. He currently runs two excavations in Italy: a Roman site near Pompeii and an Etruscan site northeast of Florence.

  Michael’s years in Italy seeded his passion for great food and wine. He used any free time to explore the restaurants, markets, and wine shops from the back streets of Rome to the hill towns of Tuscany and came to appreciate the striking regional characteristics of Italian food and wine. These experiences shaped a critical palate, a unique perspective on wine, and a vision about the kind of wine Michael wanted to produce. Combine all of this with his years of working with soil as an archaeologist, and winemaking seemed a natural fit.

  Michael directs both the winemaking and the vineyard at Wrath.  He initiated Wrath with an aggressive vineyard rejuvenation program, replanting large sections of the estate San Saba Vineyard Vineyard with Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Syrah. To help with the task, Michael assembled a vineyard/winemaking team that includes winemaker Sabrine Rodems, consultant Byron Kosuge, and grower Steve McIntyre.