MEET OUR PEOPLE
Mark Chandler
Burlington Chandler Wines / Owner & Winemaker
HOW MANY YEARS HAVE YOU AND YOUR FAMILY BEEN FARMING WINEGRAPES?
I am a 7th generation Californian. My family has been farming since the late 1700s. I grew up in a grape growing family in Tulare County. My wife Jan and I planted a Cabernet Sauvignon vineyard in 1997.
ANY ADVICE FOR SOMEONE JUST STARTING OUT AS A WINEMAKER?
Just try to take it all in. Wine is infinite and is grown all over the world. Go exploring!
HOW HAS THE LODI WINE REGION CHANGED OVER THE YEARS?
When I got here in 1991, there were 46,000 acres of winegrapes and half of them were Flame Tokays – a table grape. In the ‘90s, we doubled our acreage while replacing outdated varieties with modern ones so you could say that Lodi is 75% transformed since that time. The leadership that Lodi has shown in sustainability is recognized worldwide. The number of wineries has grown from 8 to over 80. Wine tourism is now a major economic driver; wine lovers come here from the world over. Having the opportunity for families to vertically integrate and launch their own brands is what I call farmland preservation. And it will continue to evolve.
FARMING IN LODI IS…
Truly exciting! The innovative attitude of the grower community and their commitment to sustainability; the wide range of varieties we can grow well here; how the wine drinking public is becoming more aware of Lodi day by day – it’s all thrilling. I am very excited about how the next generation is stepping up into leadership roles. Looks like a great future ahead!
WHAT WOULD PEOPLE BE SURPRISED TO KNOW ABOUT YOU?
I was involved in the California Agricultural Leadership Program (as several of our growers have been) in the late 1980s. On our class trip to Washington, D.C., we had a visit with President Reagan in the Oval Office (I have a picture to prove it!). When we left the White House, even the Democrats in our group were walking 18 inches off the ground. Having a private audience with the leader of the free world is an experience you don't forget – ever.
