Jeff Restel - First of his name, maker of wine, founder of company

After moving to Tahoe in the late 1990’s to pursue his dream of Olympic Freestyle Skiing, Jeff inevitably landed in the perfect “work nights and play days” industry of restaurants.  This is where wine was first introduced to the Jaegarmeister-drinking-future-winemaker.  This is also where he met his martini-shirt wearing future partner, Matt.  Fast-forward through a failed ski career, thirteen years in restaurants, a narrow escape from opening a brick and mortar wine shop in New York, and, Jeff found himself as a “mature” student in the UC Davis Viticulture and Enology program.  Finally finding academic focus (maybe because he was paying the tuition bill), Jeff whizzed through school and immediately started his ascent of the wine industry.  Schramsberg, Merry Edwards, Long Meadow Ranch, Dutton Goldfield and Sugarloaf Crush, all found themselves honored with the opportunity to pass along their experiences and their winemaking acumen.  But no one could tame the desire, nor inflated ego, to launch his own brand.  No one could tame the desire to Elevate!