Chariot Wines founder and winemaker Jim Neal developed a passion for wine long before he became a chef at such revered restaurants as Spago Hollywood and Terra in Napa Valley. Ironically, it was his development of Napa Valley Verjus—a culinary ingredient wine-friendly alternative to vinegar made from unripened grapes—that inspired him to become a winemaker and found Chariot Wines.

Neal first learned the merits of verjus during a culinary seminar held by legendary chef Madeline Kamman. Recognizing there was no widely distributed commercial source for the product, Neal promptly set out to develop his own brand (see www.verjus.com).

To understand the essentials of quality grape growing the Napa Valley entrepreneur took a job under famed vineyard consultant David Abreu and worked the vineyards. He then partnered with renowned growers to select the best quality fruit and oversaw the process from the vineyard to the final product, which was launched under Fusion Foods, Inc. in 1995.

His verjus was instantly well received by reputed chefs and home cooks across the country. But more importantly, it afforded Neal the knowledge and opportunity to realize his winemaking dreams and satisfy another much-needed consumer demand: high-quality, food-friendly wines at affordable prices.

It only makes sense that Neal would choose to produce Italian varietals when he founded Chariot Wines in 1999. He not only wanted to make wines that were different from Napa Valley standbys, but also to remain true to his chef’s sensibility, which is firmly grounded in the desire to introduce customers to exciting new flavors and immediate gratification at great value. Italian varietals pair well with food, are drinkable upon release when they’re young and bright, and cost less to produce because the varietals have not yet become as trendy, and thus expensive, in the American market.

For the logo, Neal’s choice was equally fitting. It is based on a tarot card that symbolizes you are accomplishing your goals.

Chariot Wines debuted its first vintage in 2000 and quickly appeared on wines lists at revered restaurants such as Terra Restaurant in Napa Valley, Hawthrone Lane in San Francisco, Eleven Madison Park in New York City, and Spago in Las Vegas.

Today Chariot Wines continues its founding mission, producing refreshing, high-quality food-friendly wines at palatable prices.