Sam Kaplan

From helping his father with his small vineyard in Oklahoma to being consultant and co-owner of multiple wineries across California, Sam Kaplan's 'valiant life' in Napa wine's top tier has grown to the point that now he's ready to start giving back

- JONATHAN CRISTALDI

Vida Valiente is much more than just another winery for Napa winemaker Sam Kaplan. Over the past 20 years, Kaplan has become the shepherd of a growing number of blue-chip Napa wineries, including Arkenstone, Memento Mori and Vangone. His newest project is a joint philanthropic venture with his wife Nancy, along with Memento Mori co-owner Hayes Drumwright and his wife Susana Cueva Drumwright.

Both the Kaplans and Drumwrights: are aware that part of their individual successes can be attributed to generous mentors – - people who gave them an inch, as well as the resources, to turn it into a mile. Which is why the spotlight at Vida Valiente (Spanish for 'valiant/brave life') is on charitable giving. Launched in conjunction with California's Stanford University, the Vida Valiente Foundation provides money and mentoring to new university scholars who don't have the privileges of an affluent family or support circle.

'We aim to help low-income, first-generation American college students lucky enough to be admitted to top US schools, but who typically don't have a sense of community when they arrive on campus,' explains Susana. 'Especially in the Latino culture where you're surrounded by a lot of family at home, but don't have that: support network at school or mentors who can offer guidance on what's possible.'

Vida Valiente came to be largely thanks to the triumph of Memento Mori, whose 2014 vintage was top lot at the 2016 Premiere Napa Valley wine auction (see p65). But that success and the success of other blue-chip wineries he's worked with - is down to the talents of Sam Kaplan.

EARLY INSPIRATION

Born in Boston, Massachusetts, Kaplan spent most of his childhood on a small farm at the edge of a reservation in Oklahoma, where his physician father had planted a vineyard. Every year, they made wine together in the family's garage.