Chase Carhartt is a force to be reckoned with. In addition to crafting delicious wines at his family’s eponymous estate in the Santa Ynez Valley, Chase has spent the past five years working harvests in South Africa learning the ins-and-outs of winemaking from some of the best in the biz – so when the opportunity to combine forces with him arose, naturally we jumped.
Now two years in, Cargaux (pronounced Car-GO) is taking some serious ground. Each bottle is handmade by Chase in conjunction with Nathalia and Hannes Storm (of Storm Wines) in the heart of South Africa’s Western Cape.
Today, Cargaux currently makes two wines, a Pinot Noir and a Syrah. To celebrate our second release, we wanted to introduce you to Chase on a deeper, more personal level. Check out our mini interview with him here:
What is your greatest extravagance? 100% FOOD.
What is the quality you like most in a partner? Enjoyment of quality food and drink.
What word or phrase do you overuse? 100%
When and where are you happiest? Fly Fishing in Montana on foot.
If you could have one superpower, what would it be? An achievable one. To truly appreciate each day to the fullest extent and not dwell on the small issues that distract us from that mentality. I haven’t gotten there yet.
What life achievement are you the most proud of? Traveling to and experiencing as many places as I have.
What winemakers do you most admire?
Hannes Storm (South Africa) – for his winemaking perseverance for many years
Eben Sadie (South Africa) – for his vision and leadership
Adie Badenhorst (South Africa) – for his immense creativity
Nadia and Gordon Newton-Johnson (South Africa) – for their dedication to winemaking as a husband/wife team
Ernst Storm (USA) – for his ambition to branch out
Stefano Lubiana (Tasmania) – for his unbridled ingenuity
Mike and Brooke Carhartt (USA) – for their work ethic and authentic love of the game (grape growing/winemaking)
Which historical figure would you want to share a bottle with? My great great grandfather Hamilton Carhartt.
What motto do you live by? Put in the work.
Best wine you’ve ever tasted? Barrel tasting different Chardonnay parcels atDomaine Coche-Dury.
What is your spirit animal? Leopard.
How do you relax/decompress? Fly-fishing or cooking.
What do you drink when you’re not drinking wine? Beer or Gin & Tonic.
Soundtrack to your life: Empire of the Sun, Walking on a Dream.
— Chase Carhartt
The excitement of having a tangible product to show from my experiences abroad is coupled by the opportunity and privilege of being able to share that story and wine with the people who have followed my journey. For those who are familiar with South African wine, and to the many who aren’t, I am honored and extremely excited to unveil this new exploration and hope you enjoy it.
