Documenting Vintage for Casa Dumetz Wines

As a printmaker artist I am drawn to color, textures and patterns, especially those found in nature. That along with my enjoyment of wine led me to explore the ever-so-humble grape leaf through printing many varietals over the years. This current body of work focuses on the collaboration with winemaker and friend Sonja Magdevski of Casa Dumetz Wines in Los Alamos, California.

Sonja commissioned me to document her 2020 year of winemaking through printing leaves from the vines growing her luscious fruit. Over the months of June and early July, she brought me specimens from her vineyard visits including leaves, tendrils, vines, tiny fruit clusters, and other plant material found in the area. I got to work not only printing the samples on my printmaking press but also using spritz (spray) paint and photography to express the beauty and personality of the hardworking vines. I created 60 images from 9 vineyards and 7 varietals.  

Creating this body of work allowed me to take an intimate look at the elegant structure and tiny details of the leaves and vines that are doing their best to fulfill their potential. In a way, it also allowed me to walk alongside Sonja’s own process of creation, which added another layer of appreciation to documenting this time and place through art and nature. 

Read Sonja’s point of view about this project on her blog at The Winemaker’s Dilemma.

The selection below represents a portion of the work that I am offering as giclée prints. Click on the button to explore the whole collection.