Each year, The Chronicle recognizes a number of West Coast winemakers who show extraordinary promise. Whether they’re pursuing their passion project on the side of a day job or building an estate from scratch – and whether they’ve been at it for two years or ten – they fundamentally share a fearless desire to set new paradigms, a bootstrapping ambition and an attention to their craft. We believe their best work is still yet to come. — Esther Mobley

Michael Savage, Savage Grace Wines

Michael Savage is a Washington outsider. Whereas the state wine industry’s reputation often falls on full-bodied, plush wines from iconic eastern Washington producers like Cayuse, Quilceda Creek and Leonetti, his Savage Grace wines are betting on subtler, more delicate expressions — and on the lesser-known Columbia Gorge area.

“I’m looking for wine that goes with food,” says Savage, “that’s packed with flavor and aroma, but deceptively light-bodied.” A musician in a former life, Savage learned winemaking at a larger winery whose process and style did not jibe with him. “I decided in the beginning that I wasn’t going to make>>>Read more on the San Francisco Chronicle