Why We Make the Wines We Make
By Andy Quady According to Wines Vines Analytics, California has more than 4,700 wineries. How many specialize in low-alcohol, sweet wines like Electra? Just one … Quady! How did this happen? [...]
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THE QUADY STORY
Andrew and Laurel Quady are the founders of Quady Winery. Their path into the wine world began with an exodus from southern California to pursue their dream: a rural way of life making wine.
1975
A new life
When Andrew Quady and his wife Laurel moved to the San Joaquin Valley to pursue a rural lifestyle and an enology degree at U.C. Davis for Andy, an earlier career producing explosives transformed into a more sensitive, but still dramatic life crafting intense muscat wines. 1600 cases of Zinfandel port started the Quadys off on sweet feet in 1975.
1979
He came, he saw, he made muscat
In a small San Joaquin valley town, Andrew Quady discovered an unused patch of the rare Orange Muscat grape varietal, known in Italy as Moscato Fior d’Arancio. These grapes became the first Essensia. This marked the birth of Quady Winery's muscat expertise - where the rich flavors of rare muscat varietals are celebrated and intensified rather than blended and softened.
1983
Sacrificial grapes
What to do with unwanted sacramental black muscat? Make heavenly Elysium Black Muscat dessert wine to transport you to the state of ideal bliss.
1975
A new life
When Andrew Quady and his wife Laurel moved to the San Joaquin Valley to pursue a rural lifestyle and an enology degree at U.C. Davis for Andy, an earlier career producing explosives transformed into a more sensitive, but still dramatic life crafting intense muscat wines. 1600 cases of Zinfandel port started the Quadys off on sweet feet in 1975.
1979
He came, he saw, he made muscat
In a small San Joaquin valley town, Andrew Quady discovered an unused patch of the rare Orange Muscat grape varietal, known in Italy as Moscato Fior d’Arancio. These grapes became the first Essensia. This marked the birth of Quady Winery's muscat expertise - where the rich flavors of rare muscat varietals are celebrated and intensified rather than blended and softened.
1983
Sacrificial grapes
What to do with unwanted sacramental black muscat? Make heavenly Elysium Black Muscat dessert wine to transport you to the state of ideal bliss.
1984
A dedicated winemaker
Michael Blaylock joined Quady as winemaker to manage the sudden growth in winemaking operations inspired by Essensia Orange Muscat and Elysium Black Muscat Dessert Wines. After three decades of winemaking at Quady, he has a lot of award winning sweet wines to smile about. Michael retired in 2017 and now head winemaker Darin Peterson has taken the reins.
1988
Please pass the Starboard to the right
Port is traditionally passed around the table to the left, but Starboard we pass to the right. Port is a protected appellation, so Andrew Quady decided to name his version "Starboard", which is nautically right on a ship, opposite to port (left). Starboard resembles port in almost every way, except in geography, and in the softer, rounder, more voluptuous tannins that are a result of the unique climate found in the foothills of Amador county.
1990
You say moscato, we say Electra
We like to call them picnic wines, but fans of Electra and Red Electra Moscatos drink them anytime, and anywhere (they legally can!) These soft and tangy moscatos are a dramatic contrast to their rich, fortified muscat predecessors. The Electras are so light and fruity, they can be mistaken for the ripe run-off from the grapes, but they are very carefully vinified in the moscato d’asti style.
1999
Vermouth for modern tastes
Throw out what you know about vermouth and think again. This time think about quality wine, a culinary selection of whole dried herbs, and expert winemaking. Think about a mountain meadow after the rain, or the comforting aromas of holiday baking. Vya is aromatherapeutic. Relaxing. Enlivening. Enticing.
2005
The Quady North Winery Story
Andrew and Laurel partner with their son turned winemaker, Herb Quady, and found Quady North with a 100-acre estate vineyard in the Applegate Valley of Southern Oregon. The family plants the vineyard to Rhone varieties Syrah and Viognier, and to Cabernet Franc, found in Bordeaux and the Loire areas of France. The warmer climate of Southern Oregon is ideal for these varieties, as opposed to the cooler Willamette Valley in Northern Oregon known for its Pinot Noire.
2006
Deviation: a new twist in winemaking
A delicious deviation from traditional winemaking,Deviation is Orange Muscat dessert wine aromatized with the Mayan aphrodisiac Damiana and Rose Geranium. Damiana is wildharvested in South America, and Rose Geranium is grown at Quady Winery.
2009
Designated top U.S. producer
The International Wine and Spirits Competition, the largest wine show in the world, awarded Quady Winery its singular IWSC Trophy for the Best Overall Results in their 2009 show. Needless to say, Andrew Quady and Michael Blaylock were proud to be recognized for their achievements, shared among the entire Quady crew.
2012
A softer vermouth for subtle spirits
Vya Vermouth can do all kinds of things to enliven drinks, and now there's one more tool in the tool box with Vya Whisper Dry. Vya Whisper Dry plays wonderfully with subtle spirits like vodka, making a martini that smells beautifully but doesn't change the taste of the spirit too much. Vya Whisper Dry is also lovely all by itself in a wine glass, before dinner or with a light meal.
2016
Quady Winery expands to keep pace with demand
Quady Winery begins expansion to exceed 100,000 cases in order to keep up with demand for Moscato and Vya Vermouth.
2017
Continuing the legacy of dedicated and talented winemakers.
In 2017, Darin Peterson was seated as captain at the helm of winemaking at Quady after working for over a decade alongside previous head winemaker Michael Blaylock. Darin leads the ship as demand for our moscatos has exploded, but he and his team are eager and equipped to meet the challenge! Darin's passion for ports wines and aperitifs make him the perfect fit for the job.
2019
A new kind of angel
Quady Winery introduces a new angel to the Electra family - Electra Moscato Rosé. This variation flaunts the angel in an appropriate rosé suited pastel pink dress, surrounded by a sky of blue. The wine delivers a profile Electra fans will know and love and has a twist of strawberry and dragon fruit flavors. Paired with the delightfully crisp flavors and aromas found from rosé, Electra Moscato Rosé is sure to delight moscato drinkers everywhere with the marrying of sweet and pink.