From Vine to Vision: Elan Fayard's Extraordinary Wine Odyssey
By: Ethan Wescoatt
When recalling pioneers who have defined the modern wine scene, one would be remiss to omit Elan Fayard from the conversation. What once began as a venture to establish intentional rosé in Napa has led to a repertoire of several distinct brands of premium wine united in Fayard's desire to innovate.
Elan Fayard's journey into the world of wine began early: growing up in Sonoma Valley allowed her to feel the magic of wine country firsthand. Despite being too young to drink wine, the seed of inspiration had been planted, and it continued to grow as her family moved to Eugene, Oregon—the northern wine country of Willamette Valley. She graduated from the University of Oregon with the goal of becoming a documentarian specializing in Food, Wine, and Travel. Her study abroad program in sophomore year took her to the Loire Valley in France, which led to a subsequent summer in Bordeaux, and then two years in Provence after graduation. She fell in love with southern France living, the essence of which is embodied in the style of rosé wine. At 26, she returned to Napa in search of quality rosé—an oxymoron at the time—and, seeing an absence of intentional rosé in the market, took her first step as a wine pioneer. On a shoestring budget, she began to produce rosé out of her garage. As a young female producing rosé, which Cab country considered a mere byproduct at the time, she faced a wealth of obstacles. Nevertheless, she trusted the knowledge base she gained from her time in France and believed in her wine. And, sip by sip, she made others believe, too.
Fayard has long since grown out of her role of producing the best premium rosé in Napa. Her spirit of innovation and testing the boundaries of what is possible is evident in her brand Empriente: a label that focuses on producing terroir-driven wines with the mission “One Vineyard, One Varietal, One Vision.” Empriente exemplifies one of Fayard's core beliefs that making great wine comes from a collaboration with Mother Nature. Rather than choosing a vineyard in order to craft a particular style of wine, she maintains that fantastic wines can be created by taking what’s already been provided and enhancing the unique beauty of the vineyard. This philosophy is put into practice through minimal intervention with natural processes such as stress, strain, and irrigation, focusing on a "more care, less-fruit" approach, and employing sustainable organic practices. The growers and farmers she chooses to work with prioritize quality of fruit over quantity, and they are aligned in the belief of winemaking that reveres and respects Mother Nature.
You can find Fayard's most recent innovations at the Azur Wines Tasting Lounge at the end of Clinton St. in Downtown Napa. Experience flights of premium varietals in a casual, inviting atmosphere that showcases the best that Napa has to offer. Fayard's iteration of the traditional tasting room allows for a more accessible tasting experience, where she creates a space where the community can come together, learn as much as they want, and simply enjoy good wine. Share a bottle of Azur Classic with your friends, or indulge in one of two new custom label champagnes for a touch back to her French roots; there’s no wrong way to enjoy the seamless blend of French finesse and Napa character a glass of Elan Fayard’s wine can bring.