I guess it's official now (ESJ)

L

Larry Stein

Larry Stein
After chatting with Steve over the past year, I had a feeling this might happen. This is the opening part of the homage on Chambers' website:

We have been big fans of Steve Edmunds, one of the original "Rhone Rangers" of California, since we opened Chambers Street Wines (and before that too). This year we were informed that Steve would be retiring at the ripe age of [none of ya business!]. We're happy for him, as we know the work can get grueling when you are as dedicated to making terroir-expressive wines as he has been throughout his life.
 
In 2006, I spent crush as Steve’s intern. I lived in his house, worked in the winery with him, we traveled to the hinterlands in search of grapes for him and I did all things winemaker-like with him as mentor.
I developed a small crush on Berkeley, got to meet ‘the crew’ of folks who love wine and who show up to help and learned a lot.
The following year I started my own wine project.

Congrats and thanks to Steve.
What a ride . . .
 
Congrats, Steve! Thank you for all the joy you’ve provided us over the years (and will continue to provide for years more).

Mark Lipton
 
Thanks, for all the kind words; I feel both honored and moved. The "retirement" decision was made due to events that had nothing to do with anything I could control. I was diagnosed with prostate cancer in '20, a biopsy in '21 that called for treatment, surgery for that in '22, which was successful, but left me feeling little confidence that I'd have the stamina demanded for a harvest, so I didn't crush in '22. Then, just a year ago, Last March, Cornelia fell and broke her hip, and after surgery and a couple months in rehab, something went awry with the hardware from that surgery, and she had to have a second surgery last July. (It's only in the past few weeks that she's become reasonably mobile) At that point Didn't feel I could be unavailable to her for more than an hour or two at a time, so I made no wine in '23, either. I'll be 77 this August, and we've had next to nothing in sales the last two years, so it really makes no sense, at this point to think about doing it again. In addition, a month ago, Ron Mansfield, with whom I worked starting in 1988, my primary grower, died a month ago (He was 76, too) from Parkinson's. I think I was feeling like life was telling me something I needed to hear. I fell like I've been exceptionally lucky to have had the opportunity to find really special grapes, grown by really special people, and really special customers and fans that have made my last 40 years just about as good as they ever might have been for anyone. And it seems like some of the wines we put into bottle might be around longer than I will. Thanks to all.
 
Thanks, Steve. Always sad to see one of the good guys ride off into the sunset.

When Sandi is up and at 'em, she and I would definitely love to see you and Cornelia.
 
Sorry to hear about all the travails, Steve. Like Larry, would love to see you both again before we decamp at the end of April.

Mark Lipton
 
Mark we'd like that, too; ditto Larry! (I just had an email exchange with another colleague whose wife fell and broke HER arm last March. Seems like it's contagious!)
 
“I'll be 77 this August, . . .”
Whippersnapper.

Getting older isn’t for sissies but, man, you and yours have had your share.
Keep your guitar handy and open Rhone wine regular - ‘might work.
Thanks.
 
Steve. Thank you for the memories. Thank you for eating my food. Thank you for showing me that there was something good to be had out of California. I hope you and Cornelia have some Bone Jolly years ahead.
 
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