Peter Murphy
Peter came to Napa Valley in 1974 to put his degree in Fermentation Science from UC Davis to work. After a year of helping manage a 2000 acre vineyard in Delano, California, he worked in Pope Valley, California with the vineyard development of a 4000 acre ranch converting cattle land to producing vineyards. He then moved into the winemaking side of the business with crush and cellar work at Cuvaison in Calistoga. A farmer at heart, Peter longed to get back in the dirt, so he accepted management and developmental work for Beckstoffer Vineyards in the Napa Valley before establishing his own company, Ag Tech Services, Inc. (ATS) in 1987.
Ag Tech Services specializes in developing and managing small estate vineyards. Peter works with the owners to develop and enhance the distinct characteristics of each vineyard site. To date, he has developed over 1,500 acres of vineyards and managed over 2,500 acres.
Peter’s connection to the soil instilled in him a desire to create his own wine, something that would tell the unique story of each vineyard. So, in 1995, he created Murphy Vineyards. For that first vintage, he sourced a special select lot of Cabernet Sauvignon from the Rosenquist Vineyard in the Mt. Veeder appellation of the Napa Valley and asked his friend and Napa Valley pioneer Art Finkelstien of Judd’s Hill Winery to make the wine.
Through ATS, Peter continued to develop relationships with grape growers and small vineyard owners, and sourced premium fruit for his artisan wines. Today, he continues to oversee the winery and vineyard management business. His son, assistant winemaker Kevin Murphy, directs sales and helps with vineyard operations. His son, Michael, designs and builds winery equipment while his daughter, Melissa, handles administration. Peter’s wife, Nancy, runs the office.
The Murphy family adopts a down-to-earth, European philosophy when it comes to wine. They believe in smooth, balanced wines that pair with fun, food and friends. When he’s not working or judging a wine competition, you can find Peter at wine tasting events sharing the story of each wine with new and old friends.
PROFESSIONAL RESUME OF PETER F. MURPHY
Peter Murphy is the owner and operator of Murphy Vineyards and Ag Tech Services, Inc. Murphy Vineyards is a wine company that buys grapes, makes and sells wine. Peter and Kevin Murphy manage the grape production, winemaking and marketing of the wine. Melissa Murphy manages distribution, website, and sales. Ag Tech Services, Inc. is a vineyard management and development company. Peter and Kevin Murphy develop vineyards and manage vineyards, specializing in winery – vineyard estates.
History – Peter’s interest in grapes and wine began with a general wine introduction class at the University of California at Davis in 1970. Further study of grape growing and winemaking resulted in a degree in Fermentation Science in 1973. Peter’s first full time employment began at White River Farms in Delano. There as an assistant manager Peter directed operation of the 2000 acre vineyard from pruning to picking. With the same company, Buttes Gas and Oil Co., Peter moved to the Napa Valley to help convert a 4000 acre cattle property into a vineyard. After two years of development work Peter went to work for Cuviason winery. As a cellar worker under the tutelage of winemaker Philip Togni, Peter learned all phases of winemaking. The call of growing grapes returned and Peter went back to work for Buttes Gas and Oil Co. and developed about 1800 acres of vineyard in Pope Valley from 1979 to 1984. Then, getting into the heart of Napa Valley grape growing, Peter took employment with Becksoffer Vineyards from 1984 to 1987. There he managed and developed vineyards from Carneros to Howell Mountain.
In 1987 Peter began his own company Ag Tech Services, Inc. that specializes in management and development of Premium Wine estates. Peter works with the owners to develop and enhance the distinct characteristics of each vineyard site. Peter’s connection to the soil instilled in him a desire to create his own wine, something that would tell the unique story of each vineyard. So, in 1995, he created Murphy Vineyards.
Murphy Vineyards began with a small production of Cabernet Sauvignon in 1995. Through Ag Tech Services, Peter continued to develop relationships with grape growers and small vineyard owners, and sourced premium fruit for his artisan wines. Today, he continues to oversee the winery and vineyard management business.
SUMMARY: Thirty five years experience in the wine grape industry, currently own and operate ATS --Ag Tech Services, Inc., work experience in all phases of grape and wine production, education in viticulture and enology, currently selling own wine -- Peter Murphy Vineyards, and Murphy Vineyards, Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, Sierra Foothills Syrah.
EMPLOYMENT HISTORY:
• President and CEO of ATS Ag Tech Services, Inc. 1987- PRESENT
o Currently manage 15 vineyards in Napa, Placer, Nevada , Yuba counties
o Specialize in small premium vineyard estates
o Helped develop the vineyard and winery at Bravante Vineyards
o Grow and manage for Crane Family Vineyard
o Erosion Plan and Technical Advice to Hestan Vineyards
o Developed 220 acres in Dunnigan for Kohnan, Inc.
o Deliver grapes to Mondavi, Franciscan, Merryvale, Kendall-Jackson, Judds Hill
o Helped develop Hartwell Vineayrds, Bryant Family Vineayard, Hestan Vineyards
• Vineyard Manager for Beckstoffer Vineyards (Napa Valley Vineyard Co.) 1984-1987
o Managed vineyards in Carneros, Napa, Rutherford, Angwin
o Directed hand harvest of 4,000 tons in Napa Valley...
o Managed the clearing and development of 100 acres in Angwin for Liparita Vineyards
o Prepared plan, budgets and contracts for new and producing vineyards
• Vineyard Manager at Pope Valley Vineyards (now Julianna Vineyards) 1979-1984
o Managed development of 1,000 acres of vineyard
• 1977 -- 1979 farmed and developed vineyards in the Napa Valley...
• 1976 – 1977 Cuvaison Winery cellar worker under winemaker Philip Togni
• 1974 -- 1975 with Buttes Gas and Oil Company cleared land, farmed grains, built reservoirs,
• 1973 – Assistant Manager -1800 acres vineyard - White River Farms in Delano
• 1971—1972 Foreman at Almaden Vineyards in
WINE EXPERIENCE:
• Winemaker for Murphy Vineyards see at ---- murphyvineyards.com
• Wine Judge at California State Fair 1985 to 2011
• Wine Judge at El Dorado County fair 1996 to 2011
• Wine Judge at Calaveras County 2009 - 2011
• Cellar worker from 1976 -- 1977 worked under winemaker Philip Togni at Cuvaison Winery. Experienced all phases of cellar operation
• Knowledgeable in laboratory analysis of musts and wine
• Degree in Fermentation Science from University of California - Davis
EDUCATION
• Bachelor of Science in Fermentation Science graduated from U.C.Davis in March 1973 all viticulture and enology courses
• Adult education classes at Napa College: business, pest control, welding, photography, labor management
• Wine Lab School for Laboratory Analysis.
• German Wine Academy 1980
• Weed and Herbicide Program (UC Cooperative Extension)
RELATED EXPERIENCE:
• Professional Member of American Society of Enology and Viticulture since 1975
• Member and Past President of North Coast Chapter of CAPCA
• Mediated with insurance adjuster for Rhone-Poulenc
o settlement with owners and attorneys in Zolone induced harvest costs 1988
• Speak fluent Spanish
• Toured French wineries and vineyards
• Toured German wineries and vineyards
FAMILY AND COMMUNITY EXPERIENCE:
• Committee Member Financial Oversight Committee Measure A Napa Flood Control
o Represent City of St Helena, 1998 to 2012
• Coach St Helena Youth Wrestling Club, Assistant coach St. Helena High School
• Committee Member Long Term Water Use City of St. Helena
LICENSES AND CERTIFICATES:
• General Engineering Contractor -- A License # 526380
• Class A California Driver License
• Qualified Pesticide Applicator License
• Pest Control Advisor License (all categories)