Brian Kosi

Expert Interview: Brian Kosi

Assistant Winemaker, Freemark Abbey

When did you first become interested in wine? (When was your first taste? How was the experience?)
During College. Growing up, there was always a bottle on the dinner table. I didn't like the taste as a kid, but in college, I started having a glass of Chardonnay with my mom. I soon graduated to Merlot and Cabernet.

What brought you into the wine business?
I didn't like the career I was in. At the time, I was really getting into wine. I learned that my grandparents had their own vineyard and winery in Slovenia. With that, I quit my job, moved to Napa and went back to school. The rest is history.

Do you have a favorite varietal or region?
The Rhone Valley. I love to make Viognier and Syrah. My first job in the wine business was at a wine shop. This is where I fell in love with Rhone wines. They are versatile and fun, and relatively inexpensive.

If you don't order wine at a restaurant or bar, which beverage do you choose?
Beer, but if I am going to have a cocktail, it will be a Woodford Manhattan in the evening or a Mojito on a warm summer day. It all depends on time to day, time of year. Just like if I was choosing a wine.

What's your least favorite drink?
I don't have one. I like all.

What is the first thing someone learning about wine should know?
Don't let other people tell you what to drink or what is good or bad. You should decide for yourself. And try different wines. Figure out what you like and don't like on your own. That way learning is fun and enjoyable.

What are some of your favorite food and wine pairings?
Sushi with sake and Japanese beer, Viognier with seared scallops on a bed of wilted leeks, sparkling with oysters, Syrah with a rack of lamb, Cabernet with a bone in rib eye. Pinot Noir with Beef Bourguignon.

Do you think any rules should be adhered to when pairing?
No. Do what you like. Maybe adjust the seasonings and have some lemon on hand. Acidity can change the way things pair with different wines.

What are some of the benefits of drinking wine?
It makes you happy! It completes a meal. It's social.

What wines should no home be without?
Doesn't matter. Make sure you have something you like to drink. I have at least one bottle of sparking in case I need to celebrate something, a couple different whites in case I feel like a white, and at least one of each of my favorite varietals in case I need one to pair with a meal.

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Expert Profile

Drawn to the winery's long history and reputation for quality, Brian Kosi joined Freemark Abbey in 2006.

He shares Director of Winemaking Ted Edwards' minimalist philosophy that a winemaker's work is to highlight the characteristics already present in a vineyard.

Though winemaking comes naturally to Kosi, it wasn't always his career focus. The Southern California native, who grew up under the sun and palm trees of Newport Beach, originally pursued a career in business. He graduated from Chapman University in 1992 with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, emphasis in Economics. He was working in the mortgage business when
his interest in wine and cooking began to grow.

"The more I read, the more fascinated I became," Kosi said. Kosi's mother reminded him that winemaking was in his blood; his grandparents had owned a vineyard and winery in Slovenia prior to World War II, and his relatives still make wine in their basements for personal use. Inspired by his family heritage, Kosi left his job and went back to school in 1999. A year later, he moved to Napa nd began interning at different wineries and fermenting grapes in his garage. In 2000, Kosi earned a Bachelor of Science in Viticulture and Winery Technology from the University of California-Davis. His career includes positions at Acacia Vineyard, Opus One, Plumpjack Winery and Beaulieu Vineyard.

When Kosi isn't tasting through the barrels at Freemark Abbey, he can be found backpacking in the Sierras. An avid outdoorsman, he enjoys trout-fishing, camping and running. He also makes Slivovitz (plum eau de vie), Calvados and Brandy at home for fun.