After nearly 20 years as the Director of Winemaking for Stevenot Winery in Murphys, in the famed Gold Rush Country of California, Chuck Hovey’s professional reputation for quality, consistency and excellence is as well established as one of his vineyards.

Chuck started his career at J Lohr Winery in San Jose, where he worked for six years.

Having fallen in love with the Sierra Foothills on a quick visit through the area, Chuck was thrilled when he was offered a position at Stevenot Winery as Assistant Winemaker. Five short years later in 1988 he was promoted to Director of Winemaking in charge of all production, and so began a Golden Age for Stevenot Winery.

In the last two decades, Chuck, with his pioneering spirit, created some of the most impressive and innovative wines that this region has ever seen bringing such wines as Tempranillo, Albarino and Verdelho into the mainstream market. His style is unmistakable – his passion contagious.

The release of the 2007 Chardonnay in 2008 on his own Hovey Wine label marked the realization of a life-long dream, one dedicated to producing the finest wines the Sierra has ever seen … now with the Hovey name on the bottle!

With the addition of Hovey Tempranillo, Petite Sirah/Syrah, Barbera and a soon-to-be-released Zinfandel, production and sales have doubled in less than a two-year period, even in a down economy.

Chuck is also the winemaker for Gianelli Vineyards in Jamestown, Bodega del Sur Winery in Murphys, and coming back full circle, recently was hired to be the winemaker for Oliveto Distributing who now owns Stevenot.

Chuck has been involved in the wine industry now for 33 years, has lived in Calaveras County for more than 25 years and resides in Murphys with his wife, Jan, and son, Kyle.

Chuck feels that he has the ability to not only continue his winemaking legacy, but to surpass it, and when you taste Hovey Wine, we are sure you’ll agree.