Mike Blom
Born in Utrecht, The Netherlands, Mike and his family emigrated from Holland to California at an early age. Mike grew up in Sacramento, CA and attended the University of California at Davis where he studied Biochemistry.
Mike became interested in wine while tutoring his roommate, a Fermentation Science major, in organic chemistry. Given this new interest, Mike seized an opportunity to assist his chemistry advisor, Dr. Richard Kepner, with his research on 2-methoxy, 3-isobutyl pyrazine, the bell pepper character found in California Coastal Cabernet Sauvignon. It was through this research that he met the Mirassou family. The Mirassou family has one of California’s longest traditions of wine making, with vineyards in both Santa Clara and Monterey counties. In 1981, upon completion of his degree in Biochemistry, Mike went to work for the Mirassou family as a chemist.
Mike entertained multiple positions at Mirassou including Enologist, Cellar Master, and finally Assistant Winemaker. Looking to broaden his experience in the wine industry, Mike left Mirassou to become the Assistant Winemaker at Grgich Hills in Rutherford in 1989. There he learned how to manage fermentations under challenging conditions: heavy rains occurred just after Labor Day in his first year. Wanting to be a winemaker on his own, Mike accepted a winemaking position for Santa Ynez Winery near Santa Barbara in 1990.
Ownership changes at Santa Ynez winery opened doors for Mike to work for nearby Firestone Vineyards. Mike handled many responsibilities at Firestone and eventually became the General Manager of the 560 acre vineyard. He focused on implementing viticultural practices that ehance the winemaking process.
Generational changes within the Firestone family also added the task of Operations Manager for Firestone Walker Brewery during Mike’s tenure with the vineyard. Mike, along with two Firestone family members, holds patent on the “Firestone Union,” a mechanical device which keeps the unique barrel-fermented beer acting as a single fermenter.
Family demands brought Mike and his family back to the north coast. Mike became the Winemaker and General Manger for Peju Province, a well respected Cabernet Sauvignon producer in Rutherford, and helped design the winery and vineyard expansion.
In 2000 Mike took on a new career challenge: transform a Napa winery with roots that date back to the Napa Valley Cooperative in 1885. As General Manager of Edgewood Estate in St. Helena (owned by Golden State Vintners) Mike was pivotal in modernizing the facility to serve a dual purpose: provide overflow capacity to Beringer, Beaulieu vineyard, Whitehall Lane, Clos du Bois, Sterling and many others, while ensuring that Edgewood Estate continued to prosper as the super premium wine brand of Golden State Vintners (GSV).
While modernizing the facility Mike met Andy Amador, a contractor and vineyard land owner on Mt. Veeder and Pope Valley. Andy asked Mike to make wine from his small Mt. Veeder property to see what kind of potential it had. The first lot produced less than a ton from the young vines. Mike brought the wine to a gathering of friends celebrating the Silver Oak release of their 2001 vintage. The Mt. Veeder wine stole the show and MadoroM Vineyards was born.
GSV was eventually taken over by a rival wine group in 2004. Mike started his own business, Napa Barrel Care, which was a former barrel storage warehouse he managed under the GSV umbrella. Mike now runs his own business and continues to make wine for the MadoroM and Five Zero Nine (509) brands.
Mike entertained multiple positions at Mirassou including Enologist, Cellar Master, and finally Assistant Winemaker. Looking to broaden his experience in the wine industry, Mike left Mirassou to become the Assistant Winemaker at Grgich Hills in Rutherford in 1989. There he learned how to manage fermentations under challenging conditions: heavy rains occurred just after Labor Day in his first year. Wanting to be a winemaker on his own, Mike accepted a winemaking position for Santa Ynez Winery near Santa Barbara in 1990.
Ownership changes at Santa Ynez winery opened doors for Mike to work for nearby Firestone Vineyards. Mike handled many responsibilities at Firestone and eventually became the General Manager of the 560 acre vineyard. He focused on implementing viticultural practices that ehance the winemaking process.
Generational changes within the Firestone family also added the task of Operations Manager for Firestone Walker Brewery during Mike’s tenure with the vineyard. Mike, along with two Firestone family members, holds patent on the “Firestone Union,” a mechanical device which keeps the unique barrel-fermented beer acting as a single fermenter.
Family demands brought Mike and his family back to the north coast. Mike became the Winemaker and General Manger for Peju Province, a well respected Cabernet Sauvignon producer in Rutherford, and helped design the winery and vineyard expansion.
In 2000 Mike took on a new career challenge: transform a Napa winery with roots that date back to the Napa Valley Cooperative in 1885. As General Manager of Edgewood Estate in St. Helena (owned by Golden State Vintners) Mike was pivotal in modernizing the facility to serve a dual purpose: provide overflow capacity to Beringer, Beaulieu vineyard, Whitehall Lane, Clos du Bois, Sterling and many others, while ensuring that Edgewood Estate continued to prosper as the super premium wine brand of Golden State Vintners (GSV).
While modernizing the facility Mike met Andy Amador, a contractor and vineyard land owner on Mt. Veeder and Pope Valley. Andy asked Mike to make wine from his small Mt. Veeder property to see what kind of potential it had. The first lot produced less than a ton from the young vines. Mike brought the wine to a gathering of friends celebrating the Silver Oak release of their 2001 vintage. The Mt. Veeder wine stole the show and MadoroM Vineyards was born.
GSV was eventually taken over by a rival wine group in 2004. Mike started his own business, Napa Barrel Care, which was a former barrel storage warehouse he managed under the GSV umbrella. Mike now runs his own business and continues to make wine for the MadoroM and Five Zero Nine (509) brands.