Chasing Lions
The mighty Lion roars and is the cornerstone brand for Nine North Wine Company. Chris Nickolopoulos and Elijah Pfister became friends after spending many barbeques and drinking wine together. The two are no strangers to good food and wine as Chris grew up in a restaurant family in the Midwest, and Elijah’s uncle owned a large wine and liquor retailer in North America. Nine North is a proprietor and negotiant wine business, which means Chris and Elijah work together with many wineries and grape growers to select the best vineyards, lots, plots, and barrels for each wine they produce. Chasing Lions now offers award winning California varietals including Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Cabernet Sauvignon.
Wine and fine cuisine had always been a part of Chris Nickolopoulos’ life as he spent many years in the kitchen of the family’s restaurant. After college in 1990, Chris and a friend moved to a noisy little apartment next to the Addison “El” tracks in Chicago’s Wrigleyville, just so they could immerse themselves in Chicago’s growing culinary scene. Chris tended bar, became a wine manager at some of Chicago’s swankiest restaurants, and eventually developed relationships with winemakers and growers. In 2001 he was chosen to lead a respected international fine wine sales organization- which required him to move to San Francisco. Chris spent the next five years traversing the globe, tasting some of the finest wines and building some of the most respected wine brands in the US.
Elijah Pfister grew up climbing oak trees on his parents farm in Northern California. Where at an early age he learned to garden, hunt, and developed an affinity for the agrarian lifestyle. When his family moved to the Bay area, he looked to neighboring Sonoma and Napa to fulfill his rural yearnings and gained an appreciation for viticulture. This was enhanced when his fine wine retailer Uncle J came to visit!
Young Elijah was influenced by his family’s embrace of enterprise. One winter his mother, an accomplished home baker, decided to establish a wholesale cake business, and his brothers and sisters were asked to help in the kitchen. It was an excellent experience in starting a business from the ground up. While in his teens Elijah still dreamed of farming, but his uncle Jay guided him into pursuing an education first, before deciding on his life’s direction. While obtaining his MBA from Stanford, Elijah knew that he wanted to be involved in the wine trade, but he didn’t want to be stuck in a corporate office 3000 miles away from the action. He wanted to be in the middle of the vineyards! Since 2006 Chris has been working as the US marketing agent for three international producers. In January 2009 he founded importer Maritime Wine Trading collective with Elijah as its CEO. That summer Chris and Elijah were approached by a high end winemaker friend who had some extra Napa Valley Cabernet, and asked, could they do anything with it? Samples were sent and both were greatly impressed with the quality. Given the market at the time, it was available for pennies on the dollar -they took it all! Desiring a fruitier character in the finished wine, they also purchased several lots of Merlot and spent two weeks experimenting with blends until they hit the sweet spot with the brand Ministry of the Vinterior. The 2008 Cabernet was their first negotiant wine and a success. While the gentlemen were blending Chardonnay, Zinfandel and Pinot Noir, word quickly spread among wine making estates that there was a discreet home to be found for their glut of wine. Meanwhile hundreds of samples came their way and retailers seeking proprietary blends learned of their efforts. They began to fulfill requests, and it was an excellent business model – stellar juice was obtained for a fraction of the cost and consumers received appellation specific wines that over delivered for the price.
In early 2012 Chris was approached by close friends who owned Nine North Wine company. Established in 2001, Nine North released wines that were second labels of two high end Napa Valley estates. Chris and Elijah negotiated the opportunity to grow this business with an established brand. As a standard practice, they do not disclose their grower and winery relations. In doing so they are assured of ongoing access to what are in many instances very well-known and established vineyard sources. These wineries would otherwise not work with them out of concern for maintaining high price points for their own branded wines. Today Chris and Elijah continue to have exclusive access to top notch wineries and vineyard plots and release AVA specific wines.
Chasing Lions Sauvignon Blanc California appellation with fruit sourced from Lodi and Monterey, all stainless steel aged. On the nose this Sauvignon Blanc shows ripe apricot, quince and passion fruit with a bit of lemon zest and Kaffir lime notes. Great acidity, medium bodied and bright citrus finish. We give it three bones.
Chasing Lions Chardonnay Aged three months in American oak, this 100% Chardonnay is also sourced from Lodi and Monterey vineyard sites. Flavors of melon, citrus and tropical fruits, with crips and refreshing acidity. We give it three bones.
Chasing Lions Pinot Noir This Pinot opens with bright cherry fruit, orange peel, violets and black figs. A balanced spice with layers of oak and vanilla bean. We give it three bones.
Chasing Lions Cabernet Sauvignon Blueberries and plums with a touch of oak. The delicate vanilla finish lingers. Wine Enthusiast gave it 90 points, we give it three bones.
Some of the other offerings from Nine North Wine Company include Twenty Bench Cabernet Sauvignon a North Coast appellation wine with fruit sourced out of Napa, Sonoma and Suisun Valley. The Bomb Red Blend varies by vintage but usually is a field blend of Grenache, Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon. Its name says it all- big bold fruit, and toasty vanilla oak.
We admire the tenacity and relationships that Nine North has held dear, in order to give us, the consumer, a great value and great wines. Come on by and try some of these outstanding wines from Nine North. Cheers!
By CRBrown
