Carmen Policy, former president of the San Francisco 49ers through the team’s Golden Age, knows about football and now he’s added a new addition to his playbook – wine making.
“In 2003, my wife Gail and I bought vineyard property in Napa and began Casa Piena,” he said. “The name means ‘full-house’ in Italian and vividly describes our family of three sons and two daughters – three of a kind and a pair.”
The Policy’s hired a vineyard manager to replant the land in 10 acres of Cabernet Sauvignon, upgraded the drainage system and recruited Thomas Brown ( RiversMarie and Schrader) as winemaker. All wines are estate grown on Napa’s valley floor and produced at the winemaking facility on Howell Mountain. There is no tasting room open to the public.
“We fell love with the Wine County in the 1980s and always knew we would return to the Bay Area,” Policy said. “Once it became apparent that I would no longer be active with the NFL, we made the move.”
Casa Piena released its 2006 recently and Policy said the sales have been swift even with the $150 price tag and the limited (240) cases available.
“It has been described as a powerful, serious wine,” he said. “Even though it is a Cabernet the climate and terroir gives it a bit of smoothness and elegance that we prefer over the more aggressive Cabs that Napa is famous for. I would even describe it as ‘feminine’ because of the good balance and softness. It could easily be paired with salmon, pork and chicken.”
The 2006 release is available, albeit in short supply, online though the Circle Club. Policy hinted he is considering releasing a few of the magnums around the holidays.
The 2009 vintage is harvested and the 2007 is bottle aging and will be released next spring.
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“Yes, there are similarities with football and the wine business and I use the same philosophy now as I did when I was with the 49ers,” Policy said. “I was hands on picking the winemaker and vineyard manager but I don’t get in their way.
“It’s all about teamwork, support, picking the right people and then letting them do their own thing. All these dynamics offer the best chance for success in any enterprise.”
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