Young Winemaking Talent, Jacob Kauffman, Dies At 34

Award-winning Santa Cruz Mountains winemaker worked for Muccigrosso Vineyards, David Bruce Winery

The Santa Cruz Mountains Winegrowing region lost a dear friend, too soon, with the sudden passing of young winemaking talent, Jacob Kauffman, on Thursday, March 12, 2009. He was 34 years of age. Jacob is survived by his mother, Jan Kauffman of Atlanta, GA, his father, Dan Kauffman of Hayes, VA, his grandmother, Viola King of Hesston, KS, numerous aunts, uncles and cousins and his mother's cousin Clarence and wife Joyce Conrad, of San Mateo, CA, with whom Jacob was living at the time of his death.

For eight years, Jacob was the winemaker for Muccigrosso Vineyards, with whom he was partners with Michael and Lynne Muccigrosso. Under the Muccigrosso label, Jacob created consistently award-winning Santa Cruz Mountains Pinot Noir, Zinfandel (LynZin) and a Zin-Syrah blend, called Table Two. The Muccigrossos considered him their third son. Jacob was also a consulting winemaker for other local wineries. He got his start in the wine world at David Bruce Winery while in his senior year at UC Santa Cruz working as a cellar rat, then honed his palate with exposure to Old World wines as a Sommelier for Murphy's Restaurant in Atlanta. Jacob was both Cellarmaster and Assistant Winemaker at David Bruce before taking on winemaking for Muccigrosso Vineyards.

Born to Jan and Dan Kauffman on January 20, 1975 in Louisville, KY, Jacob spent his early years in Lansing, MI, then moved to Newport News, VA, where he graduated from Menchville High School. An avid surfer, he attended UC Santa Barbara from 1993 to 1995, completing his undergraduate studies at UC Santa Cruz in 1997.

Donations in his name may be made to the Kuumbwa Jazz Society of Santa Cruz (kuumbwajazz.org); The Gail E. King Memorial Scholarship fund at Goshen College, Goshen, Indiana 46526, or to the National Democratic Party.