Guest blog by: Stacy Soberalski Hersly of Hersly Wines
“A first step, fueled by a passion and possibilities puts one on the path of adventure.” Words that we, Adam Hersly and Stacy Soberalski Hersly, live by!
After spending many years in NYC we made the move cross-country to pursue a lifelong dream of living and making wine in the heart of California wine country. Leaving our family, friends and everything comfortable, our Napa Valley wine journey led us from Madison Avenue in Manhattan to Main Street in Napa. It was time to stretch our arms, push ourselves, and make this venture happen. Our style of winemaking is simple, make what you enjoy and share it with friends and family accompanying good food and lots of joy. We are family owned, and make extremely limited, handcrafted wines.
We are some of the new kids on the Napa AND Sonoma wine block, making wines from both Napa County and Sonoma County. We make a Napa Cabernet Sauvignon and a Russian River Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir. So, who are we?
Adam Hersly, our winemaker, has had food and wine in his veins since he was a young boy in NY. He grew up cooking for his family, and wanted to be a chef. But he also had the passion for technology. Following in the footsteps of his father, an engineer, Adam graduated with a BS in Industrial Engineering from Cornell University. He has spent many successful years of product management at Google, where he continues with his “day job.” With the love for food and wine still in his heart, he pursued a Certificate of Winemaking through the prestigious UC Davis Department of Viticulture and Enology, at the urging of his original mentor, Mr. Joseph Phelps. Adam has also studied under some of the finest winemakers in California during internships at August West/Sandler with Ed Kurtzman and Joseph Phelps Vineyards with Ashley Hepworth and Damian Parker. In 2012, it was time to start on his own path and Hersly Wines was born!
Charity and giving back has been an integral part of my background since I was young, thanks to my mom and Nonie. Following a BA in Psychology from DePaul University and a Masters in Occupational Social Work from University of Illinois at Chicago (Jane Addams College of Social Work), I spent the majority of my career as a Senior Leader in Human Resources, with a focus on Sales, Marketing and Business Development. But working to make a the world a better place is never out of focus. Both Adam and I are avid volunteers with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital working on numerous wine and food events in NYC and Napa. After moving to Napa, I have taken on local causes as a Development Committee Member with Aldea Children and Family Services in Napa, The Teacher’s Resource Center of the North Bay, and the Napa County Family and Foster Parent Association. We are also proud foster parents to a 16 year old boy! Now you see why working with Cellar Angels is SO important to us.
Of course, every winery has to have a cute winery dog, and Hersly Wines is no exception. In August of 2012, right as we started harvest of our very first vintage, we adopted Mae, a Yorkie Schnauzer (Snorkie) rescue dog. She’s unique, with her ears being her “signature look,” she is well known with family, friends, and internet followers and fans alike. You can usually find her chasing squirrels and eating sushi.
We never know what life is going to hand us at any moment, so to us, it is important to enjoy life. There is nothing better than having good food and phenomenal wine, and to share both with exceptional company. Family and friends make the world a happy place. In the last four years, we have been busy bringing our brand to new restaurants and markets around the country, to share our love with you. We are proud to not only be in three 3-Michelin Star Restaurants, but also in small bistros and mom and pop restaurants.
As it’s time for a new harvest, we begin to get excited to see how Mother Nature will gift us. We are thankful to be able to do what we love with strong passion, living up to the integrity that we promise, and share the fruits of our labor with you! As we say on the back of our bottle, “enjoy Hersly Wines in good health!” Cheers!
You can always follow our journey on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
