Winery Spotlight: The Setting
Jesse Katz made the Forbes "30 Under 30" list before most winemakers his age had their name on a label. He'd earned it — 19 harvests across some of the most consequential cellars in the world, including Château Pétrus and Screaming Eagle. When he co-founded The Setting in 2014 with friends Jeff Cova and Noah McMahon, the goal was straightforward: source from the best vineyards in Napa and Sonoma, make wines that reflect those sites honestly, and let the rest take care of itself.
A decade in, the results speak clearly. This lineup spans five appellations across three states — Sonoma County, the Alexander Valley, Dry Creek Valley, Oakville, and Oregon's Willamette Valley — and earns critical scores that rival producers with a century's head start. What's notable is how different each wine feels. The Setting isn't a house style imposed on top of its vineyards; it's a collection of distinct sites that Katz has chosen to let speak for themselves.
Our friend Kelly Cordes brought these folks to us (Thanks, Kelly!) and guiding us through the evening is Chris Siconolfi, President of Pour Proof, who knows these wines and this producer well.
The Wines
