Meet Taylor Hardman: From pub crawls to park trips and Pinot Noir

I ended up in wine by accident.

I had tried wine maybe three times before graduating college. Friends of mine at school had joined programs with E. & J. Gallo — the largest wine producer in the US - and the door was wide open for me to learn so much more about wine.

That was January 2010. Almost 16 years later, I'm heading up sales at the largest private northwest wine producer, which fuels the competitive edge I once felt growing up playing hockey. And we're in the arena with some of the biggest players in the country — that's the part I find the most fun.

What I'm drinking right now  

I'm not going to pitch you here. These are just what I personally drink.

 For reds: Our Willamette Valley Pinot Noirs are some of the best out there. If I can get my hands on it, the Primarius Sans Soufre (#1), a sulfite-free Willamette Valley Pinot Noir from our winemaker Sarah, is incredible.

For whites: You can't go wrong with the Gigi's Garden White Blend (#2), 60% Sauvignon Blanc, 40% Pinot Gris. Crisp, clean, and a total crowd-pleaser.
 
For a party: Any of the Do Epic Sh*t (#3) wines are a blast. The Sauvignon Blanc and the Sparkling are my go-tos. Hand someone a bottle that says "Do Epic Sh*t" and watch the room light up. Works every time.

Getting Personal

Famous figure you most identify with?
Wayne Gretzky. And not just because I grew up playing hockey. Gretzky wasn't the biggest, the fastest, or the strongest on the ice, but he played the game differently than everyone else. He didn't go where the puck was, he went where it was going.  

What draws me to wine?
Discovery. Wine has this endless quality to it. There's always something new to find, a new region, a new varietal, a new vintage that surprises you.
 
How do you spend your free time?
Life has changed a lot in the last four years. I have two boys now, and they run the show. Weekend rituals used to look like a bar, a sporting event, maybe a pub crawl. Now it's whatever activity tires them out the fastest.

You'll love these wines. I promise.
- Taylor