The Intermingling of Art & Wine Take Center Stage at Acclaimed Sonoma Valley Winery
July 7, 2025 (Healdsburg, CA) — Founded by first-generation winemaker Jesse Katz in 2009, Aperture Cellars, the renowned winery in Sonoma County, champions a range of stunning wines dedicated to expressing the region’s potential and longevity for producing world-class Bordeaux varietals in California.
Crafted from over 200 acres of unique, cool-climate vineyards in Sonoma’s top regions, Aperture has quickly identified itself as an elite wine label and world-class player boasting powerful, rich fruit characteristics with elegance and freshness. With experience at iconic Pétrus and Screaming Eagle wineries, among others, Jesse Katz has emerged as one of the most exciting and accomplished winemakers globally. Wine Enthusiast named him one of its 40 Under 40 Tastemakers, and he also earned the distinction of becoming the first winemaker on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list.
Rooted in his early adventures to legendary vineyards and wineries around the world with his father, photographer Andy Katz, Jesse cultivated an enviable international wine education while sipping with luminaries and exploring storied cellars. He was inspired by the terroir, balance, and creativity of wine making that has set him on a path he has pursued ever since. Each wine label features an original Andy Katz photograph demonstrating every Aperture wine as an expression of art both inside and out. This unique collaboration between father and son offers a sensory dance that marries art and wine, inviting enthusiasts into their world where creativity and nature converge. Drawing inspiration from the precise and varied array of lens filters in a professional photographer’s toolkit, Aperture identifies diverse vineyards, each harboring specific qualities that imbue their wines with varying shades of complexity. Today, Jesse creates distinct and nuanced wines for his brands, Aperture Cellars and Devil Proof Vineyards, that have earned multiple 100-point scores across both portfolios.
Cabernet Sauvignon is the signature wine of Aperture Cellars. The portfolio also includes a Red Bordeaux Blend, Sauvignon Blanc, Chenin Blanc, and single-vineyard Cabernet Sauvignons. Aperture is the only Cabernet Sauvignon in the history of the Alexander Valley region to ever have received a perfect score. Devil Proof revolves around single vineyard dry-farmed expressions of Malbec, from Alexander Valley’s Farrow Ranch, and from Rockpile Ridge vineyard in the Rockpile AVA. Devil Proof holds the esteemed position as the highest-rated California Malbec by all of the top wine critics, and the only Malbec to receive numerous 100 point scores.
In 2016 Aperture acquired the 42 acre historic Ponzo vineyard property, which has become the site of the Aperture Estate in Healdsburg, California. This land, with still thriving vines that were first planted in 1912, is home to a 24,000 sq. ft. state-of-the-art winery and a 4,000 sq. ft. hospitality center imagined by acclaimed Signum Architecture. Its high-efficiency design and environmentally sustainable ethos contributes to the stunning architectural concept of the Aperture story in building form. With inspiration driven from the physical aperture of a camera, an ode to Jesse’s father, the estate’s buildings showcase dramatic angles, clean lines and a focus on natural light. The artistic expression inherent in Aperture wines is deeply personal and universally resonant, much like the medium of photography. The estate translates the global experience and vision of father and son into architecture.
As it always has been with the Aperture experience, the intermingling of art and wine is the focus of the hospitality center. A gallery atmosphere with imagery from all over the world taken by Andy Katz allows guests to feel like they are traveling alongside the Aperture team and discovering the world of wine through their eyes. In addition, the hospitality center features a seated tasting bar, private rooms with floor to ceiling windows for elevated experiences, and an outdoor terrace, all overlooking the estate vineyards facing the Russian River. The winery stands as a platform and incubator for artistic and vinous expression, redefining the boundaries of both fields. In addition to hosting daily wine tasting experiences (by appointment), the space is available to host private, custom events, dinners, and receptions.
Jesse’s passion for wine extends to raising funds for philanthropic causes, non-profits, and charitable events through donations of his wines as well as custom winery and experiences each year. Thus far, Jesse has raised over $5.8 million for charities and foundations and has recently joined on the Board of Directors for the SommFoundation, an educational-based nonprofit benefiting professionals in the wine and spirits business.
Having created one of the most acclaimed Bordeaux houses in Sonoma history, Aperture wines are currently available in 19 states and 6 countries, with additional markets slated to open as the brand continues to reach new heights and share its wines with a wider, global audience.
For more information, please contact Sarah Gargano at sarah@sarahgargano.com
ABOUT APERTURE
Aperture Cellars, founded in 2009 by first-generation winemaker Jesse Katz, is dedicated to crafting a range of expressive Bordeaux-style wines from Sonoma County’s premier cool-climate vineyard sites. Created from over 200 acres of unique, cool-climate vineyards across five AVA’s in Sonoma’s top regions, Aperture has quickly identified itself as an elite wine label and world-class player boasting powerful, rich fruit characteristics with elegance and freshness. The Aperture Estate, located in Healdsburg, California, is home to a 24,000 sq. ft. state-of-the-art winery and 4,000 sq. ft. hospitality space. Rooted in his early adventures to legendary vineyards and wineries around the world with his father, celebrated photographer Andy Katz, Jesse cultivated an enviable international wine education. He was inspired by the terroir, balance, and creativity of wine making and each label features an original Andy Katz photograph, demonstrating every Aperture wine as an expression of art both inside and out. Aperture meticulously oversees every aspect of farming across their Northern California properties, from their estate in Sonoma County to Alexander Valley, Geyserville, Clarksburg, and Bennett Valley. The winery has set numerous records from consumers and wine critics, earning multiple 100-point scores, including the first perfect score ever for Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec in the Alexander Valley appellation.
