Folly of the Beast

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Country of Origin: USA
Location: Central Coast, California
People: Xander Oxman, Geoff McFarlane & Brian Smith, Owners | Ryan Zotovich, Director of Winemaking

Items

Folly of the Beast 2019 Chardonnay, Central Coast Login In Stock
Folly of the Beast (20 L) 2020 Pinot Noir, Central Coast (Keg) Login In Stock
Folly of the Beast 2020 Pinot Noir, Central Coast Login WE 90 In Stock
Folly of the Beast 2021 Pinot Noir, Central Coast Login In Stock

Folly of the Beast is the result of a winemaker’s ultimate quest: to make excellent Pinot Noir with a price tag that doesn’t make you want to weep. See, Pinot Noir is the white whale of the wine world. Appropriately nicknamed the “heartbreaker grape,” it’s generally costly because of how difficult it is to grow, and it takes skill and tenacity to produce a bottle worth drinking.

Folly of the Beast is named after the great Moby Dick quote “For there is no folly of the beast of the earth that is not infinitely outdone by the madness of men.” It’s Winc's mission (and madness) to consistently deliver great Pinot at an affordable price.

About Winc: Folly of the Beast wines are made by Winc. Winc’s story bagan in 2012 under another name: Club W. Club W was the world’s first personalized wine club. It made the process of discovering and buying wine easier than ever — and as it expanded to other facets of the experience, the owners, Xander Oxman, Geoff McFarlane & Brian Smith, realized it had became so much more than a club.

To reflect the full scope, Club W was renamed Winc. Today, Winc is reimagining every aspect of wine, from the art and science of winemaking to packaging and transport to how wine is sold, distributed, and ultimately enjoyed. All of this is done to improve the experience for consumers, create a platform for artisan winemaking, and build a grape-to-glass supply chain that's sustainable for the planet.

Although Winc sources its grapes from myriad destinations, it remains intimately connected to every facet of the winemaking process. Spearheading that commitment is Ryan Zotovich, whose wealth of experience makes him an ideal fit as the director of winemaking. From harvest to crush to bottling to sourcing unique varietals, Ryan is unendingly hands-on, to ensure that the final product always meets Winc’s vision.

About Ryan Zotovich: Ryan grew up working on his family’s vineyard in Los Osos, California. After initially choosing a computer science track in college, he grew unhappy and knew he needed a change — and then a glass of a 1995 Heitz Martha’s Vineyard changed his life. Under the guidance of the head of Cal Poly’s wine program, Ryan developed a passion for winemaking and worked as an apprentice and then assistant winemaker under Steve Clifton of Palmina and Brewer-Clifton.

Shortly after, he became the cellar master at Sea Smoke Cellars under Victor Gallegos and Kris Curran, where he learned to develop high-quality Pinot Noir and Chardonnay and became deeply interested in creating exceptional wines reminiscent of their regions. In June of 2010, Ryan and his uncle Steve partnered to form Zotovich Cellars. While at Zotovich, Ryan helped manage the vineyard, start the winery, and launch the brand in the market. His interest in working with multiple varietals and vineyards across the state and the globe ultimately drew him to Club W, where he serves as the director of winemaking, overseeing the process from start to finish.

Social Media
Instagram: @Winc
Twitter: @Winc
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Reviews

  • Folly of the Beast 2020 Pinot Noir, Central Coast
    Wine Enthusiast
    Rating: 90 (9/1/2022)

    (Editors' Choice) Winemaker Ryan Zotovich makes a lot of this wine for national distribution, but does so in boutique ways, and it shows. Black cherry, herb and brown spice aromas kick off the nose, leading into a palate that's sprinkled with chalky tannins and loaded in red plum and orange rind flavors.