the genesis
What happens when two dentists share a passion for wine and its distinctive power to bring people together and create memorable experiences?
Titanium Winery is born.
TITANIUM
ti•ta•ni•um
[ELEMENT | WINERY]
Known for its strength and adaptability, Titanium holds a special place for our dental proprietors. Not only is it used in creating beautiful dental implants, but its atomic number is 22 – the same year the 17 acres of future wine land was purchased in the Spring Mountain AVA in St. Helena.
Proprietors
Justin Moody
Growing up in Nebraska as a fifth-generation farmer, Dr. Moody returned to the family farm after dental school to live and practice dentistry at his childhood dentist's office. But one trip to Napa Valley with his best friend Dr. Curt Rising changed everything.
Implant Dentistry and his love for teaching fueled Dr. Moody’s next venture in the creation of Implant Pathway, an education company dedicated to training dentists. Giving back is at the heart of all he does. He is the founder of New Horizon Dental Institute, a 501(c)3 non-profit, that has resulted in the donation of over 40 million dollars of dental implant services.
He and Dr. Rising returned to Nebraska to raise grapes of their own. Five acres of grapes soon turned into the development of the 3rd bonded winery in Nebraska named Lovers Leap Vineyards. His fellow grape farmers elected him president of the Nebraska Grape Growers Association for his efforts in helping the industry. But life got busy, and Lovers Leap Winery was eventually sold.
When the opportunity to purchase 17 acres in St. Helena came available, he jumped at the chance to follow his passion for wine. As it turns out, Titanium Winery is located less than a mile from where he and his best friend first sipped wine. The rest of the story is still being written....
Kristine Aadland
Dr. Aadland grew up in Vancouver, Washington as the daughter of bridge builders, both literally and figuratively. Her summer jobs consisted mostly of running heavy equipment on large highway projects. As a result, she is no stranger to hard work or getting her hands dirty.
She fell in love with dentistry during college and opened her own practice in her hometown where she continues patient care.
Growing up in a household filled with family, friends, good food, and the love for the stories surrounding wine, the Napa Valley was easy to fall in love with. When the possibility of becoming part of that community became a reality in St. Helena, she jumped at the chance and looks forward to building new relationships with this beloved land.
Mario Tedeschi
Mario learned at an early age how to tend vines and assist in winemaking practices while working alongside his father, a 3rd generation Napa Valley vintner.
Today Mario oversees vineyard management operations at his family’s Tedeschi Company, specializing in northern premium AVAs including Spring Mountain District, Fountain Grove, Pope Valley, Chalk Hill, Calistoga, and St. Helena. Grape clients from his vineyards under management have included The Prisoner, Black Stallion, Rutherford Ranch, Cain, Merus Estates, Herzog Wine Cellars, LOLA, Pellegrini, and Saddleback Cellars.
Mario is especially passionate about the new Moody Vineyards and future Titanium Winery on Spring Mountain. He and his father together replanted much of the original vines currently on property back in 2002. He is excited to continue management of these vineyards and further cultivate the incredible attributes this property has to offer.
His previous projects include working with notable winemakers Scott Harvey and David Sundberg, closely tied to brands including Tedeschi Family Winery, Scott Harvey Wines, Sarah Francis Wines, Eeden Vineyards, and Northbrook.
Bob Pepi
Several generations ago, Bob Pepi’s father bought land in the Napa Valley in the mid-1960’s and started growing grapes. Around that time, Bob left home for Pomona College in Southern California. His course load was filled with science and pre-med classes as he had aspirations of becoming a doctor. With frequent visits to the family homestead in Napa – it wasn’t long before the “lure of the vine” took hold. After finishing his studies, Bob turned his attention to becoming a full-fledged winemaker. He took courses offered by both the University of California’s famed Oenology & Viticulture programs in Davis, as well as The Wine Lab in St. Helena.
In 1980, he partnered with his dad, built a winery, and started making wines from the vineyards on their property. Over the years, it grew to 50+ acres in the heart of Napa Valley.
For over ten years as winemaker and vineyard manager of Robert Pepi Wines, Bob’s wines were best sellers and had consistent 90+ratings. While best known for the winery’s popular Sauvignon Blanc and Sangiovese wines, it was with his first Cabernet Sauvignon that Bob received a “Cellar Selection” designation from Wine Spectator.
In 1991, Bob became general manager for the California operations of Stimson Lane, again producing award-winning wines, including a Cabernet-based Conn Creek wine that received the highest Wine Spectator ratings of any Stimson Lane label to that time.
His family sold the Robert Pepi label and winery to Kendall-Jackson in 1994, leaving Bob free to take his considerable winemaking knowledge around the world as a prized consultant. With nearly 75 harvests under his belt, comprised of nearly 30 in South America and 40+ in Napa, his expert winemaking skills, depth of knowledge in viticulture and general wine acumen, is a potent combination. It has made him invaluable to his many clients over the years. He has consulted and made wine for California labels such as Steltzner Vineyard, Pestoni Family Winery, Flora Springs, and Whitehall Lane to name a few. At Whitehall Lane, the wines attracted 90+ ratings and were twice among the Wine Spectator’s Top 100 Wines of the Year. Bob also lent his talents for over 15 years to Bodega Valentin Bianchi in Mendoza, Argentina. When that relationship ended in 2017, Bob began working in Chile as a consultant for the Terra Pura line of “region-specific” varietals from some of the best-known wine growing areas of that country.
In 2000, a unique opportunity arose for Bob. He had his eye on an exceptional Napa Valley vineyard and he wanted to use their grapes in the production of his own wine. This would be the first label of his own since leaving the family winery. The result, Eponymous, is a powerful Cabernet Sauvignon that tapped into the pleasure Bob gets from working with outstanding grapes and brought to life his philosophy that wine should be about fun and enjoyment.Two years late, another vineyard, this time just over the ridge of the Mayacamus Mountains in Sonoma, caught his attention. Thus, his second Eponymous, a red wine blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc, named after the MacAllister vineyard from where these grapes are grown, was born. In mid-2011, Bob introduced two reds varietals to the Eponymous label, a Cabernet Franc, and a Syrah, followed by a Proprietary White Blend, with the grapes coming from Carneros.
When not helping his many clients make exceptionally well received wines, or busy “tending the vines” for his own label, he can be found at his home in Napa, CA where he enjoys being with his wife and family, trying new grilling techniques on his Argentine grill, or making pizza in his wood fired pizza oven.
The Vineyard
[1876-1914]
Jacob Beringer established the first Beringer vineyard and winery in St. Helena in 1876. In 1914, Charles and other family members incorporated Beringer Brothers Los Hermanos Vineyards. Charlie and his wife Olga also established the first vineyards on the property back in the 1930's.
[1917-1933]
Charles’ sister, Bertha, creatively prevented the demise of the Beringer empire during Prohibition. Grapes were turned into raisin cakes, which were allowed under the Volstead act to make “non-intoxicating cider and fruit juices for home consumption.”
However, as you can imagine, the raisin cakes were easily turned into wine. Attractive young demonstrators in department stores “warned” potential buyers not to leave the raisin cakes in jugs for 21 days after adding liquid, because it would turn into wine. Furthermore, they told customers not to cork the liquid because it would lead to fermentation. Many raisin cakes magically became wine and the Beringer empire survived.
[2002-present]
By 2002, only remnants of the vineyards remained, including age-old stone terraces along the rows of vineyards. The vineyards were replanted with Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Petite Sirah vines.
Our beloved Cabernet Sauvignon vines are ideal for Spring Mountain. Clones 7 & 8 on 110R rootstock make them hardy for drought and the elevation of the vineyard, but more importantly is the quality of the fruit from our vineyards. The wine is made here, in the soil by farmers. With 5 acres being planted in 2003 these grapes are just coming into their own with extraordinary fruit. In 2020, 2 additional acres were planted, and these vines will be experiencing their 3rd leaf and will start to show fruit this year. A new addition to the vineyard in 2023 will be some Cabernet Franc....and these vines started to show fruit in 2023.
