Jamey Whetstone
Jamey Whetstone, CEO of Manifesto! wines and owner of Whetstone wine cellars, grew up in the deep, deep Southeast. Before his restaurant career could grind all the sweet edge off life—like surfing and, well, living—Jamey quit and turned his enthusiasm for wine into a life where working and passionate edge are one in the same. From the bottom rung as a “cellar rat” at Turley Wine Cellars, Jamey quickly found his footing in the wine world. He became assistant winemaker at Turley and worked at one of Burgundy’s leading wine houses, Domaine Dujac. Eventually he founded Whetstone Wine Cellars and Whetstone Consulting and became CEO of Manifesto! wines. Along the way he planted 30 acres of hillside vineyard, learned Spanish, and became a pilot. His wines have been praised by the likes of Eric Asimov from The New York Times, Food & Wine, Wine Spectator and acclaimed critic Stephen Tanzer.
Jamey’s journey of winemaking is a perfect blend of insider and outsider, connecting with many of the world’s wine greats and top chefs, while garnering critical praise. All along the way, he’s never lost his connection to the down-home, man-of-the-people values he learned in the South.
Whole Foods recently featured Manifesto!’s Sauvignon Blanc as one of its Top 10 wines. Asimov spun Jamey’s Manifesto! label slogan as “Simple Wine in a Complex World” in May 2009 for his column “The Pour.” NBC’s Today premiered Manifesto! as a 2009 Holiday Wine to buy. Jamey has also been featured in Wine & Spirits and Food & Wine, who called Jamey “one of Napa Valley’s biggest up-and-coming talents” and featured him on their recently-launched iPad app as their star winemaker.