Carlos Creek Winery: winery information
Winemaker: Russ Funk
Born and raised in Sauk Center, MN, he moved to Alexandria in 1999 to attend the Alexandria Technical and Community College to study Mechanical Engineering and Design. He started working at the winery his first summer break - mostly mowing lawn and pruning grapes. He stayed on that Fall to help with the harvest and soon moved into the winery to assist Carlos Creek wine maker Santiago Martinez. Santiago, originally from Argentina, also had a PHD from UC Davis. Russ' duties consisted mostly of cleaning tanks & barrels and racking and bottling wine. In 2001, Vincent Negret arrived to become assistant winemaker to Santiago. Vincent (currently winemaker at Cannon River Winery) came to Carlos Creek from Bogota, Columbia. Eventually Vincent moved on to a winemaking position in Ohio and Santiago moved opened Brush Wolf Winery. Russ assumed more wine making responsibilities under Bob Johnson, the original owner of Carlos Creek. When the winery changed hands in 2008, new owners Kim & Tami Bredeson promoted Russ to head winemaker and encouraged him to obtain more technical winemaking knowledge. Russ, always a hard worker and an eager student, readily jumped at the chance and has taken numerous courses in Chemistry, Enology, Viticulture and Wine Appreciation over the past few years. His wines have received over 40 medals in international competition since 2008. Russ was married last year and he and his bride Kate are expecting their first child in December.
Annual Production: 6,200 cases
13
Grape Varieties Planted