At just 32-years-old, Plumpjack winemaker Tony Biagi is something of a upstart in Napa’s prestigious Oakville AVA—home to wineries like Screaming Eagle and Dalla Valle. But Biagi isn’t exactly a babe in these woods, having been a part of prestigious Napa winemaking teams at Duckhorn, Paraduxx and Neal Family Vineyards and co-hort to the esteemed Nils Venge, who once got a coveted 100-point rating from Robert Parker, Jr.

Biagi’s favorite stint so far, though, has been as resident winemaker for Plumpjack—a funky, come-as-you-are winery founded by San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom and Bill Getty. The position suits the quick-witted, sociable young winemaker who is surrounded by gregarious collection of other young folks at the tucked away winery located just down the road from the Oakville grocery.

We asked him ten questions:

What’s the worst job you’ve ever had?

Doing lees filtration. Lees is a sticky goopy mess at the bottom of the tanks, and we’d have to clean them out. I was dumping these disgusting cakes for like two or three weeks, 24 hours a day.

What was the biggest mistake you ever made?

I miscalculated a blend and Duckhorn lost two barrels of wine. They were cool about it. They just took it as a loss.

Stelvin or cork?

We were the first people to do high end Cabs in screwcaps. So far it’s working. We look at it as a 10 year experiment and we’re only five years into it.

Your biggest success…so far?

Establishing the Paraduxx brand, which is a blend of Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.

Where can we find you eating lunch, most days?

Market in St. Helena or La Luna Market in Rutherford.

You call yourself a “foodie”. What’s your favorite local splurge?

Oh, that’s really hard. I love Terra (in St. Helena). It’s like a wonderful bistro. French Laundry is great too, but you can really only do that once a year.

Weirdest description of your wine?

Asphalt? I don’t get that one. Gooseberry for our Chardonnay, oh and beef’s blood for our Cabs. I guess it has something to do with the iron and mineral quality.

Biggest wine idols/mentors?

Tom Rinaldi at Duckhorn and Bob Levy at Harlan Estate. They’re good friends, and when I was just getting started, Bob would actually answer all my questions.

What’s something you’re dying to do…you know, someday?

Hmm. That’s hard. Okay, probably make Pinot Noir. I guess every winemaker has that dream.