An interview with the multi-talented winemaker and artist, Tim Stevens, to explore the primal connection between art and wine
The label on the bottle can reveal a lot about the wine inside. At Stevens Winery in Woodinville however, you won’t find any tasting notes on the bottles. Here the labels reveal a glimpse into the heart and soul of Rennaisance man Tim Stevens—winemaker, artist, writer, philosopher.
Step foot inside the winery and you’ll come face to face with the self-effacing, gracious and polite Stevens and his wife, Paige, behind the tasting bar. Evidence of Stevens’ multi-dimensional artistry is everywhere, from large tiki sculptures (made of wine barrel planks), poster art, charcoal drawings, even a green wine bottle chandelier high overhead. And, of course, there’s his handcrafted wine, a mesmerizing creative force unto itself. In this interview, we talked about all things wine and art, and the age-old connections between the two:
What came first, art or wine?
I was 19 when I went to commercial art school in Seattle. I worked at several design firms and decided it wasn’t for me. I returned to college to get an English Literature degree and waited tables three days a week at a really nice restaurant…I was 22 when I started serving wine. I had never drank wine before, and I thought wow, I had no idea wine could be that good.
Where did you learn to make wine?
In ’98, I worked at Matthews Cellars. In 2000, I was fortunate enough to work with Chris Camarda from Andrew Will and Scott Greer from Sheridan Vineyard.
When did you start your own winery?
In 2002, Paige and I founded Stevens Winery in Woodinville. We produce mostly red blends, about 2,800 cases currently.
What’s the connection between art and wine?
I think when we taste wine we’re getting a sense of a unique place, a specific vineyard, a specific growing region. That’s important to me as winemaker. But there’s a ton of different wines being made out there and everybody’s palate is going to be different. It’s the same way as looking at a picture on a wall. Some people will love it, and others are gonna say, no thanks, that’s not for me. It’s the same for wine. I think people fall in love with wine for different reasons, just like art. Only it’s your palate and the way your tongue sees things, rather than your eyes.
Is there an abstract theme behind your label art?
The images are usually related to wine grapes. The art represents a time capsule of where I was in my life at the time I was making the wine. For example, the picture on the 2008 424 red blend represents vines in the middle of winter that year. The vines were 30 or 40 years old, and they were all contorted, they had just been cut. But I thought they looked like people who were strung up on a clothesline.
Does the black and white art have a special meaning?
I only do black and white labels for the red wine labels because I love the contrast—even if it’s more gray, very solid. I find it very dramatic.
Do you apply your artistic side to making wine?
Yes. If you’re a painter, you pick up different colors from your palette and start painting. I do the same in winemaking. I pick up a piece and go with it. I’m always adjusting the work in progress, constantly changing things.
Who is your favorite artist?
Pablo Picasso. I went to the Picasso Museum in Paris and found his multi-medium art spiritually inspiring. He didn’t just paint, he did sculptures, drawings, and created art out of spent material.
Interview by John Vitale
Stevens Winery
You can get a taste of Stevens’ art and wine at the tasting room every Saturday from 12pm to 4pm at 18520 142nd Ave NE in Woodinville, WA, www.stevenswinery.com