• About the Winery
• History
• The Owners
• The Winemakers
• The Wines
• Specialty Wines
• Cellar Hours
• Map and Directions
• Contact


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Mazza Chautauqua Cellars

The Winemakers

The Distiller

Currently handling distillation for Mazza Wines is employee Joe Nelson. Nelson joined the Mazza winemaking and distillation operation in 2007. Trained by owner-winemaker Mario Mazza, Nelson began distilling this same year. His interest, experience and skill in distillation grew over the next few years, and he now handles nearly all of the distillation at Mazza Chautauqua Cellars. Nelson also spends some of his time home-brewing “2 Joes Beer,” and he assists in winemaking at the main facility.

The Winemaker

Mario Mazza completed his undergraduate studies in chemical engineering at Case Western University. Mario then traveled to Australia to complete his graduate work in oenology at the University of Adelaide. There, he also had the opportunity to work in both the Adelaide Hills and the Barossa Valley in vineyards and wineries.

Through growing up within the family business, working alongside past winemaker Gary Mosier, and receiving formal scientific education in the wine-making and grape-growing fields on the other side of the world, Mario is in a special position to be able to blend what has worked well in the past with evolving science, technology and art.