Recently, I had the opportunity to sit down and taste wine again with Mac McDonald of Vision Cellars. Mac is one of only a handful of African-American vintners in the country and the most down-to-earth person you will ever meet. His standard business attire is faded overalls and his trademark straw hat, yet he is the most astute businessman when it comes to the discussion of grapes and wine making; particularly his favorite grape, pinot noir.

Mac was born in Texas and mentored over the years from talented people including the Wagner Family of Caymus Vineyards in Rutherford. To this day, he credits his success to Charlie Wagner and his son, Chuck. In fact, Mac’s Vision Cellar Wines are still made today at Caymus.

Mac and his wife own an eight-acre vineyard where he grows his grapes, but he also sources grapes from other well-known vineyards including the famed Garys' and Rosella's Vineyards in the Santa Lucia Highlands.

The affiliation he has with these vineyards and the Wagner family has helped his wines win awards over the years, he remains humbled. His motto is, "I don't care if they're drinking my wine; I just want them drinking some wine."

Here’s what we tasted:

Vision Cellars 2012 White Blend

A unique blend of sauvignon blanc and pinot gris, aromas and flavors of tropical fruit (pineapple and orange peel) with a hint of creme brulee and a nice long, crisp finish. Mac calls this his “honeymoon wine” because his wife likes sauvignon blanc and he likes pinot gris.

Vision Cellars 2010 Pinot Noir - Garys’ Vineyard

Garys' Vineyard is an ideal area for growing award winning pinot noir due to the location and soil. The vineyard sits on southeast-facing slopes in the Santa Lucia Highlands and is approximately 25 miles from Monterey Bay. This wine hits you up-front with blackberry and cherry flavors and balanced with tight tannins that put it over the top and make it a full bodied wine.

Vision Cellars is a boutique winery specializing in pinot noir. Mac also offers a Santa Lucia Highlands Blend pinot noir, A Las Alturas Vineyard Pinot Noir and a Rosella’s Vineyard Pinot Noir. His case lots are small and he only sells wine in parts of the country he likes to visit. Consider yourself lucky.