In this episode of The Good Stuff presented by the Sonoma County Winegrowers, hosts Virginie Boone and Karissa Kruse talk to Rick Hutchinson, Owner, President, and Winemaker for Amphora Winery.
A native of Sonoma County, Rick Hutchinson found his way into winemaking at just 20 years old, working on the bottling line at Sebastiani Winery. One step into the cellar and he was transported—those rich, fermenting aromas reminded him of the late-summer canning days of his youth, when his mother’s kitchen was filled with the scent of jams and jellies.
That moment sparked a lifelong passion. Rick went on to learn the craft under renowned winemakers like Doug Nalle and John Kongsgaard, gaining deep familiarity with the vineyards and terroir of Sonoma County—especially the bold Zinfandel and Petite Sirah of Dry Creek Valley.
While honing his winemaking skills, Rick also discovered an unexpected artistic talent. A pottery class led him to create his own amphorae—ancient clay vessels once used to store wine. That blend of art and craft would soon become the foundation for his own winery.
Amphora
In 1997, Rick founded Amphora Winery—starting with three tons each of Zinfandel and Petite Sirah, a few barrels, and a lot of passion. He made those first wines in the basement of an old redwood barn in Dry Creek Valley. Thanks to early support from friends and colleagues, his debut vintages nearly sold out before they were bottled.
The name Amphora and its iconic label come from Rick’s handmade clay vessels, and that connection is more than symbolic. Amphora specializes in fermenting and aging wine in traditional Italian terracotta, one of the few wineries in California doing so.
By 2006, demand outgrew the original barn, prompting a move to a repurposed cold-storage building in the Timber Crest complex. The new, temperature-controlled space gave Rick the freedom to expand Amphora’s offerings beyond Dry Creek staples.
Today, Amphora produces a diverse lineup of small-lot wines—from Zinfandel, Petite Sirah, and Syrah to lesser-known varietals like Teroldego, Mourvèdre, Alicante Bouschet, Vermentino, and sparkling rosé. Through it all, Rick has stayed true to his winemaking philosophy: work with hands-on growers, source the best grapes, and craft balanced wines that let each varietal and vintage speak for itself.
And finally, Virginie and Karissa share their Tuesday Night wine picks!
