An Exclusive Interview with Fah Sathirapongsasuti, Co-owner & Winemaker of Sunset Cellars

In the world of winemaking, it takes a unique blend of passion, expertise, and a deep connection to the land to create exceptional wines. Fah Sathirapongsasuti, the Co-owner and Winemaker of Sunset Cellars, embodies these qualities, infusing each bottle with the essence of California’s renowned wine country.

Interview with Fah Sathirapongsasuti Co-owner & Winemaker of Sunset Cellars

 In this exclusive interview, we dive into Fah’s journey into winemaking, his philosophy, and how Sunset Cellars is crafting wines that celebrate both tradition and innovation.

Can you share the story behind why you decided to start your company?

My husband and I learned everything we know about wine from Doug and Katsuko Sparks, the founders of Sunset Cellars, who we regard as our "wine parents." Sunset Cellars has always had a deep connection to the Japanese culture and we feel that sense of connection as we ourselves are Japanese-Thai couple. We had been helping them with all aspects of the winery operation for a few years when they announced their retirement, and the succession then felt like a natural choice. Today we are proud to carry on the California garage winemaking with innovation and renegade spirits at our core.

How do you think your background and identity have influenced the way you run your business in the alcohol industry?

The way we describe our wine and contextualize wine is very much informed by our Asian upbringing and the cuisine we are familiar with. I have created several wines with expressed intention to pair with our cuisine, most notably XEN White Blend that I created to pair with Thai curry.

What were your biggest challenges when you got started, and what is your biggest challenge right now?

We transitioned the ownership during the COVID19 Pandemic. We had to learn and adapt very quickly. Generational gap was certainly a source of conflict but we always come back to the wine. We are lucky and thankful that our palate and preference in wine align very well among ourselves; so we are not in conflict about the most important decisions. Challenge today is how to sustain the growth we have created over the last few years with the macro economic and the ever rising cost of running a business.

What advice would you give to other aspiring entrepreneurs from diverse backgrounds who are interested in entering the alcohol production industry?

Ask for help! I have found the wine industry to be the most collaborative and welcoming. Colleagues in my area (Suisun Valley) and across the globe open doors and share their practices and products with us. We are thankful to be a part of the industry and look for ways to pay it forward, not least of which is running a winery incubator under the "Sunset Suisun" banner.

What inspires you to keep going when things get hard?

The passion and love for wine. The generosity of my community. The trust of our loyal customers.

Is there anything else you'd like us to know about you or your company?

My background is in science -- I have a PhD in Biostatistics from Harvard and have worked for 10+ years in the biotech industry. I see winemaking as a series of experiments and am relentless about innovation. Half of my wines are experimental or a study of some kind. This is in keeping with our California pioneering garage winemaking spirit.

Our wine club is very cool! We call it "the Vine Owner's Club" and we assign a vine in our Estate Barbera vineyard for our members to adopt. We built an in-house web app to track the real-time weather updates. We also run a unique Harvest Volunteer Program in Sep-Nov for selected group of customers and friends to participate in winemaking.

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We hope you enjoyed learning about Fah Sathirapongsasuti's journey and Sunset Cellars’ commitment to creating high-quality wines that reflect the heart of the land. Be sure to check out Sunset Cellars on their website and follow them on social media @sunset_cellars to stay updated on their latest offerings, events, and more.

Cheers to celebrating the art of winemaking, the beauty of California's vineyards, and the vision of trailblazers like Fah Sathirapongsasuti! 🍷

Because Diversity is the taste of life®!

Remember to enjoy responsibly.