He is Danish and she is American. Together they are a bright couple evolving into successful business - at Disney at first before being self-employed. We are in 2001, Pete and Rebecca have everything to be happy. Yet, when they narrowly escape the disaster hitting New York that year, their world is put into question. And although it seemed they had it all, they decide to start it all over.
« Taking myself outside of the city and into the sounds of nature is probably the most gratifying thing that was given to me to do » boasts Pete, strolling through his hilly vines accompanied by his two faithful dogs. He then willingly leaves behind his beautiful beach house in LA, his office on top of a luxury tower and the mundane affairs in order to achieve a new challenge : creating with his wife their very own eco-friendly vineyard, which they call Ampelos (« wine » in Greek).
From their beginning, Pete and Rebecca surround themselves with the best consultants and professionnals, such as Jeff Newton or Philippe Cordier, as to give their wine a pledge to quality. Their own land quickly teaches them to listen to their senses and to observe what nature seems to tell and give them. One awareness that logically drives them to convert their 25 acres into a unique testing ground where the natural vegetation still has all its rights, where the chickens fertilize the soil, where the horses are involved in the creation of compost, where the solar panels operate irrigation pumps and where the water itself comes from the ground. An admirable green guideline and a inspired state of mind for an outstanding outcome: in 2009, Ampelos becomes the first american vineyard to be certified biodynamic, organic and sustainable after nearly a decade of hard work.
Pete is pleased to admit: « We are not training the wine, the wine is training us. » Today, the story of Pete and Rebecca Work inspires the whole wine industry in the US : they have received over a thousand visits in 2011! « Before, no one would come see me in my office » jokes the man of danish origin. Because this is where lies the true success of this passionate and complementary couple: sharing. Nothing pleases them more than knowing that their bottles are taking part in a celebration somewhere. Pinot noir, Syrah, Grenache or even Viognier, the quality of their wine has made their reputation: the young company is just starting to generate its first profits and can count on more and more partners ready to discover and taste their ethical products throughout the world.
