Guardian Cellars

Police officer Jerry Riener and wife Jennifer Sullivan own Guardian Cellars, a winery named after his career as a Seattle narcotics officer. When he's not dealing with a nearly naked woman in a hotel lobby or staking out a drug bust, he's driving a forklift, topping off barrels, and making beautiful wines.

Jerry's interest in winemaking started when he volunteered to help make wine at Mark Ryan in Woodinville, Washington. Owner and winemaker Mark McNeely, a guy with killer winemaking skills but not so much with the office work, hired Jerry to help out with the books. In return, Jerry got to make a few barrels of his own wine. Jerry named his label "Guardian" in honor of his day job, and produced an amazing couple of vintages of a very big red called Gun Metal, a hefty blend of Cabernet, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc. The Gun Metal is a massive wine, aged for at least a year more than most wines of its type. It appeals to those who enjoy the biggest, heartiest possible red wine.

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More About Guardian Cellars

Over the last five years, as Guardian Cellars gained followers, Jerry expanded his production and in 2011 moved into his own winery space in the building that houses Mark Ryan. Jerry still has his day job. He recently left undercover work with a Narcotics Unit for a new job in law enforcement - and he's back to wearing a police uniform. Since he names his wines to reference his work (Gun Metal, Chalk Line, The Wanted, etc.) might his next wine be "Copper Cabernet" or perhaps "Smokey Syrah?