Nathan Schipper, CFO, has been with The Vines of Mendoza since its formation, working with the founders on finance and strategy. His background includes financial/operational consulting, investment banking, and serving as a corporate attorney. He was Vice President of First Union Securities’ corporate finance group and developed their Los Angeles investment banking office. He has also worked in the technology, entertainment, gaming and consumer products industries. Nathan, who lives in Canada but visits Mendoza frequently, has an MBA in finance from Columbia University and two law degrees from McGill University.
Question 1: What’s your best ‘Recuerdo’ at the vines?
In October 2011 I was at the winery with Santiago Achavál, who was tasting our first vintage of Super Premium client wine before bottling. We were both in the tasting room, him with around 65 small plastic bottles of wine, me with a laptop and reams of papers. He kept calling me over to the bar to taste the wines. He couldn't believe the quality. When Santiago Achaval was truly amazed at our product I realized then that all our hard work had paid off and we were making the best possible wine for our clients.
Question 2: What is the ideal wine and music pairing?
Drinking a Gimenez Riili Gran Reserva Malbec in the winter, while sitting in front of a roaring fire and listening to Van Morrison's Astral Weeks.