​Eric is a native Minnesotan, raised in a small town north of the twin cities. Eric went to college at the University of Minnesota and after a few misstarts (much travel and many restaurant jobs) and 8 years later rec’d a degree in Food Science from the College of Agriculture. Having a family connection in the CA wine business Eric traveled to CA to work harvest at Bonny Doon Vineyard outside of Santa Cruz in 1993. After a two-year stint in cider production in upstate New York, Eric returned to MN with dreams of starting a MN cider company. Eric started with New France Wine Company in 1997 as the first employee (to finance the cider dream) and became a minority share partner in 2000. Eric left the wholesale business for 7 years, returning to the supplier side and managing the Midwest business for Bonny Doon Vineyard from 2001 to 2007. Eric returned to New France Wine Company in 2007 and became 100% owner in 2018 when the founder, Rob Rudolph, was looking to step back. Eric wanted to refine the mission embarked on by the founder-  that of finding and connecting great wines from around the world to folks in MN who could appreciate them. Eric is married (Beth) and has two college age boys (Lars and Fritz) and two post college stepchildren (Ash and Beatrix). Eric has kept cider making as a hobby. Eric is always fermenting something (usually cabbage) if he’s not sailing, hiking, foraging in the woods, biking or skiing.