play-ground / ‘plā,ground
1. a place where a group of friends choose to enjoy themselves.
Playground Cellars was born from a passion for wine, a thrill for discovering something new, and joy from sharing what we find along our journey. We explore different wine regions and produce small artisanal lots from hard to acquire sources. We focus on quality over quantity by navigating our network of winemaker and grower friends to find these gems.
This approach means our releases are limited production and most will not be repeated again which allows us to experience new wines every year. When you enjoy a bottle of Playground you’ll experience something new vintage to vintage.
Joe White
Winemaker
Joe likes to tinker. This is what fills his cup… or his wineglass. It could be a car, knocking down a wall while Suzanne is away for the weekend, or it could be responding “I’ll play with that” when friends offer up grapes at harvest. After years of working harvests and dabbling as a Garagiste Joe was able to take the jump full time into the swirling world of wine. Joe has worked in a variety of cellars which has given him exposure to different approaches to winemaking. It is Joe’s constant pursuit to experiment and explore varieties and blends, and when possible various winemaking techniques, to deliver a fantastic vintage year over year.
Suzanne Berkley
Certified Sommelier (CS)
Certified Specialist of Wine (CSW)
…all other duties as assigned
Suzanne’s philosophy is that each sip of wine should be savored but that does not mean to save it only for special occasions. A favorite Somm experience is introducing someone to a wine that sparks something: an interest in a new winemaking style, new varietal, or a new grape-growing region. Her favorite pastime is pairing wine and food. They are like socks – there is always a match! When not frolicking in the vineyards for work, Suzanne can be found giving Joe her stamp of approval on a final blend, coordinating the picking crew, writing tasting notes, or all other duties as assigned.