THE WINOS

SUNBOX Eleven Winery is a boutique, Miami-based California winery creating small batch productions of handcrafted, superior quality, artisan wines in individual barrels and focusing on single vineyard grape varietals that are sourced from the most prestigious appellations in California. This is a collaborative effort by classically trained, professional chef & conceptual artist, Superdave Gordon, and his entrepreneurial muse, Sunny E. Fraser, to share their philosophy of EsculentArT (edible artwork) by bringing out the pure essence of the grape and pairing it perfectly with foods to actualize the senses.

These urban winemakers are residents of Miami, Florida, but travel back and forth to their cooperative winery in California. They left their successful roles to follow their passions for food, wine, travel, charity and entertainment and now, make exceptional, vineyard-designated wines that stand up well on their own or match famously with food.

In a classic wine or a masterful wine pairing dinner, there must be harmony of flavors, layers and aromas for it to be perfect. Chef Superdave is the “faster than the speed of light,” artistic yin and Sunny is the creative, but structured yang in this dynamic partnership of polar opposite winos. Like any great relationship, there is balance.

Sunny E. Fraser
President/Owner

Sunny has worn a variety of hats, including Professional Guardian, Licensed Mental Health Counselor, CEO, Banking Executive and now, has decided to pursue her passion for entertaining through food & wine in the lead role of limited production winery owner, as well as culinary interpreter and gastronomic hostess. READ MORE

David K. Gordon "Chef Superdave"
Chef Winemaker

David is a classically trained chef, incessantly passionate oenophile & conceptual artist, who uses food & wine as the medium for artistic expression. Creating, sharing & performing in one way or another for his entire life, he has merged his passion for the culinary arts with wine, music, travel & entertainment to inspire and bring SUNBOX Eleven Winery & Performance Dining to life. READ MORE

Kian Tavakoli
Lead Winemaker

Since their karmic meeting with him at Crushpad in early 2008, Kian has been working collaboratively with Chef Superdave Gordon and Sunny E. Fraser of SUNBOX eleven Winery as their co-winemaker. They immediately recognized his talents and undoubtedly knew that he meshed perfectly with their philosophies and passions about winemaking, especially on bringing out the purity of the grape. In that initial meeting with him, he unknowingly inspired the names of two of their wines, “the muse” and “the maverick.” He provides a necessary balance to their winemaking partnership. He currently heads up Bordeaux varietal winemaking at Crushpad, where he has been since 2005. Previously, Kian was the winemaker at Clos Du Val, where he ran their red wine program – including their highly-acclaimed reserve bottling. Before joining Clos Du Val in 1996, Kian spent four years learning cabernet winemaking at Opus One. With over ten years of winemaking, operations and viticultural experience, Kian brings a stellar combination of sensory and production skills to SUNBOX Eleven Winery.

Masterminded with us: the naughty 2007, the muse 2007-2008, the salesman 2008 and the maverick 2008.

Chris Nelson
Winemaker

Chris was fortunate to find winemaking in a circuitous route, having located to the West Coast in 2000. After enrolling at Fresno State in pursuit of his Master's degree in Enology, and building on his undergraduate degree in chemistry from Vanderbilt University, he was uniquely prepared for winemaking school. He found the perfect fit for his love of science in winemaking and has never looked back. He honed his winemaking skills while training with outstanding winemakers from Lynmar Winery in Russian River, Dry River Winery in Martinborough, New Zealand and Araujo Wines in Calistoga. Chris heads up the Pinot Noir program at Crushpad and continues the excellence of this fantastic grape.

Masterminded with us: the salesman 2008.

Jonathan Borreson
Winemaker

Jonathan just innately knows wine. After meeting him in early 2008 during his stint at Crushpad, Chef Superdave Gordon and Sunny E. Fraser knew that he was the ideal fit for their inaugural white wine endeavors. Since his days of chasing down the ice cream truck, Jonathan has spent time in his parents' backyard helping Dad with “punch downs” and hand-filling bottles of Salute per Tutti, his family's home wine. Bitten very early by the wine bug, he hasn't strayed far from a vine since. His experience includes being a part of the winemaking team at the boutique Sonoma producer, Three Sticks Wines. Jonathan also worked at Artesa Winery in Napa before going overseas. He got an early taste of urban winemaking in Auckland, New Zealand, and then made his way to the steep vineyard terraces of the Mosel in Germany to work for the outstanding family producer, Weingut Reinhardt und Beate Knebel. Jonathan brought his zeal and natural born skills to SUNBOX Eleven Winery in the form of their 2007 whites.

Masterminded with us: the maverick 2007 and the nice 2007.