Alcohol a factor in North Bay winemaker's fatal crash

A well-known North Bay winemaker had almost three times the legal limit of alcohol in his blood system when he crashed his car in Yountville on April 16, authorities said.

Dennis Malbec, 46, had an alcohol blood level of 0.21 percent when his 2016 Mercedes-Benz ran off a road near Highway 29 and struck a fence and a number of trees, said Napa County Sheriff’s Office Capt. Steve Blower with its Coroner’s Office. Malbec was pronounced dead at the scene. A passenger, Josh Phelps, escaped injury.

Malbec, along with his wife, May-Britt, was a founding winemaker at Capture Wines, with an estate vineyard on Pine Mountain near Cloverdale.

He was a consulting winemaker at prestigious brands throughout Napa and Sonoma counties and the couple later opened up their own Notre Vin label.