We continue with our visit to Pinot Days in San Francisco, from June 2012. We consider this to be one of the “must-go” wine festivals each year for wine lovers. Concentrating exclusively on Pinot Noir, there are over 150 individual producers and trade groups from overseas represented at Pinot Days event. Most wineries were from California, covering nearly every Pinot region in the state. In addition, there were also a number of Oregon wineries as well as some small contingents from Burgundy, Germany, and New Zealand. This year, we rounded up 14 producers – small and large – to spend some time with us discussing all things Pinot.

Join us for Part 3 of 3, as we talk with: Brian Vais of Bailiwick, Clare Carver of Big Table Farm, Chad Richard of Furthermore, Jon Grant of Couloir, and Trey Fletcher of Bien Nacido Vineyards/Solomon Hills Vineyard.

For more info: Pinot Days: www.pinotdays.com

Sponsor: Pinpoint Technologies – Your Business List Source: www.pinpoint-tech.com

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Show #325
(1:01:15 min 56.1MB)

The Mosel is one of 13 German wine regions and takes its name from the Moselle River. Before August, 2007 the region was called Mosel-Saar-Ruwer after the eponymous three river valleys. While it is Germany’s third largest in terms of production, it is the leading region in terms of international prestige. Known for its steep slopes, the region’s vineyards overlook the river and are famous for its wines made from the Riesling grape. Because of the northerly location of Mosel, the Riesling wines are often light, low in alcohol, crisp and high in acidity.

Here in the Mid-Mosel, the Prüm family has owned vineyards in the towns of Bernkastel, Graach, Wehlen and Zeltingen since 1156. Founded in 1911 by Sebastian Alois Prüm, S. A. Prüm has been guided by Raimund Prüm, head winemaker and Sebastian’s grandson, since 1971. Today, the estate comprises 40 acres of vineyards planted principally with Riesling. Over 15 acres of S.A. Prüm’s holdings are located within the famed Wehlener Sonnenuhr (“sundial of Wehlen”) domain. Named for the historic sundial painted on an outcrop of slate by a Prüm ancestor back in 1842, the incredibly steep Wehlener Sonnenuhr vineyard is a renowned source of what is arguably Germany’s finest Riesling. Here vines average 80 years and older and benefit from plentiful sunshine – a critical factor in the world’s northernmost wine producing country. The soil is comprised of layers of finely decomposed, mineral-rich blue slate. Underneath, deep-lying aquifers provide the vines with adequate water during dry periods.

Join us as we talk with Raimund Prüm, and his wife Pirjo Oksanen-Prüm, about S. A. Prüm, and the many faces of Riesling from the Mosel.

For more info:
S. A. Prüm: www.sapruem.com/

Palm Bay International: www.palmbay.com/sa-prum.htm

Sponsor: Wine Berserkers: www.wineberserkers.com

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Show #324
(1:28:40 min 81.2 MB)

Want to learn more about Burgundy? Well, there’s a seminar for that! In fact, this is the 2nd of two parts. You’ll be pleased to hear that the 2013 World of Pinot Noir presented a very nice and detailed glimpse of the region that you’re bound to find informative. We’ve broken it into two parts for easy listening.

Join us as we listen to Part 2 of Terroir: the Soul of La Côte d’Or. Don Kinnan, CSS, CWE, and the lead instructor for the French Wine Society’s new Master Burgundy Certificate program, resumes his in-depth seminar on the wines, soils, climate and history of the Côte d’Or. Don begins discussing the Côte de Nuits and the villages of Gevrey-Chambertin, Chambolle-Musigny, Vougeot, Vosne-Romanee. Then for the Côte de Beaune, Don focuses in on Beaune, Pommard, Volnay, and Puligny-Montrachet.

For more info:
World of Pinot Noir: www.worldofpinotnoir.com/

Slide Presentation at WOPN: Don Kinnan Burgundy Seminar

Sponsor: Millesima, Fine Wine Merchants: www.millesima-usa.com

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Show #323
(1:07:520 min 61.6 MB)

Want to learn more about Burgundy? Well, there’s a seminar for that! You’ll be pleased to hear that the 2013 World of Pinot Noir presented a very nice and detailed glimpse of the region that you’re bound to find informative.

So, join us as we listen to Don Kinnan, CSS, CWE, and the lead instructor for the French Wine Society’s new Master Burgundy Certificate program, as he presents an in-depth seminar on the wines, soils, climate and history of the Côte d’Or. Don begins discussing the Côte de Nuits and the villages of Gevrey-Chambertin, Chambolle-Musigny, Vougeot, Vosne-Romanee. Then for the Côte de Beaune, Don focuses in on Beaune, Pommard, Volnay, and Puligny-Montrachet – all, in Part 1 of Terroir: the Soul of La Côte d’Or.

For more info:
World of Pinot Noir: www.worldofpinotnoir.com/

Slide Presentation at WOPN: Don Kinnan Burgundy Seminar

Sponsor: Millesima, Fine Wine Merchants: www.millesima-usa.com

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Show #322
(1:14:53 min 68.6 MB)

‘All I want is a small place out in the country,’ is often how it begins. For Dr. Elias S. Hanna and family, what began in 1985 as a small getaway house/farm in the Russian River Valley, morphed into four vineyard locations. Beginning with 12 acres in the Russian River Valley purchased in the 1970s, he and his children began their foray into winemaking with homemade Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon. In the mid-1980s, Dr. Hanna hired a winemaker and expanded the vineyard holdings.

In the Russian River appellation, the Home Ranch on Occidental Road includes Hanna’s winery production facility, as well as the main 25 acre vineyard planted to Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Sauvignon Blanc. The other RRV property is the Slusser Road vineyard is planted to Sauvignon Blanc, as well as Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. With its cool climate, this 60-acre vineyard is all about aromatics and crisp mouthfeel. Their 88-acre Alexander Valley Red Ranch vineyard is planted to Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Malbec. And, the most recent acquisition is the Bismark Mountain Ranch. Located on the Sonoma side of the Mayacamas Mountains at elevations from 1,400-2,600 feet, the 67 planted acres of steeply terraced rocky volcanic soil are planted to Cabernet, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Malbec, Syrah, Petit Syrah and Zinfandel.

Today, the Hanna family owns 600 acres, 250 of which are planted, split between four different vineyards. Dr. Hanna’s eldest daughter Christine has been running the winery for over 20 years. Join us as we talk with Christine Hanna about a simpler time in the wine-growing world, and what it takes to plan for the family’s future generations.

For more info:
Hanna Winery & Vineyards: www.hannawinery.com/

Sponsor: Wine Berserkers: www.wineberserkers.com

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Show #321
(1:01:51 min 56.6 MB)

Allen Meadows is probably the most followed and well-known enthusiast and reviewer of the wines of Burgundy. Owner and author of the popular quarterly publication Burghound, Allen has been visiting the Burgundy region of France since 1979, when, after finishing graduate school, he decided to “give himself a gift” and travel to Europe. Allen got more than he bargained for, as his early interest turned first to fascination and finally to admiration and love for Pinot Noir and the wines of Burgundy.

Join us for this talk by Allen Meadows, recorded at the 2012 International Pinot Noir Celebration (IPNC), held at Linfield College in McMinnville, Oregon. IPNC is considered to be one of the premiere annual Pinot events held world-wide. For this tour through vineyards of Chambolle-Musigny, Echézeaux, Gevrey-Chambertin, Nuits-Saint-Georges and Vougeot, Allen’s guest panelists include winemakers Bertrand Ambroise of Maison Ambroise, Grégory Gouges of Domaine Henri Gouges, Jacques Lardière of Maison Louis Jadot and Philippe & Vincent Lécheneaut of Domaine Lécheneaut.

For more info:

Allen Meadows’ Burghound: www.burghound.com/

IPNC: www.ipnc.org

Sponsor: Wine Berserkers: www.wineberserkers.com

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Show #320
(1:51:44 min 102 MB)

Beck-Hartweg in Dambach-la-Ville is one of the historic domaines of Alsace. Building on a long tradition of family winegrowing that began in 1590, the reins now belong to young Florian Beck-Hartweg.

As you might expect, Florian makes his wines in the vineyard. Growing Sylvaner, Pinot Blanc, Auxerrois, Riesling, Pinot Gris, Gewurztraminer and Pinot Noir, his overall goal is to create a balanced vineyard with low vigor vines, biodiversity resulting in a natural yield reduction. The results are wines that are very consistent, with terrific minerality, concentration and presence in mouthfeel.

Beck-Hartweg has a mere 5.5 ha (1 hectare = 2.47 acres), out of which 1.5 ha is on the Grand Cru Frankstein vineyard. Although the Grand Cru Frankstein vineyard covers 56 ha, it is divided into four separated, but very similar, south-facing parts. The bedrock here is granitic and the soils are sandy, well-drained and capable of producing elegant, complex, fruity wines with purity and marvelous acidity.

In the last several years, Florian has gained a solid reputation among lovers of wines from Alsace as a skilled, progressive and communicative representative of the future of Alsace. Join us as we talk with Florian about the family heritage, his wine-growing methods and wine-making style, and his philosophy concerning the Alsace AOC and its wines.

For more info:

Florian Beck-Hartweg Wines: beckhartweg.free.fr/

Sponsor: Best Wines Online: www.bestwinesonline.com

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Show #319
(45:10 min 41.4 MB)

In Pursuit of Balance (IPOB) was co-founded in 2011 by Rajat Parr of Michael Mina and RN74 restaurants, and Jasmine Hirsch of Hirsch Vineyards. Their purpose was to assemble a small group of like-minded wine producers they felt were “…striving to produce balanced pinot noir and chardonnay in California…non-manipulation in the cellar, and the promotion of the fundamental varietal characteristics which make pinot noir and chardonnay great – subtlety, poise and the ability of these grapes to serve as profound vehicles for the expression of terroir.”

The subjectivity of “balance” in wines has been a hot, even controversial, topic over the past few years, especially with the generally acknowledged perception that both ripeness and alcohols have been increasing in many wines. As a contrast to this apparent trend, IPOB’s desire involves “…seeking a different direction with their wines, both in the vineyard and the winery.”

Currently at 28 member wineries, IPOB seminars and tastings have been conducted in San Francisco and now Los Angeles, and primarily aimed at media and those in the wine-buying business. We were fortunate to attend the first Los Angeles event (which included an evening consumer tasting), held in February. Join us as we spend some time talking with co-founders Rajat Parr and Jasmine Hirsch, as well as producers Jamie Kutch (Kutch Wines), and Ehren Jordan (Failla Wines).

For more info:

In Pursuit of Balance: www.inpursuitofbalance.com/
Sandhi Wines: www.sandhiwines.com/
Hirsch Vineyards: www.hirschvineyards.com/
Kutch Wines: www.kutchwines.com/
Failla Wines: www.faillawines.com/

Sponsor: Pinpoint Technologies – Your Business List Source: www.pinpoint-tech.com

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Show #318
(45:33 min 41.7 MB)

Freemark Abbey’s history began in 1886, when Josephine Tychson established the original winery along Route 29 in St. Helena, becoming one of the area’s first woman winegrowers. Although its name might indicate otherwise, the winery was never a monastery, nor was it ever inhabited by monks. Instead, the current winery name originated in 1939, when its three owners – Charles Freeman, Markquand Foster and Abbey Ahem – combined their names to form Freemark Abbey.

In 1967, the winery was sold to a group of seven partners, which actually set the stage for a new era of winemaking creativity. In fact, the winery garnered the nickname the “University of Freemark” due to the sheer number of innovations and significant winemakers that emerged. During the 1960s, Freemark Abbey winemaker Brad Webb, (subsequently known for his time at Hanzell) pioneered a number of methods that have since become California winemaking standards. And, his use of non-malolactic fermentation for Chardonnay is still used at Freemark Abbey today. In the 1970s, Jerry Luper (of Château Montelena and Diamond Creek fame) worked his magic on the red wines, cementing Freemark Abbey’s position as a quality Cabernet house.

When wine shop owner Steven Spurrier conducted his now legendary blind tasting in Paris, pitting the upstart wines of California against the established wines of France, Freemark Abbey was among the 12 American wineries chosen to participate. In an upset that shocked the wine world, California wines won every category of the tasting, elevating Napa Valley and California wines onto the world stage. Owned by Jackson Family Wines since 2006, the legacy continues with the same winemaker for nearly 30 years.

Join us as we talk with Ted Edwards, winemaker at Freemark Abbey since 1985. We’ll get some history, and hear what it takes to continue to make the wines he likes to make at this venerable Napa landmark.

For more info: Freemark Abbey: www.freemarkabbey.com

Sponsor: Pinpoint Technologies – Your Business List Source: www.pinpoint-tech.com

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Show #317
(53:51 min 49.3 MB)

As with most wine events, it often comes down to the people – the producers and those behind the scenes – that make attending an event like the World of Pinot Noir both fun and interesting. And, while it’s always nice to taste the wines from artisan producers, it can be challenging to find the opportunity to actually talk with them – especially during a busy tasting. So, we really enjoy sharing our interviews with them, getting the “back story” and finding out more about the people who make these wines. And while we’re at it, it’s almost as fascinating to get a look behind the curtain, to hear what kind of dedication it takes to plan and organize events such as these.

Join us as we hear from Kerith Overstreet of Bruliam Wines, Joe Wagner of Belle Glos and Meiomi Wines, and Karen Steinwachs, President of the Board of Directors for the World of Pinot Noir.

For More Info:

Bruliam Winery: www.bruliamwines.com
Belle Glos Wines: www.belleglos.com
Meiomi Wines: www.meiomiwines.com

For more info: 2013 World of Pinot Noir: www.wopn.com

Sponsor: 2013 World of Pinot Noir: www.wopn.com

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Show #316
(25:46 min 23.6 MB)

Natural winemaking – yet another hot button topic over the past couple of years, was discussed in some depth at the 2012 World of Pinot Noir. The panelists included both small winery winemakers who practice various degrees of “natural” winemaking: Bradley Brown, Big Basin Vineyards; Peter Cargasacchi, Cargasacchi Vineyards; Nathan Kandler, Thomas Fogarty Winery; and Joe Wright, Left Coast Cellars, as well as larger wineries that do not necessarily pursue the extremes of “natural” winemaking due to economy of scale concerns: Scott Kelley, Estancia Estates Winery; Brian Maloney, DeLoach Vineyards; well known author and proponent of “natural” wines Alice Feiring, author of Naked Wine; and Clark Smith, the founder of Vinovation (a provider of alcohol reduction tools, volatile acidity reduction, juice concentration, supplier of tannin adjunct, etc) and vintner at WineSmith.

Join us as we hear from natural winemaking devotees, or maybe the not-so-much devotees, in a seminar moderated by John Haeger, author of North American Pinot Noir, and Pacific Pinot Noir. Maybe we’ll even get a solid definition of the phrase, “natural winemaking.” But don’t hold your breath.

For More Info:

Big Basin Vineyards: bigbasinvineyards.com
Cargasacchi Vineyards: www.cargasacchi.com
Thomas Fogarty Winery: www.fogartywinery.com
Left Coast Cellars: leftcoastcellars.com
Estancia Estates: www.estanciaestates.com
DeLoach Vineyards: www.deloachvineyards.com
WineSmith Wines: www.winesmithwines.com
Alice Feiring: www.alicefeiring.com

Previous GrapeRadio interviews:
Alice Feiring: Alice Feiring on GrapeRadio
John Haeger: John Haeger on GrapeRadio/

For more info: 2013 World of Pinot Noir: www.wopn.com

Sponsor: 2013 World of Pinot Noir: www.wopn.com

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Show #315
(1:31:52 min 84.2MB)

photos, courtesy of Rusty Gaffney, M.D., The Prince of Pinot

We’ve always wondered what role the winemaker plays in determining whether a wine truly speaks of its origins – or, its terroir. For instance, is it possible to make an Oregon Pinot taste as though it came from California – or vice versa? Thankfully, the 2012 World of Pinot Noir featured a seminar discussing this very subject. The seminar, titled Technique vs. Terroir: The Cube Project, covered an experiment currently being conducted by three winemakers – one in Oregon, and two in California.

The concept was fairly straightforward. Three wineries, Anne Amie Vineyards (Oregon), Bouchaine Vineyards (Carneros), and Lincourt Vineyards (Santa Barbara Co.) would split 6-tons of fruit equally among themselves, by sending a 2-ton lot of fruit (or must) to each of the other wineries. The idea was to have each winemaker produce a wine with each of the others fruit – a total of three wines. This would afford them the opportunity to see their home vineyard through someone else’s eyes.

Thomas Houseman (Anne Amie Vineyards), Andrew Brooks (Bouchaine Vineyards), and Leslie Mead Renaud (Lincourt Vineyards) were responsible for the picking decisions at their respective wineries; therefore each of the three wines made from a particular lot would start on equal footing. From there, each winemaker made individual decisions on production methods. The results? Well, you’ll just have to listen for yourself.

Join us as we hear from winemakers Thomas Houseman, Andrew Brooks, and Leslie Mead Renaud, in a seminar moderated by Rusty Gaffney, M.D. (aka, The Prince of Pinot).

Anne Amie Vineyards: anneamie.com
Bouchaine Vineyards: www.bouchaine.com
Lincourt Vineyards: www.lincourtwines.com
The Cube Project: anneamie.com

For more info: 2013 World of Pinot Noir: www.wopn.com

Sponsor: 2013 World of Pinot Noir: www.wopn.com

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Show #314
(1:11:42 min 68MB)

photos, courtesy of Rusty Gaffney, M.D., The Prince of Pinot