GrapeRadio – Wine Talk Show

The 2nd annual Pinot Days was held in San Francisco’s Fort Mason Event Center, June 23-24. Organizers Steve and Lisa Rigisich and Eric and Teri White continue to tweak this event, making it one of the must-attend Pinot Noir festivals during the year. The festivities included a series of sit-down blind tasting of the best producers from the Russian River and Sonoma Coast appellations, followed by a look at the wines of Pisoni, Garys’ and Rosella’s vineyards, from the Santa Lucia Highlands. There were also a number of smaller regional or vineyard-specific tastings, followed by the huge Grand Tasting, with wines from 140 Pinot Noir producers from California, Oregon, and New Zealand.

While all of this wine was being poured, your diligent GrapeRadio crew was busy interviewing attendees and winemakers.

Join us as we sit down with:

Steve Rigisich and Eric White, Pinot Days: www.pinotdays.com
Gary Pisoni, Pisoni Vineyards and Wines: www.pisonivineyards.com
Alder Yarrow, Vinography: www.vinography.com
Pam Bacagalupi, Bacagalupi Vineyards/John Tyler Wines: www.johntylerwines.com
Rod Berglund, Joseph Swan Vineyards : www.swanwinery.com
Suzie Bynum, Davis Bynum Winery: www.davisbynum.com

More Information on Pinot Days:

2007 Pinot Days: www.pinotdays.com

Sponsor: Champagne USA: www.champagne.us

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View More Photos From ’2006 Pinot Days – Part 1′

Our new Correspondent, Rusty Gaffney (AKA: The Prince of Pinot) hit the road last week to cover the annual charity event “Hospice de Sonoma”.

Modeled after the world-renowned “Hospices de Beaune” auction held annually in Beaune, France this wine event raised over $450,000 to benefit local charities. The auction is the only place where you can barrel-taste and bid on 2006 vintage Pinot Noirs from the world’s preeminent Sonoma Coast, Russian River Valley, Green Valley and Sonoma Carneros.

For More Information:

Hospice of Sonoma: www.hospicesofsonoma.org
Auction Results and Charities: Recap of Event

Contact them now to reserve your spot for 2008 event. It will sell out!

Sponsor: Wine Away, Red Wine Stain Remover: www.wineaway.com

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We are excited to welcome back wine critic Stephen Tanzer, Editor and Publisher of the highly acclaimed bimonthly publication, International Wine Cellar an independent wine journal founded in 1985. The IWC is read by wine professionals and wine lovers alike, and was the first American wine periodical to be translated into French and Japanese.

Tanzer samples and reviews over 10,000 wines annually, spending several months on the road each year tasting with winemakers and winegrowers from the world’s most important wine-producing regions. His depth of coverage is considerable, and he has consistently spotted the emerging superstar producers on five continents. With his recent book (Oct 2006), “The WineAccess Buyer’s Guide: The World’s Best Wines and Where to Find Them” Tanzer recommends the best wines from the top producers and regions, creating what might be the ultimate buying tool for wine drinkers.

More Information:

International Wine Celler: www.internationalwinecellar.com
Buy the Book Now – WineAccess Buyers Guide
Buy the Report Now – International Wine Cellar

Previous Interview:

Show 49 – Part 1
Show 50 – Part 2

Sponsor: Wine Away, Red Wine Stain Remover: www.wineaway.com

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We were fortunate to have in our studio, Marc Perrin, who together with his brother Pierre own the famous Château de Beaucastel in the Châteauneuf-du-Pape region of France.

The terroir here is quite unique, so join us as we discuss this area carved by the Rhone River during the Miocene period, which left an alluvium soil nearly covered with rounded stones known as galets. The topography, combined with the warm dry Mistral winds of southern France creates an amazing incubator for Grenache, the primary grape of the region.

We also spend some time discussing the Tablas Creek Creek project in Paso Robles – a successful joint effort with importer Robert Haas, and we will also find out about Marc’s role with GrapeRadio Europe. 

More Information:

Château de Beaucastel: www.beaucastel.com
GrapeRadio Europe: www.europe.graperadio.com

Sponsor: North Berkeley Imports: www.northberkeleyimports.com

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Click Here: Tablas Creek Vineyards

Sure, there are cave tours. But, then there are CAVE TOURS!

Join us in the Napa Valley as we follow Dave Del Dotto through his nearly 150 year-old candle-lit cave. Along the way, Dave discusses everything from ancient wine history, religion and wine, fermenting in a clay vessel, how wines affect your body, the effects of sulfites in wine, wine as a natural anti-biotic and disinfectant, to how Cabernet Franc is the real Cabernet.

And what about oak as a spice rack, its toast levels, selecting bottling by barrel type?  Dave probably uses more different oak varieties than anyone, and you can actually order your own final blend of wine based on this tasting tour. Of course, along the way we have to stop and barrel sample many wines…no, make that many, many wines!

More Information:

Del Dotto Vineyards: www.deldottovineyards.com

Sponsor: Custom Crush Napa: www.napainvestors.com

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View More Photos From ‘Master of the Cave Tour: Dave Del Dotto’

The Live Auction – Without a doubt, the live auction portion of the Auction Napa Valley is the “Main Event.” Held at the Meadowood Napa Valley Resort, the auction is a spectacle to behold.   Incredible auction lots, huge arrays of food and wine, and plenty of excitement, both during and after the auction – which is when the partying acually begins.

Join us as we speak to Warren Winiarski, Ann Colgin, mc/host Ryan Seacreast, auctioneer Ursula Hermacinski, and Joy Craft – the winning bidder of the first lot to exceed $1,000,000.

More Information:

Auction Napa Valley: www.napavintners.com
Warren Winiarski, Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars: www.cask23.com
Ann Colgin, Colgin Cellars: www.colgincellars.com
Ryan Seacrest: www.ryanseacrest.com
Ursula Hermacinski, Gavelgal: www.gavelgal.com

Sponsor: Custom Crush Napa: www.napainvestors.com

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View More Photos From ’2006 Auction Napa Valley – Part 3′