GrapeRadio – Wine Talk Show

Another eagerly awaited seminar from the 2011 HdR was this in-depth look at the Central Coast wines of Joey Tensley (Tensley Wines) and the Sonoma County wines of Morgan Twain-Peterson (Bedrock Wine Co.). Many of the attendees were probably already familiar with Tensley’s wines, but this was a chance to get the seemingly taciturn winemaker talking about his methods. Although Twain-Peterson’s Bedrock wines have been a fairly hot topic on the internet boards of late, this was something of an introduction to his wines. The avatar/icon of both wineries is eerily similar – featuring a grayscale sketch of a vine and its root system.

Joey Tensley began his career in the wine business in 1993. After serving stints as cellar-rat at Fess Parker and assistant winemaker at Babcock, Joey was then hired in 1998 as assistant winemaker at Beckmen Vineyards. It was a fortuitous move, since it introduced him to Beckmen’s speciality – Rhone varietals. Steve Beckmen also offered him space to launch his own label, and Joey began Tensley Wines. Three years later, after growth from 100 cases to 700 cases, he decided to move into his own winery and devote all of his time to his eponymous label.

From the beginning, Joey decided to produce only vineyard-designated Syrahs. He also decided that those Syrahs would all be priced the same and made in the same fashion. He used 30% whole cluster fermentation, three times daily hand punch-downs, and very little or no new oak.

But, never say never, and Tensley finally introduced a white Rhone blend, the Tensley Blanc (65% Grenache Blanc; 35% Roussanne). He also introduced a Grenache-Syrah blend named for his niece. But otherwise, the line-up remains the same: only vineyard-designated Syrahs, made in exactly the same way and all priced the same. Original production of 100 cases has steadily moved up to the current 4,000 cases.

It could easily be said that Morgan Twain-Peterson was literally born into the wine business. In fact, he was born at home in Sonoma, Ca. to parents Joel Peterson and Kate Twain. Largely raised at his father’s Ravenswood Winery, Morgan was obviously exposed to wine and wine tasting from the get-go. In fact, Morgan began making small lots of Pinot Noir when he was 5 years old, from lots given to him by the Sangiacomo family. Yes, implausible as it may seem, he made his first wine at the age of five!

After going off to school as an undergraduate at Vassar and a graduate student at Columbia University, Morgan returned home to Sonoma County in 2005 to work harvest at Ravenswood. Afterward, he spent time as a visiting winemaker at Hardy’s Tintara Winery in McLaren Vale, also spending a few highly educational days with Drew and Rae Noon at Noon Winery. In the fall of 2006, he was a visiting winemaker at Chateau Lynch-Bages in Pauillac.

When not making his own wine, Morgan is a manager of his family’s Bedrock Vineyards in Sonoma Valley, and a part of Sunbreak Vineyard Services L.L.C, a vineyard management company run by Diane Kenworthy and Robert Burney. He has also passed the Master of Wine exam and upon successful completion of the dissertation will become one of less than thirty American M.W.’s – and, probably one of the youngest, too.

Sponsor: Wine Berserkers: On-Line Wine Community: www.wineberserkers.com

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Show #297
(57:41 min 53MB)

The first seminar from the 2010 Hospice du Rhône, was an introduction to all that has been happening lately with Syrah in South Africa. Appropriately titled, “We’ve Come a Long Way Baby”, the seminar did indeed give us a glimpse of how things used to be, and what they have become.

Photo above – (Andrea Mullineux, James Molesworth, Davis Trafford, Marc Kent, Eben Sadie, and Chris Mullineux)

Moderated by Wine Spectator Senior Editor James Molesworth, panelists described South Africa’s long history with wine, beginning with the Dutch settlers in the 19 Century. Unfortunately, the more recent history of South African wine is irrevocably tied to the period know as apartheid, a system of legal racial segration that lasted nearly a half-century, drawing the world’s ire, and saddling the country with sanctions and trade embargoes from other nations. When apartheid finally ended in 1994, South African wineries had hoped to make up for lost time. However, the quality was spotty and its wines were not well received. Yet, it was this same public dislike that ultimately pushed the wineries to improve quality. The most surprising discovery from this seminar was that Syrah is merely 10% of the country’s wine production!

Join us, as we hear from some of South Africa’s brightest winemakers, and hear about the current crop of wines coming ‘Out of Africa.’

For More Info: Hospice du Rhone (HdR): www.hospicedurhone.org

Sponsor: Porter Family Vineyards – Napa Valley: www.porterfamilyvineyards.com

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Show #277
(59:51 min 39MB)

Each year, Hospice du Rhône produces an exciting three-day wine event that is regarded as the single most educational and enjoyable gathering of international Rhône wine producers and enthusiasts. Attendees are treated to four in-depth wine seminars, a well as wine tastings and some great meals. But, arguably the most valuable aspect of this fabulous event is the opportunity for attendees to rub elbows with the very producers and winemakers whose enthusiasm for Syrah, Grenache and twenty other varieties of Rhône Valley grapes has inspired the passion in all of us.

We return to the 2009 HdR with our coverage of a somewhat unusual Riedel seminar. Normal Riedel seminars cover how different shapes of stemware affect the aroma and taste of different grape varieties. However, this seminar was devised to illustrate the differences of three syrah-based wines (2005 E. Guigal – St. Joseph, 2005 Elderton Shiraz – Barossa, 2007 Miner/Villard “La Diligence” Stagecoach Vnyd, Napa) when sampled from 4 different stems. Even more interesting, 3 of the 4 glasses were designed specifically for Syrah-based wines.

The “science” behind the shape of the wine glass seems to always cause conversation. Most non-science/engineering types of people are unable to explain the phenomena. Riedel explains it this way: the shape of the glass dictates the emission of aroma, somewhat based on how a person positions their head while drinking, which ultimately alters the way the wine flows into the mouth. By narrowing the rim of the glass, this focuses the drinker to tilt his head back, delivering the wine to potentially different zones of the tongue, which results in the brain perceiving different flavors. The volume of the glass, the diameter of its rim, the thickness of the crystal, and the finish also all play a role in the roll of the wine onto the tongue.

The Stemware used for this event were: Riedel Restaurant = Oregon Pinot glass #0447/07; Sommeliers = Hermitage 0400/30; Vinum Extreme = Syrah 4444/30; and Flow = Syrah 0407/30. that seeks to find the differences Based on the tried – and arguably true – impression that wines taste and smell different when consumed from different stemware.

For more info on Hospice du Rhone: www.hospicedurhone.org

For more info on Riedel, Wine Glass Company: www.riedel.com

Sponsor: VinAssure, Wine Preservation System: www.vinassure.com

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Each year, Hospice du Rhône produces an exciting three-day wine event held in Paso Robles, California. Regarded as the single most educational and enjoyable gathering of international Rhône wine producers and enthusiasts, attendees are treated to four in-depth wine seminars, two large-scale wine tastings, in addition to some great meals. But, arguably the most valuable aspect of this fabulous event is the opportunity for attendees to rub elbows with the very producers and winemakers whose enthusiasm for Syrah, Grenache and twenty other varieties of Rhône Valley grapes has inspired the passion in all of us.

We begin our coverage of the 2009 HdR with Seminar #1 – Somms Gone Wild. Moderator John Alban takes us through the very unique experiences of five former Sommeliers (aka, somms) as they took their love for one step further, becoming winemakers themselves. Listen in as we hear from: Richard Betts, of Betts & Scholl, Cris Cherry, of Villa Creek Cellars, John Lancaster and Robert Perkins of Skylark Wine Company, and Paul Lato, of Paul Lato Wines.

For More Info:

2010 Hospice du Rhone : www.hospicedurhone.org

Sponsor: California Wine Club: www.cawineclub.com

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To any fan of the wines from France’s Rhone Valley, the name Guigal needs no introduction – in fact it is as well known as Syrah itself. In fact, everyone attending the 4th seminar of the 2008 Hospice du Rhone was salivating to partake of these wines.

Hosted by Phillippe Guigal, with additional commentary from Patrick Will, attendees were able to sample 10 wines from E. Guigal: 2006 Condrieu, 2006 Condrieu “La Doriane,” 2006 St. Joseph “Lieu-Dit Le St. Joseph,” the etherial 2005 Ermitage Blanc “Ex Voto,” 2003 Cote Rotie “Brune et Blonde,” 2005 St. Joseph “Vignes de L’Hospice,” 1998 Cote Rotie “Chateau d’ Ampuis,” 2004 Cote Rotie “La Moline,” 2004 Cote Rotie “La Landonne,” and finally the amazing 2001 Ermitage Rouge “Ex Voto.”

Join us as we hear from Phillippe Guigal about the fascinating history of this legnedary property, with its steep hillside vineyards and delicious wines.

For more info on Hospice du Rhone: www.hospicedurhone.org

For more info on the wines of E. Guigal: www.guigal.com

Sponsor- The Office of Champagne USA: www.champagne.us

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It’s no secret that Spain is producing many of the world’s great wine produced from Rhone varietals. Yet, it was another eye-opening experience to taste through the first seminar from the 2008 Hospice du Rhone. Importer Eric Solomon pulled together some of the top winemakers in Spain in the presence of Jurgen Wagner of Cellar Capçanes, Daniel Castaño of Bodegas Castaño and Bodegas Salinas, Javier Muñoz of Bodegas Cigarral Pago del Ama (also accompanied by his highly-acclaimed father, chef Adolfo Muñoz of Restaurant Adolfo in Toledo), and Frenchman Philippe Cambie of Bodegas Mas Alta, who is also a consulting winemaker for several of the top Domains in Chateauneuf du Pape, including Pegau and Vieux Donjon.

Join us as we explore several Spanish appellations to see how “The Reign in Spain” is continuing to impress palates everywhere.

Sponsor- Champagne USA: www.champagne.us

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