GrapeRadio – Wine Talk Show

Located half-way between San Francisco and Los Angeles, the Edna Valley is recognized as one of the finest Central Coast grape growing regions in California, known in particular for Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Rhone grape varieties. With the Pacific Ocean just a few miles away, the coastal fog and breezes combine to create one of the longest growing seasons. The climate, combined with the calcareous and volcanic soils of the area, results in wines with concentration and balancing acidity.

In 1973 Chamisal became the first winery to plant vines in Edna Valley, a gamble that paved the way for one of the most revered wine regions of California. The vineyard is named for the native, white-flowered Chamise plant that thrives on the property. In the early 1990’s after a period of dormancy, the vineyard was replanted and the estate was renamed Domain Alfred. New ownership began in 2008 and restored the original name – Chamisal Vineyard – to honor its place in Edna Valley history.

Join us as we talk with Chamisal winemaker Fintan DuFresne about the history, the vineyards, and the wines. We’ll even taste the new un-oaked Pinot for you!

For more info:

Chamisal Vineyards: www.ChamisalVineyards.com

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

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Show #362
(42:29 min 40.8 MB)

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When Australian businessman Terry Peabody visited New Zealand in 1997, he was introduced to noted kiwi viticulturalist and Master of Wine, Steve Smith. The pair made an important decision from the very beginning – to pursue the Single Vineyard Philosophy of winemaking – to select and source the best land and vineyards in the country, and to plant the vines perfectly suited to that terroir. Craggy Range was the first in the Southern Hemisphere to adopt such an approach from multiple regions of the country.

Director of Wine and Viticulture, Steve is a founding director of Craggy Range. He has had a distinguished academic, research and commercial career in the wine business since 1980 and is the only specialist viticulturist in the world to also hold a Master of Wine.

Chief Winemaker Matt Stafford graduated from Lincoln University in 2003 with a BSc (Soil Science) and a Postgraduate Diploma in Viticulture and Oenology. Further vintage experience was gained in Marlborough, Australia and California before joining Craggy Range in 2006.

In 2007 Matt was the inaugural recipient of Air New Zealand’s Inspiring New Zealanders Wine Award allowing extensive travel throughout the great wine regions of France, spending time with the likes of Dominique Lafon, Philippe Guigal and Jean-Louis Chave. Following this, Matt worked with Jean-Luc Thunevin at Chateau Valandraud in the heart of St Emilion.

Join us as we talk with Steve and Matt about Craggy Range. We’ll learn how unique New Zealand really is for winegrowing. And, we’ll get a little history, as well as a good laugh or two.

For more info: Craggy Range: www.craggyrange.com

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

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Show #309
(55:06min 52MB)

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Today show features the world’s only blind winemaker, C.P. Lin, of Mountford Estate in New Zealand

Taiwan-born C.P. Lin was a brilliant mathematics student at University of Canterbury who became captivated by wine through participation in a social wine club on campus. He realized early on that he had an extremely well-developed sense of smell. Lin was blinded by retinoblastoma (carcinoma of the retina) in both eyes at the age of three but was not deterred into becoming a winemaker. He attended enology and viticulture classes at Lincoln University but could not graduate because his disability prevented him from completing the practical lab work required for a degree. Nevertheless, he went on to work successfully in the wine industry and has brought Mountford Estate in Waipara to international prominence. The wines of Mountford Estate have become a cult wine, with only 2,000 cases produced of Pinot Gris, Riesling, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.

Our in-studio interview with Lin, who visited the states recently, covers a wide range of wine and winemaking topics and is truly one of the most fascinating programs we have ever presented.

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

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Show #274
(1:03:04 min 45MB)

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Kumeu River Wines was established in 1944 when Mick and Katé Brajkovich and their son Maté first came to the small country settlement of Kumeu, about 20 km northwest of Auckland City, New Zealand. When Mick died in 1949, Maté and Katé continued to tend the vines and make the wine. In 1958 Maté married Melba Sutich from Dargaville, whose antecedents also came from the Dalmatian coast. Maté passed away in 1992, and now Melba the couple’s three sons run the family winery and vineyards. Michael Brajkovich, studied Oenology at Roseworthy College in South Australia,then returned to the family vineyard and winery in Kumeu to take up responsibility for wine production. Since then he has travelled extensively through the world’s wine areas, spending the 1983 vintage in France with the reputed house of Jean Pierre Moueix in Libourne, near Bordeaux. In 1989, Michael passed the Examination and became New Zealand’s first member of the prestigious Institute of Masters of Wine, London. He has many years experience in judging at the New Zealand National Wine Awards, and also has judged at the Australian National Capital Wine Show in Canberra, the Royal Hobart Wine Show in Tasmania and at the Perth Royal Wine Show.

Based on this experience, a new range of wines was developed under the “Kumeu River” label, including a Sauvignon/Semillon blend and a Merlot Cabernet. However, it is the Chardonnay that has enjoyed the greatest critical acclaim, and the “Wine Spectator” magazine has placed Kumeu River Chardonnay in its annual list of the top 100 wines on five occasions. In 1996, the Kumeu River Chardonnay 1994 was ranked at Number 6.

Join us as we talk with Michael Brajkovich about his family’s history in the region, the terroir of New Zealand, his use of indigenous yeasts, and what it took to become a Master of Wine.

For More Info on the Wines of Kumeu River: www.kumeuriver.co.nz

Sponsor: Karafe, Wine Board Game: www.karafe.com

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Located at the top of New Zealand’s South Island, Marlborough is home to the Kiwi’s largest wine growing region. Its international reputation has been cemented with the production of some excellent Sauvignon Blanc, along with some very nice Chardonnay and Riesling, and it is now flirting with Pinot Noir. However, fully one-third of the region is planted to Sauvignon Blanc, making it akin to the national grape. And, it’s no wonder – with plenty of sun, cool nights, and very little autumn rain, the well-drained gravel-laced alluvial soils make a comfortable home to the grape.

So, it should come as no surprise that a new Marlborough producer, Long Boat, is also concentrating on Savignon Blanc (“Savi” in Kiwi). However, they’ve decided to push the envelope and grow the wine at an elevation of 400-1,000 feet in the more remote Awatere and Waihopai Valleys, rather than on the flatlands of the Wairau. They feel the added stress of the vines should produce wines with more intense flavors.

Join us as we talk with Craig Murphy, winemaker and winery manager for Long Boat, about the country, the region, and Long Boat’s own unique style of “Savi.”

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

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