GrapeRadio – Wine Talk Show

We last talked to Maggie about 3 years ago, just after she had embarked on her new venture at Antica Terra winery and vineyard, in Oregon. After working with Manfred and Elaine Krankl at Sine Qua Non for the better part of a decade, as well as starting her own label for California Syrah, Maggie was now (literally) knee deep into Oregon Pinot Noir.

The history of Oregon’s Antica Terra Wines began when a group of four individuals, including winemaker Maggie Harrison, purchased the winery in 2005 and two years later planted additional acres of Pinot noir, with more planting planned for 2008. The new winery came on-line in 2009. She purchases fruit from Shea, Cherry Grove, and Croft Vineyards to expand her palette of components.

For her own label, Lillian, a small lot collection named for her grandmother, Maggie is sourcing Syrah from a couple of Santa Maria Valley vineyards.

Join us as we talk with Maggie Harrison, about her approach to winemaking, her current project in Oregon, Antica Terra, and her Lillian label.

For more info: Antica Terra Wines: www.anticaterra.com
For more info: Lillian Winery: www.lillianwinery.com

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

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Show #308
(58:41min 52MB)

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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Shane Finley had been bitten by the wine bug. So, in 2001 he decided to ditch the New York corporate insurance world and try his hand at something different – making wine. After contacting Wells Guthrie at Copain to ask about an opportunity to intern, Shane packed his worldly belongings and headed for California. The mentorship there would lead Shane to work a harvest in Australia, and travel to France to work with Pierre Gaillard in the Northern Rhône. After returning to California, Shane became cellarmaster at Copain, then assistant winemaker at Paul Hobbs, before finally taking his current position in 2006 at Kosta Browne.

As the associate winemaker at Kosta Browne winery, Shane works very closely with Michael Browne making world class Pinot Noir. It would seem, at this point, that he had possibly achieved most of his ambitions in the world of wine. Well, not entirely. It had been a great journey so far, but Shane wanted to begin a personal wine project – a label of his own. Of all the grapes he had worked with thus far, Syrah seemed to speak to him the most. Thus was born Shane Wine Cellars – his family project devoted to producing Syrah. In addition, Shane is making Pinot Noir under the Spell label, as a friends and family venture.

Join us as we talk with Shane about his philosophy and approach to winemaking – as well as his love for both Pinot Noir and Syrah.

For more info on Shane Cellars: www.shanewines.com

Sponsor: Wine Beserker: www.wineberserkers.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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Let’s assume you’ve worked with Manfred Krankl at Sine Qua Non for the last eight years. What could you possibly do for an encore? Well, if you’re Maggie Harrison, you would become part of a venture to work with Oregon Pinot Noir. And then, you’d get to work on your own label as well.

The recent history of Oregon’s Antica Terra winery began when a group of four individuals, including winemaker Maggie Harrison, purchased the winery in 2005 and two years later planted additional acres of Pinot noir, with more planting planned for 2008. The new winery should come on-line in 2009. For her own label, Maggie is sourcing Syrah from Santa Maria Valley for her own, Lillian label, a small lot collection named for her grandmother.

Join us as we talk with Maggie Harrison, about her past experiences with the iconic SQN, and her current projects in Oregon and with California Syrah.

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

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Does the name Russell Bevan ring a bell? Well, it probably does to most wine-geek denizens of the internet. Russell (and alter ego Bacchus) was there at the start, when wine-based bulletin boards and discussion groups emerged from their cocoons.

A rabid wine fan from the time he could buy wine (actually, even before), Russell wanted to learn everything he could about the subject. Eventually, he found many others across the country like himself who were thoroughly into wine. Before long, Russell found himself leading groups of thirsty geeks on extended wine tours of his favorite region, California. These tours became the things of legend, and soon other geeks were doing likewise, exploring and indulging their passion in the California grape scene.

So, where did all this crazy passion for wine lead Russell? Right into winemaking. When he was offered a ton of high-quality Cabernet fruit from a very respected source in Napa Valley, Russell jumped at the chance and made his first Bevan Cellars Cabernet. And where did that lead him? The winemaking job at this same source – Showkett Vineyards. Fast forward to today, Russell leads some of the same friends on a new adventure, hand-sorting through grapes in an all-out effort to make a “yummy” wine.

Join us as we talk with Russell about the early days, the present challenges, and how he and his inspiration Victoria realize a dream of what must seem like the perfect life.

For more info on:

Bevan Cellars: www.bevancellars.com
Drystack Cellars: www.drystackwinery.com
Showket Vineyards: www.showketvineyards.com

Sponsor: Pinpoint Technologies, Mailing List: www.pinpoint-tech.com

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