GrapeRadio – Wine Talk Show

The HdR is a two-day event featuring wine seminars, library and Grand tastings, and a unique opportunity to meet and talk with people who are at the forefront of the increasingly popular Rhône varietal movement throughout the world. From its modest beginnings as The Viognier Guild, vintners Mat Garretson and John Alban debuted the event in 1993, envisioning it as a quasi-conference for winemakers and vintners who were passionate about wine varieties originating from the France’s Rhône Valley. Today, the 17th annual event is largely the work of local vintners John Alban and Vicki Carroll, who have invited international winemakers and producers to come and celebrate Rhône wines with other enthusiasts.

For our coverage of the 2009 Hospice du Rhône, we bring you the sights, sounds (and smells) of the event. Plus, came up with more of our burning questions to ask winemakers and producers. No debate, no discussion (okay, maybe a little) – we just wanted to know what they thought about several issues, such as: Has technology helped you make better wines? What the heck is going on with American Syrah? Do good scores from wine critics help you sell wine? And finally, If you could put a cute critter on your label, what would it be?

Sponsor: Hospice du Rhone: www.hospicedurhone.org

Prior to the main HdR events of Friday and Saturday, the winemakers and producers conduct a Syrah Shootout, a blind tasting of 45-50 wines to determine by vote the best three Syrahs in the lineup. The prize? How about: bragging rights until next year’s event, plus a pseudo-trophy of a small wooden barrel and plaque, and finally an ever-so-gauche plaid sportcoat – suitably named “the Coat du Rhône.”
Submitted wines (Syrahs/Shiraz), are all bagged and numbered. Winemakers and producers are asked to taste through the wines, pick their top three and turn in their scoring to HdR personnel. This can be an interesting proposition, and the winners are quite often a big surprise to everyone. This year’s winners were: 1st – Four Vines, Santa Barbara County; 2nd- Caliza – Russell, Vnyd, Paso Robles; and 3rd -Graves – Ohana Vnyd, Paso Robles.

Sponsor: Hospice du Rhone: www.hospicedurhone.org

The World of Pinot event, held annually in Shell Beach, California, celebrates all the best things about the “heartbreak grape.” From France’s Burgundy region to shores of the New World and even the Southern Hemisphere, Pinot Noir is everything to its legion of fans.

Join us as we get a snapshot of the event, its tastings and seminars, and talk with several winemakers to get their take on some of our most burning questions. We asked them: “If you weren’t a winemaker, what would you be,” to get a sense of who they were. And we asked them, “Do you have more North American Pinot or Burgundy in your wine cellar,” to check their stylistic preferences. Of course, there was no way we could dodge the high alcohol question, and quizzed them with, “Can you make a Pinot Noir over 15% alcohol and have it still be balanced?” Finally, we wondered about their sensitivity level. So, we asked them to finish the sentence, “Pinot Noir is like sex because….” Needless to say, one or two of the responses were…uh…thought provoking.

To find out more information and to buy tickets:

World of Pinot Noir: www.worldofpinotnoir.com

Sponsor: North Berkeley Imports, Wine Merchants: www.northberkeleyimports.com

Continuing our coverage of the 2008 Hospice du Rhône, we had some burning questions and we wanted some answers.
What do today’s winemakers, producers, importers, and attendees think of:
High alcohol wines?
Your favorite: French vs. American wines?
What’s your favorite amongst the 22 Rhone varietals?

For More Info on the Hospice Du Rhône: www.hospicedurhone.org