Inside Winemaking - the art and science of growing grapes and crafting wine

Everyday on my commute to work I pass Miner Family Wines in the Oakville District of Napa.  I was quite fortunate to stop on my way home recently and have a conversation with my friend, and Miner winemaker, Stacy Vogel.  

Before we got talking about her post at Miner, Stacy detailed her experiences traveling and working France and Australia.  Given how much time I spend cleaning and sanitizing the winery where I spend my days, I was a bit envious when Stacy described the benign neglect that was part of her internship at Bouchard Pere & Fils in Burgundy.  

Stacy also did stints at Tahbilk winery in Victoria, Australia, Cain Vineyard and Winery in Napa, and Ledson Winery and Vineyards in Sonoma.  I'd recommend to anyone visiting Napa to check out Cain, it's a bit spectacular.  

There's no such thing as a short harvest at Miner, as they are working with Burgundian, Bordelais, Rhone varieties, and even some Sangiovese.  It's one of my favorite pass-times to pick on Pinot producers and I figured Stacy was game because Miner produces five Pinots and quite a bit of that fruit comes from Garys' Vineyard in Santa Lucia.  

Direct download: Stacy_Vogel.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 2:10am EDT

I had a great time recording this podcast with my friend and consultant viticulturist, Garrett Buckland.  Our conversation gets deep into the technical weeds right off the bat, and thus I've split the podcast into two episodes.  Get your coffee, turn on your brain, and get ready to get schooled on what is involved in growing grapes for some of California's top wineries.  Garrett gives insight into:

 

Bringing grapevines into the US and what it takes to clean up the virus and certify new clones.

 

How grapegrowing has changed in the past 20 years.

 

The most critical aspects of caring for a vineyard designed to make iconic wines.

 

The effect of the current drought on graperowing and the 2014 vintage.

Direct download: Garrett_Buckland_Part_2.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 2:27am EDT

I had a great time recording this podcast with my friend and consultant viticulturist, Garrett Buckland.  Our conversation gets deep into the technical weeds right off the bat, and thus I've split the podcast into two episodes.  Get your coffee, turn on your brain, and get ready to get schooled on what is involved in growing grapes for some of California's top wineries.  Garrett gives insight into:

 

Bringing grapevines into the US and what it takes to clean up the virus and certify new clones.

 

How grapegrowing has changed in the past 20 years.

 

The most critical aspects of caring for a vineyard designed to make iconic wines.

 

The effect of the current drought on graperowing and the 2014 vintage

Direct download: Garrett_Buckland_Part_1.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 1:12am EDT

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