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

In the basement of the world's cutest micro-winery, I met with Mark Porembsky to talk about his work there making not only the wine for Anomaly Vineyards, but also for his own brand, Zeitgeist Cellars.  

Our conversation covers:

  • Mark's favorite winemaking tool
  • The mentors that Mark  had when learning to make wine
  • How Mark and his wife, also a winemaker, harness "creative conflict" in their blending process
  • How subtlety and complexity have evolved to be hallmarks of the Zeitgeist wines
  • The origins of Anomaly Vineyards
  • How Mark uses analytical tools such as tannin assays to inform his winemaking

LINKS AND RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

Deep Winemaking 2017 is scheduled for August 10-12th in Napa.  Come spend three days immersed in technical visits with winemakers, viticulturists, barrel cooperages, and wine laboratories with other like-minded aspiring winemakers.  

Please email me with any questions or comments about winemaking or this podcast    jim@insidewinemaking.com

The Inside Winemaking Podcast on iTunes

And Stitcher Radio Too

Questions?  Comments?  Let me know what you think: jim@insidewinemaking.com

Direct download: Mark_Porembski_Complete.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 1:42am EDT

Three years after my first podcast with Mike Dunn, he helped me rope Randy Dunn into a podcast so that we could learn more about old-school Napa winemaking and the stories from a place that had far less glitz than exists today.  Not one to seek the spotlight, Randy has consistently turned out iconic mountain Cabernets, which have brought the spotlight up to their otherwise quiet ranch on Howell Mountain since the 70's.  Mike and Randy count their harvests together in decades, not years.  

There are two reasons this turned out to be a great podcast.  First, Randy painted a picture of his background and some of the adventures from his early days at Caymus Vineyards, including misleading immigration raids.  Second, Mike and Randy were candid about their methods of working together together at Dunn Vineyards.  

For a primer to this episode, check out Mike's first podcast on Inside Winemaking in Ep. 3 from August of 2014, where we discuss his path back to Dunn Vineyards and the creation of his own wines with the Retro Cellars brand.  

 

LINKS AND RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

Deep Winemaking 2017 is scheduled for August 10-12th in Napa.  Come spend three days immersed in technical visits with winemakers, viticulturists, barrel cooperages, and wine laboratories with other like-minded aspiring winemakers.  

Please email me with any questions or comments about winemaking or this podcast    jim@insidewinemaking.com

The Inside Winemaking Podcast on iTunes

And Stitcher Radio Too

Questions?  Comments?  Let me know what you think: jim@insidewinemaking.com

Direct download: Randy_and_Mike_Dunn_Complete.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 1:23am EDT

I had a great time talking with Rebekah Wineburg, who has made worked at some of the top wineries in the world and is currently the winemaker at Quintessa in Napa Valley.  Rebekah told me her background and then the full history on Quintessa including the key elements she uses to describe the wine, "Elegance, harmony, and layers."  

Our conversation covers a whole range and vineyard and winery topics such as:

  • How to pick vineyards for a specific wine style
  • Rebekah's thoughts on extended maceration
  • The size and diversity of vineyard blocks at Quintessa in the Rutherford AVA
  • Biodynamics "as we believe it to be" and the preparations applied in the vineyard
  • Protocol 2010 and the contractor that Quintessa uses to have confidence that new vines are clean when planted
  • Ideas to help consumers feel confident with her wines, and the differences in tasting with other winemakers vs. consumers
  • Plans for the winery re-design at Quintessa
  • What it's like to work with the Huneeus family

LINKS AND RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

DEEP WINEMAKING 2017 IS SCHEDULED FOR AUGUST 10-12TH IN NAPA.  COME SPEND THREE DAYS IMMERSED IN TECHNICAL VISITS WITH WINEMAKERS, VITICULTURISTS, BARREL COOPERAGES, AND WINE LABORATORIES WITH OTHER LIKE-MINDED ASPIRING WINEMAKERS.  

PLEASE EMAIL ME WITH ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ABOUT WINEMAKING OR THIS PODCAST    JIM@INSIDEWINEMAKING.COM

The Inside Winemaking Podcast on iTunes

And Stitcher Radio Too

Questions?  Comments?  Let me know what you think: jim@insidewinemaking.com

Direct download: Rebekah_Wineburg_Complete.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:43am EDT

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