Winemaker Interview

A Passion for the Grape – Reboot Your Life in Wine Country

 10 Responses »
Apr 102012
 

Would you leave a secure job for a shot at working with a winery?

Advice from six who successfully made a wine-stained reboot

Each year millions of enthusiasts visit California wine country. In fact, Napa Valley is California’s second most popular tourist destination, behind only Disneyland. While many tikes dream of life in the Magic Kingdom, many like me, dream of a life in wine country.

What is so alluring about the wine country lifestyle? Certainly there is the idyllic vineyard landscapes, the sweet aromas of oak barrels and the chance to create liquid art that brings pleasure to so many. But the one thing above others that seems to engage most wine country visitors is the passion they feel from winemakers, tasting room folks and locals they meet during their visit. The passion for the grape is so contagious that many wine lovers leave wine country wishing they could reboot their lives or “do it over again” and somehow create a new wine-stained life.

Of course we have all heard the stories of the rich and uber-rich that bought or built the winery of their dreams. While those stories are wistfully intriguing, most of us will never have that kind of money, short of acquiring that lucky Powerball ticket while filling up the aging Toyota. The passions of wine country however are not limited to the uber-rich and those with viticulture and enology (winemaking) degrees. Wine country is filled with people who sacrificed established careers, good jobs and in some cases friends and family to chase their wine-stained dreams.

During my time as a wine blogger I’ve met quite a few people who found their lives unfulfilled until they took a leap of faith and landed an hourly winery job. Though I share their dream, so far I have not been willing to quit my secure real life job, to be an $8 an hour harvest intern. Am I missing out on the adventure of a lifetime? Continue reading »

Passaggio Wines – A Food Pairing Adventure

 7 Responses »
Feb 292012
 

Cindy Cosco

Mr. B&B and I had breakfast with Cynthia Cosco of Passaggio Wines recently as we left Sonoma County for the Oakland airport.  Passaggio translates to passageway and is a tribute to her Italian ancestors who four generations ago, came to America.  Cindy shares her passion for winemaking with her grandfather who took great joy in sharing his wine with neighbors, friends and family. She spoke of growing up in an Italian home where there always wine and food; thus, she makes her wines to be enjoyed with food (a crisp style with zippy yet balanced acidity) and to bring wine, food and friends together.  The true testament to her winemaking passion is the fact she left a 14-year career in Virginia law enforcement  to pursue her winemaking dream, starting at the bottom.

I grew up with a Chinese mother who came to America when she was fourteen-years-old.  Wine in our home was rarely served, mainly at holidays, so when I did begin to drink wine it was as a stand-alone beverage.  While I enjoy a glass of wine with dinner, I still choose my wines for their ability to stand-alone (usually robust with lower acidity) and those are not always the best food pairing wines. I like to have my glass(es) of wine before, during and after the preparation of the food.  To give Cindy’s Passaggio white wines their due, we decided to design our own food pairing meal. Continue reading »

Meet Winemaker James MacPhail of Sequana and MacPhail Family Pinot Noirs

 4 Responses »
Jan 302012
 

Wine BlogI first met James MacPhail in February of 2011 in his small yet well designed winery located behind his home, near Healdsburg in Sonoma. Others had told me of these beautiful Pinots, but I remained skeptical of the accolades. That skepticism was blown away in about 10 minutes. Predominately a producer of single vineyard Pinot Noir, James and I sat for over two hours sampling the wines and discussing the nuances of each. More than just being a great winemaker, James is smart and fun to hang with. I became more than a fan that day…maybe a devotee.

At that time James split his time between making his own wines under the MacPhail label and working as the winemaker for Hess Collection’s single vineyard Pinot Noir label, Sequana.  James told me he enjoyed the freedom Hess allowed him to create artful wines with the same attention to detail as his own. The relationship must have remained strong, since Hess acquired the MacPhail label later in the year. James continues as winemaker for both.

James’s offerings from the 2009 vintage are as strong as those of 2007. What about 2008 you ask? Well, it seems that many of his vineyards were close enough to the raging fires of that summer to absorbed the smoke flavors (smoke taint) thus producing inferior wines. James refused to bottle that year at significant cost to his small winery. That shows however, his strong commitment to quality.

Continue reading »

Monticello Vineyards – A Corley Family Affair

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Oct 232011
 
Wine Blog

Jay Corely and sons

Many wineries include the term “Family” in their name but few have as much family involved in the day to day operations as Monticello Vineyards – Corley Family Wines. Founded 40 years ago by former translator for the National Security Agency, Jay Corley, Monticello Vineyards is now in the capable second generation hands of Kevin Corley (Vineyard Operations), Chris Corley (Winemaker) and Stephen Corley (Sales & PR).

As one drives toward the property, the beautiful replica of Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello home commands your attention. The Corley family has its roots deep in Virginia soil dating back to the mid-1600’s. Thomas Jefferson, himself a renowned viticulturist and wine lover, once said “No nation is drunken where wine is cheap, and none sober where the dearness of wine substitutes ardent spirits as the common beverage.” For these reasons and more Jay Corley says, “I felt that Mr. Jefferson’s love of good food and fine wine and hospitality was a suitable for my family to dedicate our life’s work honoring his lifestyle and his ideals.” The 5000 sq ft building serves as the office and special events center while housing the elegant Wine Library in the cellar.

Corley Family Wines produces about 15,000 cases of wine a year with the vast majority of its fruit coming from 90 acres of estate vineyards. The wines are bottled under four labels, Monticello Vineyards, Corley, Corley Reserve and Domaine Montreaux Sparkling Wine. Varietals grown include, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Pinot Noir, Syrah, Merlot and Chardonnay. Many wines are priced under $40 with the Reserve Cabernet offered at $72.

Bacchus and Beery Wine Blog had a chance to sit and chat with Kevin and Stephen in the Wine Library. The atmosphere is warm, the guys are very friendly and the Library itself is the perfect place for experiencing the extordinary wines from this extraordinary family winery. Read the Interview Below Continue reading »

2012 Vintners Hall of Fame Inductees

 No Responses »
Oct 142011
 

The Culinary Institute of America Announces

2012 Vintners Hall of Fame Inductees

Wine blogSt. Helena, CA (Press Release) – The Culinary Institute of America (CIA) today announced that its 2012 Vintners Hall of Fame inductees will be Peter Mondavi, Sr., of Charles Krug Winery; Professor Albert Winkler of UC Davis; Joe Heitz of Heitz Cellars in the Napa Valley; former Beringer winemaker Myron Nightingale; Mendocino County pioneer John Parducci; and legendary South Coast vintner Richard Sanford. Dr. Eugene Hilgard, one of the fathers of modern soil science, was previously elected unanimously by the Nominating Committee. Continue reading »

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