Today we toast to grapes, and the people who grow them! A few weeks ago, I anchored the boat and drove up to Sonoma to chat with Robert Dahut. Robert is a modern-day gentleman farmer, or a person who engages in farming but doesn’t depend on it for his living. He started growing a world-class Pinot Noir on his six-acre property about seven years ago. It takes a lot of work to farm on the rocky volcanic terrain, but the vines love it!   We also discuss: What it’s like to grow and harvest grapes for wine Why Pinot Noir grapes are especially tricky to grow The 2019 wine from Saintsbury that will use this harvest An audio tour of the vineyard Farming equipment Grafting plants & clones Resources Keep your eyes peeled for the 2019 Saintsbury Pinot Noir using this the 2017 Dahut Vineyard grape harvest Remember To enjoy Flowers Winery’s 2014 Pinot Noir from Sonoma Coast, that is, if you can still find it! Robert Dahut’s Bio: Robert​ ​Dahut​ ​​is​ ​a​ ​serial​ ​entrepreneur​ ​who​ ​works​ ​in​ ​the​ ​Bio​ ​Tech​ ​Industry.​ ​He​ ​has​ ​no​ ​formal training​ ​in​ ​viticulture​ ​but​ ​has​ ​been​ ​able​ ​to​ ​develop​ ​a​ ​highly​ ​sought​ ​after​ ​hillside​ ​vineyard​ ​that grows​ ​ultra​ ​premium​ ​Pinot​ ​Noir​ ​in​ ​Sonoma​ ​County.​​ ​It​ ​really​ ​started​ ​with​ ​a​ ​dream​ ​and​ ​a​ ​passion to​ ​do​ ​something​ ​great​ ​with​ ​their​ ​property​ ​for​ ​which​ ​they​ ​would​ ​be​ ​proud​ ​of.​ ​ They​ ​are​ ​surrounded by​ ​world​-class​ ​Pinot​ ​Noir​ ​and​ ​Chardonnay​ ​vineyards,​ ​so​ ​they​ ​knew​ ​they​ ​had​ ​the​ ​correct​ ​soils​ ​and appalachian​ ​to​ ​make​ ​their​ ​vineyard​ ​stand​ ​out.​ ​The​ ​Dahuts​ ​treat​ ​their​ ​vines​ ​with​ ​loving​ ​care​ ​and strive​ ​to​ ​be​ ​good​ ​stewards​ ​of​ ​the​ ​land​ ​and​ ​the​ ​environment,​ ​believing​ ​what​ ​makes​ ​for​ ​a​ ​great place​ ​to​ ​live​ ​also​ ​produces​ ​the​ ​highest​ ​quality​ ​grapes.​ ​ Robert’s​ ​second​ ​passion​ ​is​ ​growing​ ​olive trees.​​​ ​He​ ​grows​ ​over​ ​8​ ​different​ ​varieties​ ​of​ ​Tuscan​ ​Olives​ ​to​ ​produce​ ​extra​ ​virgin​ ​olive​ ​oil.​ ​Like their​ ​vineyard,​ ​everything​ ​is​ ​organic​ ​and​ ​keeps​ ​to​ ​the​ ​highest​ ​standards​ ​of​ ​best​ ​farming practices.​ ​Robert​ ​has​ ​gained​ ​all​ ​of​ ​his​ ​experience​ ​learning​ ​from​ ​others​ ​in​ ​the​ ​industry​ ​for​ ​their vineyard​ ​and​ ​olive​ ​orchards.​ ​“What​ ​I​ ​have​ ​learned​ ​in​ ​the​ ​vineyard​ ​is​ ​growing​ ​grapes​ ​is​ ​no different​ ​than​ ​running​ ​a​ ​great​ ​business​ ​enterprise.​ ​It​ ​always​ ​takes​ ​hard​ ​work,​ ​dedication​ ​and​ ​a lot​ ​of​ ​passion!”​ ​Robert​ ​lives​ ​with​ ​his​ ​wife​ ​Jennifer​ ​and​ ​his​ ​fruitarian​ ​chocolate​ ​lab​ ​Ozzie.