This episode features a follow-up conversation with Kieran Robinson of R Five Wines, a winemaker who now splits his time between his tasting room in the suburbs of Philadelphia and the vineyards of Sonoma County. We first spoke with Kieran and his wife, Kristie, back in November of 2020 for episode 8 of season 3 as they were dreaming up their new tasting room in Downingtown, PA. Kieran's story started in the Finger Lakes while attending Ithaca College, and upon returning to his hometown of Downingtown, Kieran had the opportunity to experience the challenges of making wine in a non-traditional wine region - the Philadelphia countryside. Kieran later moved to the Northern Rhone region of France to work for winemaker PIerre Gaillard, which gave Kieran an appreciation for French viticulture and winemaking philosophies. Kieran later moved to Napa Valley to expand his winemaking knowledge at Cakebread Cellars and then at Paul Hobbs Winery and Crossbarn Cellars as an enologist. In 2009, Kieran started his own label - Kieran Robinson Wines - with a focus on Syrah and Viognier. While he was the winemaker at Jericho Canyon Vineyard, Kieran also worked alongside famed winemakers Aaron Pott and Michel Rolland. Interested in a new challenge and a bi-coastal life, Kieran and his wife started R Five Wines in 2018. R Five Wines allowed Kieran to expand his winemaking portfolio to other Rhone varietals, such as Grenache, Roussanne, Marsanne, Grenache Gris, and Mourvèdre, Kieran still makes all his wine in Sonoma but the R Five Wines tasting room is in his hometown near Philadelphia, PA. We talk about how this bicoastal business model is allowing Kieran to bring his love of CA wines to PA.

Recorded October 14, 2024