In The Vineyard With Podcast

In this episode, the first recording in a vineyard for nearly two and a half years (!) , I was talking to Yuval Erlich from the small biodynamic vineyard of Harashim. The winery is located in the High mountains (850m)of the Western Galilee in Israel where Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Petit Verdot, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc are grown in complete harmony with the local natural forest and Garigue. Harashim winery is located in Mitspe Harashim (village), where the entire community lives according to principles of deep respect and minimal interruption to the natural environment they're living in. Enjoy listening!

In this episode, I was talking with Sarah Pidgeon, assistant wine maker at Wynns, the historic Coonawarra Estate. We discussed her route into winemaking, What makes Coonawarra so unique and suitable to produce great Cabernet Sauvignon (and Shiraz!).

Her line of wine under the V&A Lane label, the threat of global warming, whether other varieties can be introduced into Coonawarra, how their wines age over time and what she will be happy to drink on a desert island.

Enjoy!

In the Episode, I was chatting with Charles Lachaux from Domaine Arnoux-Lachaux, from Vosne-Romanee, about his untraditional viticulture and winemaking techniques, his wines, what In his view is the key ingredient every Pinot Noir should have.

You can also hear his views over Pinot Noir from the rest of the world, his desert island wine choice and what he wishes for his wines to taste like in 30 years time.

In this episode, I was chatting to Gordon Russell, winemaker for the last 34 years at the Esk Valley winery, in Hawkes Bay, New Zealand.

We naturally discussed his wines, including his Malbec based, legendary red wine, ''The Terraces'' made from a field blend of Malbec-Merlot-Cabernet Franc from a one hectare sloping, terraced vineyard that is one of New Zealand's most famous single plots. His latest wine, an Albarino of incredible quality, The Gimblett Gravels , matching food to the local Crayfish, matching wine to Reggae music and much more.

Yes, there is the obligatory mention of Sauvignon-Blanc but only when we both mentioned that we completed an hour's chat without talking about... Sauvignon-Blanc!

Please subscribe to the show wherever you get your podcast or on my site www.inthevineyardwith.com

Happy listening (and drinking)

Moshe

In this episode I had the pleasure of talking to Marta Galli from La Regose wine estate, located in the Valpolicella hills, just north of the city of Verona.

I first tasted Le Ragose wines in 2014 and became a fan ever since.

In this episode you can hear us talk about her Grandparents decision to move form the city to Le Ragose in 1969, in order for her Grandfather, Arnaldo, already an experienced Oenologist, to produce his own wines.

There's also a beautiful story of her Grandmother (Also called Marta), that soon after purchasing the estate and despite being a mother of four children ,took a leading role in the winery. She was one of the founding members of Donne Del Vino (Women in wine), promoting the roles of women in the Italian wine industry. They had 20 members in 1988, currently membership is 900.

We discussed the main grapes grown on the estate, the wines they produce (including a very rare 'Amandorlato', a style between the sweet red Recioto and the dry Amarone), her PhD, researching sustainability in the wine industry, the family's love of art and more. Enjoy listening!

In this episode, I was talking to Father and son team of Paul Cluver Senior and Junior about their Elgin vineyards and wines. It is a fascinating account filled with brave and visionary decisions and visions. Planting a vineyard against all professional advice, in times when South African wines were not exported in any volume and when there was no other vineyard planted anywhere in the valley.

We chatted about the early years, planting and trying hard to ripen Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot despite the cool climate, aiming to make a Bordeaux blend, and how finally, after advice from Paul Pontallier of Chateau Margaux, deciding to abandon those and realising the region's potential of world class Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.

You can also hear them describe their wines, from the village series, to the Estate range to the flagship label of Seven flags, now considered amongst South Africa's best Pinot and Chardonnay.

Sustainability, climate change, growing tomatoes and figs also featured.

In this episode I was chatting with Yiannis Paraskevopoulous from Gaia Wines on the island of Santorini and the Nemea region in Greece about his personal journey into wine, making wines in Santorini, experimentation with ageing white wines on the sea floor, off the coast of the island, the main characteristics of Nemea as a region and Aghiorgitiko, its main grape. We discussed Assyrtiko and its qualities and heard about the latest from Yiannis, an orange Assyrtiko, ageing in Ceramic sphere for 4 years. Yes, it has tannins and before you ask…. He can't stand the term ''Natural wine'' !

What wine he'll take to a desert island and where is the most beautiful vineyard on earth ( after Santorini …). Prepare to be surprised!

In this live webinar, Cathy Van Zyl MW and I hosted Hannes Storm (Storm Wines) and Richard Kershaw MW (Richard Kershaw Wines) for a comprehensive discussion about the Pinot Noir wines of Elgin and Hemel-en-Aarde in South Africa.

We heard from them about the unique terroir in each zone, their choices of vineyard sites, clones, rootstock as well as the challenges, such as disease and pests (watch out for the Baboons!)

You can hear Hannes and Richard describing their wines, with in-depth analysis and explanation as to how each component of the Terroir translate to the final result in your glass.

For Pinot Noir lovers and especially for seekers of new and exciting regions, this episode is a must!

The presentation can also be viewed on our youtube channel, which you can access via www.inthevineyardwith.com under the Video section, where you can also find Richard Kershaw's presentation.

Listen to my chat with Kate McIntyre MW from Moorooduc Estate, in the Mornington Peninsula, Victoria, Australia.

Kate was telling me about her parents' decision to buy land and plant a vineyard on the Mornington Peninsula in the early 80's.

About the Chardonnay and Pinot Noir they're making. Her way through wine and her long journey to become a master of Wine.

Her inspirations from elsewhere in the world of wine and much more.

In this episode (part2 of 2), Ben was able to address some question presented by some friends of the podcast and the Etna Wine School. Issues we covered: growing vines and making wines on an active volcano, the different aspects of the mountain and the micro climates, soil types, training methods... Pistachios, favourite food and wines pairings, global warming, sparkling wines of Etna and more. Press Play and enjoy!