Wine Crush OR

In this episode, host Heidi Moore will guide us through two stories of local winemakers.

The first comes from a winery that was formerly a poultry farm, but is dedicated to producing world-class wines through sustainable methods – and the second centers on a single mother and self-taught entrepreneur whose winemaking is influenced by the magical dynamic between food, wine, and friends.

Guests

Sean Allen, Owner & Winemaker, Pudding River Wine Cellars

Cristina Gonzales, Owner & Winemaker, Gonzales Wine Company

Guest Biographies

Sean Allen

Founder, owner and winemaker Sean Allen spent 15 years working as a mechanical engineer before pursuing his passion for winemaking. With physics and engineering degrees and years of science-based learning, viticulture and winemaking came natural to Sean in his training at the acclaimed Chemeketa Wine Studies program.

Originally from Alaska, Sean is an avid outdoorsman who enjoys taking full advantage of all that the Pacific Northwest has to offer including hiking, biking and skiing. Like many winemakers, Sean is also a big foodie. In addition, Sean’s best friend and partner in crime is his chocolate lab Dakota.

Cristina Gonzales

In 2004, Cristina Gonzales tasted a silky, lush Malbec that forever changed the course of her life. She was volunteering in South America, and during a trip through Mendoza, Cristina encountered her first distinct food and wine experience: an Argentine steak paired with Malbec. The steak was prepared before her eyes, and the wine was unforgettable. This magical dynamic between food, wine, and friends provided the seeds of inspiration for Gonzales Wine Company.

Fueled by her newfound passion for wine, Cristina got a job in a winery tasting room and then in the cellar of White Oak Vineyards in Healdsburg, California. She worked her first harvest in 2006, and went on to work in cellars throughout Australia, Tasmania, Oregon, and California. A decade of hands-on experience later, Cristina began making wines under her own label.

A single mother, Latina, and self-taught entrepreneur, Cristina resides in Portland with her son, Julian, and Bean, her blue heeler.

Host:

Heidi Moore, Wine Enthusiast

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In this episode, host Heidi Moore will guide us through two stories of local winemakers. The first comes from a couple who sought to build a life of adventure in the form of winemaking – the second demonstrates how if a vineyard is treated as an entire living organism, it will best showcase its identity through the fruit it develops.

Guests

Grant Coulter & Renée Saint-Amour, Co-founders & Winemakers, Hundred Suns Wine

Morgan Beck, Winemaker, Johan Vineyards

Guest/Winery Biographies

Grant Coulter & Renée Saint-Amour

When Grant & Renée met over 14 years ago, they agreed on a fundamental idea: building a life together that felt like an adventure. They left California for Oregon’s Willamette Valley, where Grant first worked as assistant winemaker at Hamacher wines and then spent the bulk of 10 years as assistant winemaker and then winemaker at Beaux Freres.

Those ten years were rich. Renée continued teaching high school while Grant gained intimate understanding and appreciation of the soils, climates, and personalities (both land and people) of the valley. They started a family, made good friends, drank beautiful wines, and dreamed of a life that would bring them more together than apart.

In 2015, they sold their house in Portland, scraped together every penny they had, and moved to a fixer-upper in the the valley so they could build Hundred Suns. Eventually, Grant moved on from being winemaker at Beaux Freres to overseeing the vineyards and making the wines for Flaneur Wines, and Renée swapped the classroom for the cellar and running of the day-to-day business. From winemaking, to label design, website building, and even wax dipping bottles by hand, every aspect of this process has our fingerprints on it because it is just the two of us.

In 2018 they bought a 4.5 acre property in the Eola-Amity hills, where an old vineyard is now their children’s backyard. So far it has been a beautiful adventure for them, and they’re just getting started.

Johan Vineyards

Johan Vineyards is committed to meticulous vineyard management practices, highlighted by their Biodynamic farming methods and accents of permaculture design. Biodynamic farming focuses on the entire farm as one living organism. They farm to mimic the natural microbiological ecology of the soil where vines evolved. This produces vines more resistant to disease and creates a healthy natural immune system within the vine.

Johan Vineyards is broken into multiple blocks that feature 13 different varieties, with 10 clones of Pinot Noir & 7 of Chardonnay, multiple rootstocks, across varying aspects and soil types. The combination of all of these factors creates a diverse system, providing those at Johan and the winery customers they work with an array of options to achieve complexity and balance in the resulting finished wines.

Host:

Heidi Moore, Wine Enthusiast

You can follow Wine Crush on Social Media:

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In this episode, host Heidi Moore will guide us through two stories of local winemakers. The first takes its name from a particular family heirloom, very special to the craftsman – the second draws inspiration from mythology and the fact that there’s always something new to learn.

Guests

Ian Atkins, Founder & Winemaker, Flat Brim Wines

Corey Schuster, Owner & Winemaker, Jackalope Wine Cellars

Guest Biographies

Ian Atkins

Flat Brim Wines is an Americana Winery. They have two labels in our winery so they can approach each with a specific focus. Their Americana line works with American heritage varietals such as Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petite Sirah, Merlot and presents them in new and interesting formats. Ian prefers a refreshing high acid low alcohol profile for his wines, which, makes them perfect for drinking on a front porch with your friends.

Their Gold Flag line represents our interest in experimental winemaking. They utilize interesting methods such as carbonic and whole cluster maceration and are always on the hunt for interesting varietals and vineyards. Expect high acid 100% whole cluster Pinot Noir as well as blends of carbonic macerated Pinot Meunier, Pinot Gris and Cabernet Franc.

Flat Brim only uses neutral oak and prefer longer cooler fermentations, as to not over extract. They partner with vineyards that are farmed sustainably in varying methods such as organic, biodynamic and live-certified. During harvest they prefer high acids and lower sugars when they pick their lots. In the cellar they utilize the lowest amount of sulfites possible to produce stable wines. They ultimately strive to be minimal interventionist.

Corey Schuster

Corey began his journey in the wine industry pouring for a small, family-owned winery near Salem, OR. His first career was all office work, so when he found myself working in a bucolic setting, the grin didn’t fade for days.

When Fall hit, he joined a harvest crew. Harvest work is hard, wet, with long-hours, but ultimately satisfying work. Camaraderie is formed through the suffering, and there is always something new to learn. The first team lunch he had began his love affair with the industry and wine; a tired, wet, exhausted crew sharing a large meal and a glass, taking a break from the work to regroup and prepare for the afternoon’s tasks. This showed him that the wine industry is about community and a love of the work; something he’d not experienced before.

Why Jackalope Wine Cellars? The jackalope has been a sort of totem for Corey for a long time. As a kid, his older cousin would write and send postcards from Nebraska, telling him all about the animal, swearing they were real. This formed a bond early, which gave him fond memories to treasure, as his cousin passed away when Corey was in 8th grade.

Fast forward to 2004: unsatisfied with his life as a civil engineer, he decided to make a drastic change and quit his job, sell his valuables, and travel. And now, another turning point in his life: winemaker. The jackalope has become a special form of support for him and he wanted it featured prominently in his adventures.

Host:

Heidi Moore, Wine Enthusiast

You can follow Wine Crush on Social Media:

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In this episode, host Heidi Moore will guide us through two stories of local winemakers. The first draws inspiration from the camaraderie of the process – the second showcases how the study of engineering can lead to winemaking.

Guests

Ian Burrows, Founder & Winemaker, Aerea Wines, head of Consulon

Greg Van Dyke, Owner & Winemaker, Bud’s Bloom

Guest Biographies

Ian Burrows

Ian, a native of Orpington, England, has been consumed by hospitality, food, and wine his entire adult life. He has worked as a wine director, a sommelier, a chef, and a restaurant owner, in settings as far afield as Paris, London, San Francisco, and Adelaide.

Since 2007 he has worked as both a consulting and full-time sommelier in Michelin-starred restaurants, earning his Advanced Certificate from the Court of Master Sommeliers in 2009. More recently he served as Wine Director for Dominique Crenn at Atelier Crenn, San Francisco; then drawn to Oregon to assume the role of Director of Sales at Antica Terra.

Ian developed Aerea Vintners as a research-based project to enhance his understanding of farming and winery operations. Single vineyards are selected for their outstanding reputations, for minimal environmental impact, an assurance of varietal character and harmony. Aerea’s wines are naturally fermented, matured in seasoned French barrels of various capacity; hand-bottled and stoppered with Diam Origine 10 closures, and without filtration or fining. Each component of production at Aerea is considered a step toward a greater understanding of fine wine from the Pacific Northwest.

Greg Van Dyke

Growing up on a farm near Carlton, Greg developed a taste for both the outdoors and agriculture and coincidentally, was also exposed to the burgeoning wine industry erupting around him. Agricultural work entailed many skills, mechanical work among them, which led him to pursue a degree in engineering. Midway through his college career at Oregon State University, he took a year off to apprentice at Ken Wright Cellars, where he developed a passion for the art of winemaking from one of the best.

After completing his degree, he pursued an engineering career, but found himself being steadily pulled back to the wine industry. In 2010, he interrupted his engineering work and traveled to New Zealand to work at Ata Rangi in Martinborough. Upon returning to Oregon, he again found work in the construction world but with more immediate intent to start his wine label. In 2012, Bud’s Bloom was formed, anticipating the 2013 vintage.

This past year, Greg has relocated and is now making wine at Day Camp Winery in Dundee, OR, a community winery shared with several winemakers. He likes the new digs and and looks forward to making great wines there.

Host:

Heidi Moore, Wine Enthusiast

You can follow Wine Crush on Social Media:

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In the second episode, host Heidi Moore will guide us through two distinct wine stories. The first has its roots in something all of us here at PRP love: Music. And the second truly demonstrates how with the art of wine comes family, friendships, and good times.

Guests

Dave Specter, Co-founder & Winemaker, Bells Up Winery

Chris Helbling, Winemaker, Whiskey Hill Winery

Winery Biographies

Bells Up

Established in 2013, Bells Up Winery in Newberg, Oregon was started by award-winning winemaker David Specter and his wife, Sara Pearson Specter. The inaugural vintages were released in Spring 2015, which coincided with the opening of the estate winery and tasting room facility—a renovated pole barn on the property.

The name “Bells Up” refers to a dramatic moment in classical music where the composer instructs French horn players to lift the bells of their instruments up and project sound with maximum intensity. Dave, a French horn player who performed throughout high school and college, says the winery is his “Bells Up” moment.

Whiskey Hill

To go all the way back to the beginning, Gary and Carolyn Postlewait met in high school on the neighboring family farm across the road. After marrying, they continued to farm all over the valley including crops of berries, broccoli, corn, wheat, cucumbers, grass seed and more. They dedicated long hours to their crops, but more importantly to their family. 20 years ago they moved to their current location and made the property the beauty it is today. The farm is currently home to two Filbert Orchards, three blocks of Pinot Noir and a herd of red and white face Hereford’s.

While Chris was sitting around and trying to keep our children from destroying the restaurant, he mused, “How hard could it be to make wine?” They quickly realized we needed something to press with. So, Gary’s father, Fred Postlewait, lent them a press he built by hand about 40 years prior. The same press is still on display in their Tasting Room today.

Host:

Heidi Moore, Wine Enthusiast

You can follow Wine Crush on Social Media:

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Check out Season 2 of our Wine Crush Podcast!

In the first episode, host Heidi Moore will guide us through two diverse wine stories. The first centers on a veteran-owned and operated winery whose mission is to serve the veteran community through charitable contribution; and the second showcases and urban winery, located in SE Portland, whose philosophy is informed by the old-century winemakers of Europe… and Jazz!

Guests

Ben Martin, Co-founder & Winemaker, Dauntless Wine Co.

Jason Gersing, Founder & Winemaker, Gersing Cellars

Guest Biographies

Ben Martin

Ben served as an Assault Amphibious Vehicle (AAV) crewman with the 7th Marine regiment out of 29 Palms, CA. In 2003 Ben participated in the invasion of Iraq with 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines. In 2004 and 2005 Ben deployed with the 31st MEU out of Okinawa, Japan.

After his enlistment, Ben began college and studied web design and branding at Portland Community College, Pacific University, and the Art Institute of Portland. In between classes he found a passion for small business, which propelled him into agency work and brand management.

In 2012 Ben helped launch a pilot non-profit aimed at rehabilitating veterans through permaculture. This program showed promise that agriculture can be an alternative treatment for Veterans suffering from PTSD and TBI. Looking for inspiration he found that the French Foreign Legion houses over 100 aging Legionaries on a vineyard chateau where they grow grapes, make wine, and find peace. Ben wondered – “Why not here?”

It was not until February 2014 that the idea of veteran viticulture re-emerged during a Walla-Walla wine trip with co-founders Ryan Mills and Paul Warmbier. Excited about the possibilities, the three launched Dauntless Wine Company that December.

Ben is now scheduled to graduate from the Chemeketa Wine Studies program with an AS in winemaking and vineyard management. On May 18th, 2017 Ben was awarded the Wine Studies “Emerging Leader” award for his efforts launching Dauntless Wine Company while attending the program.

Jason Gersing

Jason has two great passions: jazz and wine. Not long after Jason picked up the saxophone in 6th grade was he transcribing “Cannonball” Adderley and Sonny Stitt, and he continued to study throughout high school and college. Jason then moved to New York to study and play with some of the best jazz musicians in the world.

Of course, musicians need a day job to support their jazz habit. One such job was working harvest at Bedell Cellars on Long Island. Jason had been bitten by the wine bug while studying in Italy, but experiencing crush deepened his fascination with the winemaking process.

Jason spent the next three years exploring the wine regions of France and Italy and studied Enology and Viticulture at Montpellier Supagro in the south of France. Missing the U.S. but wanting a new American experience, Jason moved to Portland, Oregon. After taking Business courses at Portland State University and Enology and Viticulture courses at Chemeketa Community College, Jason joined Argyle Winery where he was in charge of production planning and inventory management, though he participated in almost every facet of the operation. At Argyle, Jason gained not only a unique education in sparkling wine production but also a broad overview of a complex and growing wine company.

When not in the cellar or the vineyard, “Goose” can probably be found either listening to live jazz or playing saxophone with one of several Portland-based groups.

Host:

Heidi Moore, Wine Enthusiast

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In the season one finale, we’ll hear two new influential wine stories. The first from a vineyard who’s name comes from a natural phenomenon specific to their estate; and the second features a winery who’s locations and geology highly influence their wine-making style.

Guests

Sofia Torres-McKay, Winemaker & Proprietor, Cramoisi Vineyard

Chris Barnes, Winemaker & Proprietor, Chris James Cellars

Guest Biographies

Sofia Torres-McKay

Sofia and her husband kept their daily jobs in the IT industry in order to invest in their vineyard. In 2015 Sofia decided to leave the IT Industry environment and focused 100% in the wine family business. They are excited yet humbled to be in the Dundee Hills, the Mecca of the Pinot Noir. Living few steps from Pinot Noir pioneers such as Jim Maresh, Vivian Weber, and next door neighbor Dick Erath.

Their vineyard is their home and they farm without the use of pesticides and herbicides while leveraging ancient practices to avoid contaminating the soil, the environment, farm workers, guests and their children.

In the years when the vines were developing from small tender shoots to sturdy fruit producing vines, they searched the valley high and low for a winemaker to coax the essence of this special place into rich yet elegant wines. They have found that raising vines is a lot like raising their two boys. They need lots of love and if you spend quality time with them, give them the best you have to offer, they grow up strong and healthy, showing their full potential in life.

Chris Barnes

Chris is an engineer who has worked in the technology sector for over 15 years. As an engineer, he has always had an intense desire to make the things that he is interested in. This desire motivated forays into cooking, heavy equipment, and engine building; but farming and wine making has always held a special place in his heart.

Both his grandparents and great-grandparents owned vineyards on the east coast. His grandparent’s farm was located in Vineland, New Jersey where they farmed the Noah grape. The crop was used for sparkling white wine production. When Chris was a child he would spend time working on the farm picking berries and helping out on the farm (or so he thinks).

Host:

Heidi Moore, Wine Enthusiast

You can follow Wine Crush on Social Media:

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Check out our newest addition to the PRP Podcast Co-op, Wine Crush!

In the seventh episode, we’ll hear two new and fascinating wine stories. The first from a winery who honors their family heritage; and the second will feature another family winery located in the Chehalem (sha-hay-lem) Mountains of Oregon.

Guests

Dave Coelho, Proprietor & Winemaker, Coelho Winery

Bryan Laing, Winemaker, Hazelfern Cellars

Guest Biographies

Dave Coelho

Dave and Deolinda Coelho are the owners and day-to-day operators of Coelho Winery. Their story starts in the San Joaquin Valley in California, where as a young couple they farmed approximately 800 acres of tomatoes, sugar beets, corn, and alfalfa. Looking for a change and a good place to educate their very young children, while visiting Oregon, they fell in love with the rolling hills of the lush Willamette Valley. In 1991, they packed up their young family and moved to Amity where they transformed 40 acres 3 miles south of Amity into the renowned Coelho Estate Vineyard.

Bryan Laing

Bryan’s love of wine is rooted in his Oregon blood.

“I grew up in a family who appreciated great wine. I was taught that wine is something special yet something that is a staple of everyday life – a condiment with any meal… something to talk about over family dinners, something to share with good people and great friends, and something to collect and age with memories. It’s an inclusive part of everyday life.”

In 2006, Bryan’s love for wine on the dinner table grew into a love for winemaking with his family.

“We sourced amazing fruit from Trudy and Keith at Kramer Vineyards, and five of us set out to make our first Pinot Noir. It’s funny to look back now and realize all of the things we didn’t know then about making wine.”

What started with 5 gallons of Pinot Noir and a Portland basement has grown to over 500 cases of wine and a family wine farm in Newberg, OR.

“I love how much I learn every year and with every new harvest. I am a constant student and sponge for information. I read about wine, talk to other winemakers, drink other people’s wines and try to understand how that winemaker got there, watch YouTube videos that other winemakers put out, and soak up everything I can get. My understanding of winemaking changes daily, and I literally can’t get enough of it.”

Host:

Heidi Moore, Wine Enthusiast

You can follow Wine Crush on Social Media:

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In the sixth episode, we are venturing out of the valley and hitting a new area. The first story to be uncorked comes a proprietor of an urban winery; and the second will feature another family winery, but located between Oregon City and Canby.

Guests

Rodger Marks, Proprietor & Winemaker, RAM Cellars

Darin Ingram, Winemaker, King's Raven Winery

Guest Biographies

Rodger Marks

Rodger's interest in wine turned into a love of wine which turned into an intense curiosity about everything that goes into the production of premium wines.  After the ‘aha’ moment at a barrel tasting at Washington State’s Kiona Winery many years ago, he took up studies through Washington State University’s extension campus in Prosser, WA on both viticulture and enology, the science of wine winemaking.

Volunteer time at Davenlore Winery (Prosser, WA) through the Wazzu programs spread out over several years, as well as a short stint at Montinore (Forest Grove, OR) on weekends during the 2012 harvest season were precursors to a harvest internship at Enso Winery in 2013 in Portland, Oregon that turned into a position as cellar master and assistant winemaker, a position he still holds today.

Darin Ingram

Since 1942 the Ingram family has farmed the same piece of land. Nestled between the Cascade Foothills and the Willamette Valley lies the Mt. Hood Territory. Marvin Ingram moved his family to this slice of heaven to reconnect with the land. But he also did so to heed the advice of his doctor who advised him to escape the atmosphere surrounding the paper mill he worked at next to the mighty Willamette Falls.

Grandpa Marvin purchased the 40 acres in 1941 for a little less than $2000. Marvin was born in Butteville, OR which you can see from the tasting room looking to the West. Today the 2nd, 3rd and 4th generations of Marvin Ingram’s family (which include Darin) focus on Hand Crafting Vintage, Estate Grown Wines on the Estate Vineyard, Winery and Amphitheater.

Host:

Heidi Moore, Wine Enthusiast

You can follow Wine Crush on Social Media:

Twitter: WineCrushOR 

Facebook: WineCrushStoriesUncorked 

Instagram: Winecrushpodcast

In the sixth episode, we are venturing out of the valley and hitting a new area. The first story to be uncorked comes a proprietor of an urban winery; and the second will feature another family winery, but located between Oregon City and Canby.

Guests

Rodger Marks, Proprietor & Winemaker, RAM Cellars

Darin Ingram, Winemaker, King’s Raven Winery

Guest Biographies

Rodger Marks

Rodger’s interest in wine turned into a love of wine which turned into an intense curiosity about everything that goes into the production of premium wines. After the ‘aha’ moment at a barrel tasting at Washington State’s Kiona Winery many years ago, he took up studies through Washington State University’s extension campus in Prosser, WA on both viticulture and enology, the science of wine winemaking.

Volunteer time at Davenlore Winery (Prosser, WA) through the Wazzu programs spread out over several years, as well as a short stint at Montinore (Forest Grove, OR) on weekends during the 2012 harvest season were precursors to a harvest internship at Enso Winery in 2013 in Portland, Oregon that turned into a position as cellar master and assistant winemaker, a position he still holds today.

Darin Ingram

Since 1942 the Ingram family has farmed the same piece of land. Nestled between the Cascade Foothills and the Willamette Valley lies the Mt. Hood Territory. Marvin Ingram moved his family to this slice of heaven to reconnect with the land. But he also did so to heed the advice of his doctor who advised him to escape the atmosphere surrounding the paper mill he worked at next to the mighty Willamette Falls.

Grandpa Marvin purchased the 40 acres in 1941 for a little less than $2000. Marvin was born in Butteville, OR which you can see from the tasting room looking to the West. Today the 2nd, 3rd and 4th generations of Marvin Ingram’s family (which include Darin) focus on Hand Crafting Vintage, Estate Grown Wines on the Estate Vineyard, Winery and Amphitheater.

Host:

Heidi Moore, Wine Enthusiast

You can follow Wine Crush on Social Media:

Twitter: WineCrushOR Facebook: WineCrushStoriesUncorked Instagram: Winecrushpodcast