Videos
Meet the Winemaker (Episode 70): Bruno Paillard, Champagne Bruno Paillard
Pioneer winemaker Bruno Paillard, the man behind the successful champagne brand of the same name, opens up about his passion for champagne and why he embarked on a mission to create one that differed from the market leaders.
Founded in 1981, Champagne Bruno Paillard is a young, dynamic house renowned for high quality wines. Paillard champagnes are made exclusively with the first pressings of excellent grapes; with each cru vinified separately and the date of degorgement stamped on each bottle.
In 2006, Bruno Paillard was made Chevalier of the Legion d’Honneur for his services to Champagne. Today, referred to as the ‘Sommelier’s secret’, his high quality champagnes are hallmarked for their purity and elegance and are stocked in 80% of the world’s Michelin star restaurants.
( 2 Comments ) - Leave a CommentMeet the Winemaker (Episode 69): Marco Biondi, Feudi di San Gregorio
Located in the mountainous region of Irpinia, with its strong history and tradition of viticulture, is Feudi di San Gregorio. Founded in 1986, the vineyards began with a humble 30 hectares in Sorbo Serpico. Today, Feudi di San Gregorio has grown to a highly acclaimed winery of over 300 hectares; with vineyards perched on hills ranging from 350 to 700 meters elevation. Volcanic soil and plenty of rain make ideal conditions for wine-making.
Today the winery, which offers a wide range of excellent white, red and sparkling wines, is one of the region’s best-loved brands. While many wineries in Italy are producing so-called international varieties, Feudi di San Gregorio focuses on innovation and quality and in preserving the traditions of local viticulture by putting its modern spin on wines made from indigenous grape varieties.
( 0 Comments ) - Leave a CommentMeet the Winemaker (Episode 68): Quentin Quider, Wild Earth
Located in Central Otaga in New Zealand, award-winning Wild Earth Winery was founded and owned by Quentin Quider, a Californian expatriate with a passion for Pinot Noir. Wild Earth has two vineyards together comprising 35 hectares (50 acres) in two of Central Otago’s best locations. In addition to Pinot Noir, they also produces Reisling, Pinot Gris and a small production of Rose.
Named after the untamed and unspoilt New Zealand land and the Pinot Noir grape, which is notoriously difficult to grow, Wild Earth is small production winery which focuses on low yield and quality. Vines are pruned by hand and each wine is treated like an individual and pruned accordingly. While tending a vineyard and growing Pinot Noir in the far south of New Zealand, where frost is common, is challenging, it’s clear that Quider takes great pleasure and pride in doing so.
( 0 Comments ) - Leave a CommentMeet the Winemaker (Episode 67): Mark Maxwell, Maxwell Wines
Located in McLaren Vale in South Australia, the Maxwell Winery is surrounded by estate vineyards growing the varieties of Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Grenache, Chardonnay, Verdelho, Viognier and Tempranillo. Family owned since 1979, Maxwell Winery is renowned for its hand made boutique wines. Situated in the North of the region, the vines benefit from sea breezes, cooler summers and limestone soils, all of which are ideal conditions for the production of small quantities of intensely-flavoured grapes.
According to Mark Maxwell, who was born into the family winemaking business, every batch of grapes is treated individually and with great care. Small open fermenters, which hold only two tonnes of fruit each, allow Maxwell wines to focus on premium small-batch vinification techniques. Having also produced the famous Maxwell Mead honey wine for almost 50 years, the winery is now recognized as the most significant producer of this drink in the southern hemisphere and a benchmark of meads in the world.
Meet the Winemaker (Episode 66): Bai ZhiSheng, Dynasty
China is arguably the world’s 4th or 5th largest wine producer, yet little is known about this sizeable industry. Listen to Chairman Bai ZhiSheng share the key strategies of the Dynasty Fine Wines Group Limited, one of the few mainland wineries successfully performing in the international export markets. Bai also outlines some of the industry’s challenges as well as provides tips for international wineries hoping to enter the immense China market.
( 0 Comments ) - Leave a CommentMeet the Winemaker (Episode 65): Peter James, Geoff Merrill
With a wine traineeship under his belt, the mid 70’s marked Geoff Merrill’s entry into the wine business. A decade and several winemaking positions later, Geoff had his own label. In 1985, Geoff began his hunt for a base of operations and found the ideal property in the renowned McLaren Vale region in South Australia. With two years of vision and hard work, he turned the former and dilapidated stable into the beautiful Mount Hurtle Winery.
Today, Geoff has continued to gain both national and international recognition for his distinctive style of making wine that allows regional, varietal and vintage expression, without excessive winemaker intervention. Renowned for their elegant style, Geoff Merrill wines are typically matured in the cellar prior to release. According to their Marketing Manager Peter James, a wine veteran, it is this maturation that makes Geoff Merrill wines so special.
( 0 Comments ) - Leave a CommentMeet the Winemaker (Episode 64): Michael Kelly, Aravina Estate
Privately-owned by 7th generation West Australians, Aravina Estate is a wine-growing property situated in the Margaret River and is regarded as one of the finest wine properties in the region. The mature vineyards at Aravina, which are said to be the source of the Margaret river’s best Cabernet Sauvignon, are located in a prime position to benefit from the rich, free-draining lateritic soils characteristic of the region.
Michael Kelly, 25 year Margaret River winemaker and General Manager at Aravina talks to Debra about the challenges of working in the industry and stresses the importance of letting the quality of the wine shine through.
( 1 Comment ) - Leave a CommentMeet the Winemaker (Episode 63): Alvaro Palacios, Alvaro Palacios Winery
Spain’s most talked about winemaker, Alvaro Palacios, gave up his car and motorbike to develop some of Spain’s abandoned vineyards. This charismatic winemaker, one of nine children, was trained at Petrus and is emblematic of the ‘New Spain’ with his Priorato treasure, L’Ermita, widely considered to be one of the most important wines wines emerging from Spain today.
( 0 Comments ) - Leave a CommentMeet the Winemaker (Episode 62): Anastasia Mancini, Buccia Nera
For Buccia Nera winemakers and husband and wife team, Anastasia Mancini and Sandro Nalli, it’s a true family affair. Anastasia clarifies how the name of the property, Buccia Nera (black skin) derives from a nickname given to her family who toiled for over 100 years under the hot Tuscan sun in the vineyards. Anastasia and Sandro reveal the distinct characteristics of the wines grown in Buccia Nera and how the rocky soil and the fact that they are 500 metres above sea level, makes for good grapes and longevity for the wine they produce.
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