Meet the Winemaker (Episode 8): Claire Mulholland, Central Otago winery Amisfield
Debra meets Claire Mulholland of New Zealand’s Central Otago winery Amisfield. Claire explains that, of her many and varied winemaking experiences across the world, her time in Oregon was probably the most valuable, why she calls Pinot Noir an enigma, and which wine in the Amisfield stable gets a little more TLC than the others.
Meet the Winemaker (Episode 7): Chris Tyrrell, Tyrrell’s Wines
Twenty-six year old winemaker Chris Tyrrell, the fifth generation from Australia’s Hunter Valley winery dynasty Tyrrell’s Wines, tells Debra how they are reinventing the wheel in terms of their current winemaking goals at Tyrrell’s, getting a little arrogant, and how his personal favourite Tyrrell’s Wine has more jewelry than Paris Hilton.
Meet the Winemaker (Episode 6): Enrico Viglierchio, Castello Banfi
Debra finds out what it is like for Enrico Viglierchio of Castello Banfi located in Brunello, Tuscany, to be an Italian working for an American company in the heart of Tuscany. They discuss the fact that Castello Banfi was the first winery in the world to receive the ethical certifications ASA 8000 and ISO 14000, as well as the winery’s innovation in vinification, including the use of a hybrid steel and wood tank.
Meet the Winemaker (Episode 5): Emmanuel Cruse, Chateau d’Issan
Debra chats with Emmanuel Cruse, Managing Director of Chateau d’Issan, whose vineyards are located in Margaux in Bordeaux, France. She quizzes Emmanuel about his long list of hobbies and sports, finds out how he believes the wines of Chateau d’Issan compare to their very famous neighbours, and how Emmanuel feels about the pressure of being at the helm of a winery whose roots date back to the 12th Century.
Meet the Winemaker (Episode 4): Sam Neill, Two Paddocks Wines
World renowned actor and proprietor of Two Paddocks Wines, Sam Neill charmingly takes over the interview with Debra in a host-like manner, explaining why his decision to set up his vineyards in Central Otago New Zealand was an accident of sorts, the trickiness of pinot noir and why choosing a favourite wine is like choosing a favourite child.
Meet the Winemaker (Episode 3): Ernie Loosen, Dr. Loosen
As one of the world’s most famous producers of riesling, Ernie Loosen, of Germany’s Mosel Valley winery Dr Loosen, shares his feelings on how the city of London influenced his winemaking, his theory that all great wines share common characteristics, and how he feels about facing the critics each time he embarks on a new project.
