Show 140, October 3, 2015: Quady North (Winery) and Herb Quady

Herb QuadyAndrew Quady of Quady Winery in Madera is well-known for premium dessert wines and Vermouth. Not as well known to Southern Californians is that Andrew’s son, Herb, has a growing, and respected, winery of his own in Southern Oregon.

Quady North is the name of Herb’s Applegate Valley wine venture. While the senior Quady is a producer renowned for sweet and aperitif wines, Quady North is known for big, bold Bordeaux and Rhone varietals.

After working as assistant winemaker at the California Central Coast Bonny Doon Vineyard, Quady came to Oregon to found his own brand, convinced that the truly-compelling wines were made from grapes grown in cooler areas. In 2005 the family selected 100 acres of south-facing hillside in the Applegate Valley and planted their first 15 acres of Syrah, Cabernet Franc and Viognier.

Today there are eight vineyards, with two in the Rogue Valley, and the list of varietals has expanded to include Grenache, Marsanne, Rousanne, and Merlot.

Quady North is committed to producing small lot, minimally-handled wines sourced primarily from the estate. The focus remains premium Viognier, Cabernet Franc and Syrah, what Herb Quady calls his “love triangle.”

Having grown up in Central California, Herb appreciates the cult status of our own, California grown, In–N-Out Burger. The first Oregon location opened in Medford a couple of weeks also and the response was thunderous. It’s remains the talk of the town. There are still lines of cars around the drive-through.

We asked Herb Quady what the perfect Quady North wine pairing would be with a Double-Double with cheese. Without hesitation he enthusiastically suggested their 2011 Syrah, Mae’s Vineyard.