Tag Archives: Riesling

Show 634, July 5, 2025: New Zealand Wine Navigator with David Harlow, West Regional Manager

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David Harlow of NZ Wine Navigator

“Like so many other adventures, New Zealand Wine Navigator began with friends, family, and a few excellent bottles of wine. Graham Painter, Founder and CEO, was visiting family in the States and was sent out to select a nice wine for dinner. Wanting to show off some of the outstanding wines New Zealand has to offer, he went from one wine store to the next searching for something special; beyond the big-name Sauvignon Blancs. A deep, rich Pinot Noir or Syrah perhaps. How about a superb Riesling…? Surely, with the breadth of fine wines being produced in New Zealand, there was something special to be found. That fruitless vsearch inspired a mission.”

“Today, New Zealand Wine Navigator is America’s #1 New Zealand wine specialist, satisfying wine lovers across the United States with special, hard-to-find New Zealand wines from small, family estate producers. They ship the wine to a temperature-controlled warehouse in California ready for quick and cost-effective delivery to your home or office.”

“Graham set out to source the finest small-producer wines New Zealand has to offer. Small production, premium, family estate wines were the benchmarks. NZ Wine Navigator works in partnership with New Zealand wineries to help them get their wines out to the world because small, local production is the backbone of New Zealand’s economy.”

“To achieve the perfect selection of wines in their portfolio, NZ Wine Navigator enlisted the help of Cameron Douglas, their Master Sommelier. His carefully curated selection of premium labels from New Zealand is ready for you to drink now or cellar. If you are after exceptional wines from small out-of-the-way winemakers from a small, out-of-the-way country, you’re in the right place! Welcome.”

David Harlow, West Regional Manager for NZ Wine Navigator, joins us to uncork all that is NZ Wine Navigator.

Show 603, November 16, 2024: Sidereus Vineyard & Winery, Cornelius, Tualatin Valley, Oregon with Winemaker Jason Bull

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Jason Bull of Sidereus Vineyard and Winery

“Sidereus Vineyard & Winery in Cornelius, Tualatin Valley Oregon, which opened in 2021, is a boutique winery in the Laurelwood District AVA. The established estate-grown vineyards produce Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Chardonnay and Riesling.”

“Winemaker Jason Bull, who has earned acclaim as a winemaker from several wineries in the Willamette Valley, makes complex wines that truly reflect the region’s terroir.”

“Winemaker, Jason Bull, is fond of saying, “Great wine comes from great fruit,” promising red wines with depth and balance and whites that show their true varietal character.”

“Using just minimal intervention, the goal at Sidereus is to produce wines that provide a true representation of the vineyard they come from. They strive to produce elegant and assertive wines, both rich in flavor and substance, that serve as an expression of the land, the soil, and the season during which the grapes are grown and harvested.”

The welcoming Zach Mance is the on-site Hospitality Manager. He is a WSET Level 3 Sommelier who has spent time in The Finger Lakes in New York State. Definitely taste the Riesling. Open for tastings every day except Tuesday and Wednesday. Reservations Required.

Winemaker Jason Bull joins us to gently pull the cork on all that is Sidereus Vineyard & Winery.

Show 407, January 9, 2021: Christopher Buchanan, Winemaker & Proprietor at Terragena Vineyard, Humboldt County Part One

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Chris Buchanan of Terragena Vineyard“Are you fascinated by the margin between art and science? That wild edge where creativity and beauty sprout? That’s what wine is for Winemaker and Proprietor Christopher Buchanan at Terragena Vineyards (Craft Wine certified) in Northern California. He believes both creating and enjoying wine is an intrinsically personal and complex experience.”

“Chris explores and strives to understand the complex components, step by step, while building Terragena, a completely off-grid, sustainable vineyard and winery located in the rugged hills of Humboldt County. Terragena partners with small, family-owned vineyards to produce wine that has been tenderly loved from start to finish.”

“Terragena is dedicated to building a strong network of small producers committed to eco-friendly methods who will succeed as they have, while also nurturing an experimental Pinot Noir vineyard in a unique, viticulturally unexplored location.” The winery is completely solar powered and the water source for irrigation is rainwater stored in an on-site pond.

Terragena Vineyards produces small lots of hand-crafted Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, Riesling, Rose of Pinot Noir, single vineyard Pinot Noirs, Barbera and Nebbiolo. Craft wineries operate on thin margins. Best to source their fine wines directly from the Winery so more of the purchase price stays with Terragena.

Chris Buchanan pulls the cork on Terragena Vineyard for us.

Show 407, January 9, 2021: Christopher Buchanan, Winemaker & Proprietor at Terragena Vineyard, Humboldt County Part Two

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Chris Buchanan of Terragena Vineyard“Are you fascinated by the margin between art and science? That wild edge where creativity and beauty sprout? That’s what wine is for Winemaker and Proprietor Christopher Buchanan at Terragena Vineyards (Craft Wine certified) in Northern California. He believes both creating and enjoying wine is an intrinsically personal and complex experience.”

“Chris explores and strives to understand the complex components, step by step, while building Terragena, a completely off-grid, sustainable vineyard and winery located in the rugged hills of Humboldt County. Terragena partners with small, family-owned vineyards to produce wine that has been tenderly loved from start to finish.”

“Terragena is dedicated to building a strong network of small producers committed to eco-friendly methods who will succeed as they have, while also nurturing an experimental Pinot Noir vineyard in a unique, viticulturally unexplored location.” The winery is completely solar powered and the water source for irrigation is rainwater stored in an on-site pond.

Terragena Vineyards produces small lots of hand-crafted Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, Riesling, Rose of Pinot Noir, single vineyard Pinot Noirs, Barbera and Nebbiolo. Craft wineries operate on thin margins. Best to source their fine wines directly from the Winery so more of the purchase price stays with Terragena.

“The Terragena Vineyard team, headed by winemaker and vineyard proprietor Chris Buchanan, crafts limited production wines with the same spirit of adventure that first led them to build their off-grid vineyard in Humboldt County. Chris was inspired by the ruggedly beautiful hills, forests, and meadows around area to create wine that expresses these characteristics of the land without any added fluff or distraction. Terragena is a latin word meaning “born of the earth.” Terragena is dedicated to sustainably expressing the unique characteristics of their estate vineyard as well as their diverse partner vineyards by nurturing the wine from the earth to the bottle.”

Chris Buchanan rejoins us as he pulls the cork on Terragena Vineyard’s Nebbiolo from Lost Coast’s Dragon Vineyard for us.

Show 360, February 15, 2020: Winemaker Dave Powell, Powell & Son, Barossa Valley, South Australia

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Dave Powell of Powell and Son winesPowell & Son wines are sourced from various vineyard sites throughout Australia’s the Barossa and Eden Valleys. Dave and Callum Powell (father and son) employ traditional, minimalist winemaking techniques to produce a wine that speaks of the place that it was grown. Their inspiration for winemaking having its roots in France’s Rhone Valley, Powell & Son red wines are made from the classic Rhone varietals: Shiraz, Grenache and Mataro and its whites: Roussanne, Marsanne as well as Eden Valley Riesling.

Dave was instrumental in preserving from replanting acres of irreplaceable old vine plantings in the Barossa Valley dating from the mid-1800’s. He actually cleaned up some of this vineyard property himself in exchange for the highly-desirable grapes.

“The Powell philosophy is that a great wine is made in the vineyard and so Callum and Dave work the vineyards they use on their own in the Winter and Spring seasons, then in Autumn pick the fruit and vinify using old concrete ferment vats and basket pressing – producing unique and expressive wines from their most prized vineyards throughout the Barossa.”

Dave Powell joins us to pull the cork on Powell & Son.

Show 345, October 19, 2019: Alloro Vineyard, Sherwood, OR with Proprietor & Vineyard Manager David Nemarnik Part Two

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David Nemarnik of Alloro Vineyard“Alloro Vineyard brings Old-World allure to Oregon. Nestled in the south-facing slopes of the Chehalem Mountains just 30 minutes outside of Portland, the 70-acre Alloro estate is a bucolic homage to timeless tradition. From the iconic Italian farmhouse and culinary gardens to the heirloom sheep that graze the vineyard cover crops, and herd of Hereford cattle, the winery and vineyard is built upon the sustainable holistic agricultural practices, respectful stewardship, and intense passion for food and wine of David Nemarnik, Alloro’s founder and vineyard manager.”

“Alloro makes wine exclusively from 33 acres of estate vineyards perched on sloping hillsides in the Chehalem Mountains AVA. The Vineyard is dry-farmed, and tended with the lightest possible touch. L.I.V.E.-certified, Salmon-Safe agricultural practices strive to promote natural biodiversity and improve sustainability every year. The site’s Laurelwood series of soils—dark brown loess topsoil layered on brick-red decomposed basalt Jory soils that act as a sponge—offer optimal fertility and moisture for the micro-climate.”

Alloro produces three estate Pinot Noirs, Chardonnay, Riesling, Rose of Pinot Noir, and Vino Nettare—a dessert wine made from Muscat and Riesling.”

Proprietor David Nemarnik continues.

Show 247, November 11, 2017: Kyle Meyer, Co-Proprietor, Wine Exchange, Santa Ana

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Kyle Meyer of Wine ExchangeIt’s typically a conundrum in selecting the wines for the Thanksgiving feast that really pair well with all the diverse trimmings. You can’t always please all palates but you give it a go.

Kyle suggests that sparkling wines carry deliciously through the entire Thanksgiving feast. Don’t forget Prosecco and Sparkling Shiraz from Australia. Other thoughts include a half-dry Riesling, a California or Oregon Pinot Noir, and French Beaujolais.

Our upbeat resident wine expert, Kyle Meyer of Wine Exchange, joins us with his accessible, informed perspective. Cheers!

Show 173, May 28, 2016: Kyle Meyer, Co-Proprietor, Wine Exchange, Santa Ana

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Kyle Meyer of Wine ExchangeFrance’s Alsace region produces 18 per cent of the total French production of still white AOC wines. Our resident wine authority Kyle Meyer of Wine Exchange is here to give us an overview of the prominent region. Kyle will also chat with us about how wine professionals navigate their way through trade tastings.

Alsace is located on France’s eastern border and on the west bank of the upper Rhine, adjacent to Germany and Switzerland. In 1962, centuries of winemaking excellence were rewarded when Alsace received AOC status.

Alsace produces 10 per cent of all Riesling consumed worldwide. It is regarded as one of the finest white wines in the world and widely considered to reach its peak form in Alsace.