Randall Grahm, an American Original

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Randall Grahm started the Bonny Doon Vineyard in 1983.

Talk about “of cabbages and kings”, we chatted with Randall and a great group about Rhône varieties, the ungly duckling grapes, Riesling and Gruner Veltliner (everyone except Eve loves Riesling), biodynamics, cork taint, eastern Washington vineyards, terroir and its importance, screw caps and much more. See our Delicious bookmarks for more info.

Bonny Doon Vineyard and Randall Grahm

Here is a notion we will be developing:

“I am also really interested in producing wines that have life-force.  Another word for this might be minerality, another term might be the ability to resist oxidation.  I think that one of the keys to this is learning how to master the oxidation/reduction states of the wines at varying points in the wine’s elevage.”

Special Rhone Ranger music on guitar by Zip Caplan.

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Armagnac and how it differs from Cognac

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It was a pleasure to meet Gilles de Boisséson at Vinexpo and chat with him about his Armagnac. The poster in the beginning was designed by his son Jean. You may recognize the background as that of the Train Bleu restaurant in Paris.

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Croatian Wines

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Turkish Delights

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Today: Zinfandel Madness in Bordeaux!

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ZAP (Zinfandel Advocates & Producers) came out to Vinexpo 2009 to meet people from all over the world and show them my favorites California wine, Zinfandel.

richard flores

Richard Flores spreading the Zin gospel

Do not be fooled by Richard’s avuncular manner, he’s an inspired advocate. Everyone I saw interacting with him went away delighted to have learned more about Zinfandel.

Interviewed in the above recording :

Richard Flores, ZAP

Bill Easton, Terre Rouge

David Phillips, Lodi Vineyards

Bruce Walker, Starry Night Winery

Susan Ridley, Hendry

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This is what Vinexpo is like

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Ginger Vodka!

Distillerie G. Miclo

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I am a sucker for originality in products, and I immediately had to talk to Marie-Andrée Lutt-Miclo about this bottle, visible from afar.

The site will be up soon here: http://www.distillerie-miclo.com

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Vinexpo 2009: Spain, Emilio Miró Salvat (Reus)

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Economic Crisis? I Got Yer Crisis Right Here

After four days of interviewing mostly foreign wine producers, I happened upon a stand that was selling Absinthe produced in Provence. I don’t wear my badge because it has a tendancy to fall off and I’d have lost it the first day if I hadn’t just stuck it in my pocket. When I asked about the Absinthe, the guy looked annoyed, he was discussing the crisis with colleagues and they all agreed, if I didn’t have a badge, I could go bother someone else.

Go Away Son, Ya Bother Me

Walking away, I happened upon this scene:

Come Taste Our Wines!

Let me see, which is the better commercial approach? D’UH!

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Vinexpo 2009: Lebanon Cave Kouroum

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