The Rocks of Rotie Cellars

On the first episode of 2018, we catch up with Maddie Richards, Sales Director, of Rotie Cellars in Walla Walla, Washington.  We talk about what makes Washington State unique and such a good value, and the relatively new AVA (wine region) of the Rocks of Milton-Freewater.  Rotie was started by geologist Sean Boyd in 2007 with the first year of fruit coming from their estate vineyard in 2013.  But, they're already making waves with their Rhone blends that reference the various styles coming from the Rhone, France.  Check out all the good stuff here!

Rotie Cellars' vineyard in the Rocks of Milton-Freewater

Vineyard is a hybrid of head trained but then canopy is attached to a trellis wire.  Look at those galets!

Randy Hester on Napa and TX Wine

In 2006, Randy left Houston to carve out a life with his wife in Napa, with the 10 year plan to come back to TX to make world class wine and push the industry.  An internship at Cakebread lead to a job, then to a position at Colgin, then to work under cult winemakers like Mike Hirby and Andy Erickson.  All this lead to served as the foundation of his own label, Lightning Wines, focusing on Grenache.  In 2014, Randy came back to TX to launch C.L Butaud to push the possibilities of Tempranillo.  Check out the podcast to hear Randy tell his story.  He's made a splash already!

clbutaud.com

http://lightningwines.com/

Jeremy Fouquet from Brotte Family Wine breaks down the Southern Rhone

Jeremy Fouquet, export manager with the Chateauneuf-de-Pape Producer, Maison Brotte, comes on the show to speak about the Rhone Valley and all the different properties owned by the Brotte Family.  He grew up in the Southern Rhone in a family of chefs, and now travels telling the story of one of the most popular Chateauneuf producers!

Rae Wilson bets on Texas Rosé

Rae Wilson has been in the Austin wine industry since 2005, made wine in California and Portugal, and currently consults for restaurants and other industry entities.  She says that her quest to fully complete the circle has lead her to plant a vineyard and make wine here in Texas.  She is in her second year of producing the Dandy Rosé and her vineyard will be producing viable fruit come next year.  http://www.dandypink.com