The “Winemaker of the Day” at WinemakersDirect.us is Christopher Wirth of Hunt Country Vineyards in Branchport, New York.

September 4th, 2010

WinemakersDirect.us Winemaker of the Day for 09/04/2010

Hunt Country winemaker Christopher Wirth has over 25 years’ experience in the wine industry, mostly in California and Oregon. It is his passion for cool climate wines and for his native upstate New York that brought Chris back to the region.
He studied winemaking at Santa Rosa Junior College, and worked with famed winemakers Julia Iantosca of Lambert Bridge (formerly at William Wheeler) and Kevin Hamel of Preston Vineyards.
In 2001 Chris moved to Oregon to pursue his passion for Pinot Noir. There he worked for Elvenglade Vineyards, a small producer of premium wines, and consulted for Raptor Ridge and Owen Roe wineries. He became enraptured not only by Pinot Noir, but also by Pinot Gris and Pinot Blanc! He recalls, “One of my oenology professors would simply say, ‘Wine should be fun.’ I take winemaking seriously, but at the end of the day, whether paired with food or all by itself, the purpose of wine is to bring enjoyment to family and friends.”
Both Chris and his wife, Joanne, have returned to their roots. Joanne grew up in Hammondsport and Chris is from Ilion in central NY. Their two grown children, Hanna and Micah, are both involved in the wine industry. Chris’s hobbies include gardening and cooking, playing the guitar and singing.

Hunt Country Vineyards
Branchport, New York

Visit: www.HuntWines.com home page of Hunt Country Vineyards

Current Releases:

2006 Merlot

NV Foxy Lady Red Blend

NV Ruby Port Blend

2006 Meritage Blend

NV Alchemy Blend

NV Classic Red

NV Hunters Red

2006 Cayuga White

2007 Chardonnay

2007 Pinot Gris

2007 Dry Riesling

2007 Semi Dry Riesling

2006 Seyval Blanc

2007 Vignoles

NV Foxy Lady White Blend

NV Foxy Lady Blush Blend

2006 Vidal Blanc Ice Wine Dessert Wine

2007 Late Harvest Vignoles Dessert Wine

NV Cream Sherry Dessert Wine Blend

2007 Champagne Chardonnay Sparkling Wine

The “Winemaker of the Day” at WinemakersDirect.us is Larry Oates of Sleeping Dog Wines in Benton City, Washington.

September 3rd, 2010

WinemakersDirect.us Winemaker of the Day for 09/03/2010

Larry has held an interest in wine since supporting himself as a geology graduate student by working in a wine shop. After moving to the Yakima Valley with vineyards located across the road, he decided to venture into winemaking as a hobby. Like many hobbies, this one got a little out of control. After 10 years of reading, attending classes when available, assistance from friends, and much trial and error, Sleeping Dog Wines was established. The learning continues, as does the help from friends. The trials also continue, however, the errors now are usually capable of being fixed.

Sleeping Dog Wines
Benton City, Washington

Visit: www.sleepingdogwines.com home page of Sleeping Dog Wines

Current Releases:

2004 Syrah Blend

2005 Syrah Blend

2009 Sauvignon Blanc

2009 Malbec Rose

The “Winemaker of the Day” at WinemakersDirect.us is Ron Bunnell of Bunnell Family Cellar in Prosser, Washington.

September 2nd, 2010

WinemakersDirect.us Winemaker of the Day for 09/02/2010

Ron Bunnell graduated from the University of California, Davis Viticulture and Enology Masters Program in 1983. He went to work in the Napa Valley for Charles Krug and afterward Beringer Vineyards. When Beringer bought Chateau Souverain, Ron relocated to Sonoma County as Assistant Winemaker. There he met his future wife, Susan. After seven years with the Beringer organization, Ron spent four years as a consulting winemaker for a number of start-up wineries. He joined Kendall-Jackson in 1996 where he worked in Monterey, Sonoma County and Santa Barbara. In 1999, Ron and Susan moved to Washington so that Ron could take the position of Head Red Winemaker for Chateau Ste. Michelle and Winemaker for the Col Solare project with Pierro Antinori. Five years later, the couple founded The Bunnell Family Cellar.

Bunnell Family Cellar
Prosser, Washington

Visit: www.RiverAerie.com home page of Bunnell Family Cellar

Current Releases:

2004 Boushey-McPherson Vineyard Syrah

The “Winemaker of the Day” at WinemakersDirect.us is Loren Tayerle of Aubin Cellars in Oakland, CA.

September 1st, 2010

WinemakersDirect.us Winemaker of the Day for 09/01/2010

Loren Tayerle’s early winemaking jobs at David Bruce Winery in the Santa Cruz Mountains and Rosenblum Cellars in the East Bay enabled him to gain experience and inspiration to hand craft Pinot Noir and Rhône varietals.<br>Loren brings a sense of aesthetics to winemaking from a career as a classical musician. Precision, attention to details, unity, intensity and complexity translate equally from the concert hall to the vineyard and cellar. Loren has continued his studies in Viticulture and Enology at U.C.Davis and Napa Valley College and has traveled to the Old World winegrowing regions.<br>

Aubin Cellars
Oakland, California

Visit: www.aubincellars.com home page of Aubin Cellars

Current Releases:

2006 Verve Pinot Noir Russian River

2006 Verve Sonoma Coast

2006 Verve Pinot Noir Dundee Hills

2005 Verve Sonoma Mountain

2005 Verve Syrah Columbia Valley

2006 Verve Sauvignon Blanc Paso Robles

The “Winemaker of the Day” at WinemakersDirect.us is B. Kiley Evans of Agate Ridge Vineyard in Eagle Point, Oregon.

August 31st, 2010

WinemakersDirect.us Winemaker of the Day for 08/31/2010

Kiley is a graduate of the world-renowned Department of Viticulture and Enology at the University of California, Davis, where he was recognized as the Albert J. Winkler Scholar. For the last six years, he produced critically-acclaimed Viognier, Tempranillo, Syrah, Grenache, Port, and distinctive red blends. Kiley has also been integral to Southern Oregon’s growing national reputation as a premier wine region by serving as a Regional Advisor for the Oregon Wine Board’s Wine Quality Program. His early interest in fine wine led to a promising sommelier career in Florida where he was the principal organizer of nationally recognized wine programs before pursuing studies at UC Davis.

Agate Ridge Vineyard
Eagle Point, Oregon

Visit: www.agateridgevineyard.com home page of Agate Ridge Vineyard

Current Releases:

2006 Cabernet Sauvignon

2006 Petite Sirah

2006 Pinot Noir

2007 Primitivo

2006 Syrah

2007 Pinot Gris

2007 Sauvignon Blanc

2007 Viognier-Barrel Fermented

2007 Elna Faye Rose Blend

The “Winemaker of the Day” at WinemakersDirect.us is Andrew Rich of Andrew Rich Wines in Carlton, Oregon.

August 30th, 2010

WinemakersDirect.us Winemaker of the Day for 08/30/2010

When Andrew Rich moved from Santa Cruz, California, to Portland, Oregon, in 1994, after a six-year stint at Bonny Doon Vineyard, it was with the idea of giving Rhone varietals a particularly Northwest spin. Pity the grapes just weren’t there yet. With the 1999 vintage, the Syrah finally came in, but in the meanwhile Rich turned his attention to Pinot Noir and Cabernet, the flagship grapes of Oregon and Washington. Mainstream, sure, but in a brave act of redemption he has taken up the cause of the noble and greatly underappreciated Chenin Blanc, and continues to make a case for Rose. His Sauvignon Blanc has a following that buys up his entire supply a few months after release.

Andrew Rich Wines
Carlton, Oregon

Visit: www.AndrewRichWines.com home page of Andrew Rich Wines

Current Releases:

2003 Reserve Syrah

2004 Syrah

2004 Tabula Rasa Red Blend

2005 Rousanne

2005 Gerurztraminer Dessert Wine

The “Winemaker of the Day” at WinemakersDirect.us is Gary Reeves of Village of Elgin Winery in Elgin, Arizona.

August 29th, 2010

WinemakersDirect.us Winemaker of the Day for 08/29/2010

Classically Trained. Multi-generation family of Wine Masters

Village of Elgin Winery
Elgin, Arizona

Visit: elginwines.com home page of Village of Elgin Winery

Current Releases:

NV Tombstone Gunslinger (R)

2006 Sangiovese

NV Tombstone Red (R)

NV Vino della Primavera

NV Tombstone Rain (R)

NV Tombstone Showdown (R)

NV Bisbee Copper (TM)

The “Winemaker of the Day” at WinemakersDirect.us is Eric Stern of Landmark Vineyards in Kenwood, CA.

August 28th, 2010

WinemakersDirect.us Winemaker of the Day for 08/28/2010

A native of New York, Eric Stern’s undergraduate studies included music, anthropology and geology. Following his graduation from New York University’s Washington Square College, he worked for ten years as an administrator for chamber music ensembles in New Hampshire and Michigan. His decision to pursue a career in wine began in Boston where he worked concurrently as a wine shop manager, sommelier and salesman for an importer/wholesale distributor of fine wine. In 1983, he relocated to California and enrolled in California State University at Fresno to get a second undergraduate degree in enology. After apprenticing at Acacia and Carmenet wineries, he joined Landmark in 1989 as Assistant Winemaker. Promoted to Winemaker in 1993, Stern continues to pursue his passion for the craft and art of wine. Relying on his senses and aesthetics, he produces balanced, full-flavored Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs in the traditional Burgundian style.

Stern lives in Sonoma with his wife, Carol Brown, a writing instructor. He enjoys listening to music, reading, swimming and gourmet cooking. Eric and Carol love traveling to the world’s great winemaking regions.

Landmark Vineyards
Kenwood, California

Visit: www.landmarkwine.com home page of Landmark Vineyards

Current Releases:

2006 Landmark Overlook Chardonnay

The “Winemaker of the Day” at WinemakersDirect.us is Aaron Roisen of Hosmer Winery in Ovid, New York.

August 27th, 2010

WinemakersDirect.us Winemaker of the Day for 08/27/2010

Aaron Roisen

Aaron Roisen grew up in Dawson, MN on his parent’s farm growing corn & soybeans. He decided to take a look wine making and ventured down to New Zealand to study wine making in Marlborough. After a couple years of schools and vintages, Aaron found a job as Assistant Winemaker at Lamoreaux Landing for two vintages and then moved on to Atwater Estates to be their Assistant Winemaker for three years. Aaron joined Hosmer Winery in 2007.

Hosmer Winery
Ovid, New York

Visit: www.hosmerwinery.com home page of Hosmer Winery

Current Releases:

2007 Cabernet Franc

2007 Lemberger

2007 Pinot Noir

NV Estate Red Blend

NV Fireside Red Blend

NV Raspberry Rhapsody

2008 Cayuga White

2008 Chardonnay

2007 Chardonnay Limited Release

2007 Pinot Gris

2007 Vintner’s Reserve Riesling

2008 Dry Riesling

2008 Riesling

2007 Sevyal

NV Carousel Blend

NV Dry Rose’ Blend

NV Raspberry Royale Dessert Wine

NV Champagne/Sparkling Wine Sparkling Wine Blend

The “Winemaker of the Day” at WinemakersDirect.us is Alfredo “Freddy” Arredondo of Cave B Estate Winery in Quincy, Washington.

August 26th, 2010

WinemakersDirect.us Winemaker of the Day for 08/26/2010

Alfredo “Freddy” Arredondo is a graduate of the Walla Walla Community College Institute for Enology and Viticulture. Freddy’s winemaking experience includes working as a cellar master at Cougar Crest Winery in Walla Walla. Prior to becoming a winemaker, Freddy was a professional chef. He started his culinary career at age 13, cooking in his family’s restaurant. It was while working and attending culinary classes in Arizona that he was first introduced to wine. At that point in his life wine was a “mysterious, wonderful elixir” that he used to complement his dishes.
Once Freddy completed culinary school, he worked as a chef in restaurants in Las Vegas, Los Angeles and on a cruise ship in Hawaii. However, he was drawn to Italy and moved there when he was awarded a highly-competitive scholarship to attend the Italian Culinary Institute for Foreigners. It was in Italy where two life-changing things occurred: he met his future wife, and he became completely passionate about wine.
“I am excited to help create wines that marry beautifully and seamlessly with foods,” said Freddy. “I look forward to the amazing things that are on the horizon.”

Cave B Estate Winery
Quincy, Washington

Visit: www.caveb.com home page of Cave B Estate Winery

History of Cave B

Current Releases:

2004 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon

2004 Cabernet Sauvignon

2004 Merlot

2004 SageCliffe Merlot

2005 SageCliffe 100 Red Blend

2004 SageCliffe Cabernet Sauvignon Blend

2006 Sangiovese Blend

2007 SageCliffe 100 Chardonnay

2006 Chardonnay

2007 Gewurztraminer

2007 Riesling

2007 Sauvignon Blanc

2006 S

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