Postcards in a Glass
Postcards in a Glass
Podcast Description
Postcards in a Glass shares an unpretentious world of wine, believing that every good wine "takes you somewhere." This series of audio postcards from great wine regions around the world is hosted by James Beard Award-winning journalist and WSET (Wine & Spirit Education Trust) Certified Educator Lyn Farmer. In conversations with winemakers and many others who love wine, Lyn brings out the passion and joy people have for the beverage, and every now and then manages to include a discussion of spirits, beer, sake and the arts. You don't need to be an expert to share the passion for wine and food at the heart of this podcast focusing equally on geographical as well as cultural terroir.
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
The podcast delves into various aspects of wine culture, geographical origin, and terroir. It features conversations with winemakers while discussing topics like cool climate wines, food pairings, and the intersection of wine with other beverages such as spirits and beer. An example episode includes a deep dive into Russian River Valley's Pinot Noir with winemaker Heidi von der Mehden.
Postcards in a Glass shares an unpretentious world of wine, believing that every good wine “takes you somewhere.” This series of audio postcards from great wine regions around the world is hosted by James Beard Award-winning journalist and WSET (Wine & Spirit Education Trust) Certified Educator Lyn Farmer. In conversations with winemakers and many others who love wine, Lyn brings out the passion and joy people have for the beverage, and every now and then manages to include a discussion of spirits, beer, sake and the arts. You don’t need to be an expert to share the passion for wine and food at the heart of this podcast focusing equally on geographical as well as cultural terroir.
My guest this episode is Philippe Rolet, a winemaker who began his career in Chablis but who for more than 30 years has been one of the most influential winemakers in South America. His is General Manager of Los Vascos in Chile and Bodegas CARO in Mendoza’s Uco Valley. The story began in the mid-1980s, when French company Domaines de Baron de Rothschild Lafite (better known simply as DBR) decided to make wine in Chile. DBR partnered with a local winery called Los Vascos and in 1988 became the principal shareholder of the group that also includes minority partner Viña Santa Rita, on its own one of Chile’s largest producers. Today, the partnership produces half a million cases of wine, nearly all of which is exported.
The group is notable for pioneering green certifications and is today is more than 50-percent organic, with many of the vineyards transitioning to biodynamic agriculture.
Philippe Rolet works closely with Saskia Rothschild, the current director of the parent company DBR; he credits her with much of the company’s recent innovation. In the late 1990s, DBR crossed the Andes to create another partnership in Argentina. In Mendoza’s Uco Valley, Bodegas CARO brought DBR together with the Nicolas Catena Family, and Philippe Rolet is general manager there as well.
In our wide-ranging converesation, Philippe explores wine and place. We talk about Los Vascos’ flagship blend Le Dix introduced in 1996; It is based on Cabernet Sauvignon with about 10 percent Carmenère, but also includes as much as eight percent Syrah each year. As you will hear the winery produces many other blends including a stunning rosé made from Rhône varieties. Philippe also talks about the property’s newest project called “Cañeten,” a wine produced in a cooler part of Colchagua, closer to the coast than Le Dix.
Philippe Rolet is here, glass in hand, and you can also find him at the Los Vascos website, https://www.lafite.com/domaines/los-vascos/read/
And, you can learn more about Bodegas CARO here: https://www.palmbay.com/wines/bodegas-caro/caro-3/
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