Interview with winemaker David Coventry

Having recently tasted a Monterey wine that really got our attention, we thought it was time to find out who was behind it and how he got here. The wine was from Puma Road on the River Road Wine Trail in Monterey, and the winemaker is David Coventry. Dave believes that making wine is a vocation and that it tends to find the individual and not the other way around.

David grew up in California but was lucky enough, or unlucky to spend his high school years at an all boys boarding school in Massachusetts. Unlucky as it was all boys, but lucky in that there he learn how to be self sufficient, which was a big advantage when he returned to California and started college at UCSC. David received a B.S. in Biology w / minors in Endocrinology, Immunology and Neurology. Out of college David worked as a protein chemist making prescription drugs. Not too far down the road he found himself managing a rock band (taking drugs for a living). It was during this time another valuable life lesson was learned. No excuses and anything is possible, as the show must go on. Kind of like harvest and crush, oh and bottling and, well you get the picture. 

Comparing two identical Pinot Noir.
One with Cork and one with Cap.

What is your quest?

To continue to learn something new. To take the lessons of one vintage and apply them to the next and continue to make better and better wine that are recognized for their integrity and quality.

When did you first have an interest in wine?

During my senior year in college (was 21) I started going to the wine shops in Santa Cruz and searching through their older stock looking for gems. I even got to purchase some at the original price as marked in pencil on the bottles. A second major wine life event was in 1996 when working for the rock band and living in San Francisco I went to a significant tasting event. The tasting was of the best wines of 1994 held at Mister Liquor. Six of the top wines were poured. Wine of the year Beringer Chardonnay, a Broadley Pinot from Oregon,  Screaming Eagle Cabernet and a Zind-Humbrecht Vendage Tardive Riesling. Being there and tasting these amazing wines was a lightning strike.

How did you get started?

At the end of a tour with the band, I met the assistant winemaker for Chalone. As we talked, he was mentioning that he was not looking forward to returning to work, as all this lab work was there waiting for him to get started on. With my back ground, and time off on the way I said 'I'm on my way back to California, how about I help you.' There you have it, my first job in the wine industry.

What separates you from other winemakers?
I think partly my sense of balance. Also, the time in the vineyard and using my five senses throughout the process from vineyard to bottle. In some ways, making wine is like rearing children in that if you don't take care of them in the beginning it usually does not end well. Like a good parent you need to know when to intervene and when to just pull back. Again, back to finding that balance. 

We all have quirks. What would your co-workers say are yours?

Most would say that I am one goofy M___ F____! The others would probably say that I tend to enjoy some chaos and trying to tame it.

If you were not being a winemaker, what would you be doing?

I like to make people laugh so probably would be a stand-up comedian.

What is your favorite color?

Red.

Thanks to Dave for taking time out of his day to chat and share while enjoying some of his creations. Look, if you are in the Monterey area, go on by and have a taste of Dave's wine at Puma Road tasting room.  We 'recommend' you do.

Happy Tasting Adventures,

Cheers,

WineWalkabout

Kiwi & Koala

Quote of the day “If you make the wine of your dreams, you have not dreamed big enough”-David Coventry

An afternoon at Sycamore Cellars

Being at the tail end of a trail means you probably don't see as many people as those attractions nearer the beginning. But that does not mean the experience you offer is any less worthy of a visitors time. In fact, we think for those who have not made the effort to get to the end of the River Road Wine Trail, you are truly missing out! Missing out on what you ask? On experiencing Sycamore Cellars...

While meeting some friends there not to long ago we got to experience first hand the hospitality of the nice people at Sycamore Cellars. The southernmost tasting room at the end of the River Road Wine Trail. On a beautiful Saturday afternoon (they are only open weekends) we drove about 40 minutes south on the river Road Wine Trail to meet up, and to make our first visit to Sycamore Cellars.



The entry is marked by a wagon of wine barrels and as such is hard to miss although you may worry for a while as it is a fair way out. The tasting room is small and cozy, although plenty of room for a dozen of your closest friends. Then there is a very nice picnic / tasting area just outside the tasting room. With a number of tables spread out over a good size area there is plenty of room for quite a few people. Sitting outside under the large trees on a nice day is a wonderful experience. The beauty of the area and the tranquility of the surroundings make for a wonderfully relaxing experience. The wine list is quite diverse and the vines are all estate, and located in the upper Arroyo Seco Appellation in Monterey County. They are quick to mention that all 60 acres of vineyards are farmed using sustainable practices by four generations of family.

With some lovely wines and a beautiful setting to sit and enjoy them, we look forward to going back because it was 'good', and spending time and discovering more about the people and the place that is, Sycamore Cellars.

Happy Tasting Adventures,

Cheers,

WineWalkabout

Kiwi & Koala

                                              RIP,Grandpa Harry

Puma Road 1st Annual Bordeaux BBQ Adventure, California

The Puma Road 1st Annual Bordeaux BBQ event was held out at the Pedregal Vineyards in Paicines. Where the heck is that you may ask? Well, its south of Hollister on the road to the Pinnacles in Sunny California and basically in the middle of nowhere.

Recently on a trip down River Road Wine Trail the new Puma Road Tasting room was discovered and an impromptu afternoon with relatively new (to Puma Road) wine maker David Coventry ensued. An enlightening afternoon of past, current and future releases were sampled and the philosophy behind the approach discussed. It was an epic tasting. While there we were told of this upcoming 1st event and we could not pass it up. There were even a couple of very uncommon and interesting vehicles used to arrive at the event (see photo below).

The drive to the event location took about an hour from Monterey, and without an actual address or GPS coordinates finding the location was a bit of a worry. But that need not have been the case as once within the general area there were many signs and balloons to lead us in. We really were heading out onto a working ranch with cattle, regular agg crops and vineyards. We drove through and saw the signs for Cabernet Savignon vines and Merlot vines and even Parking vines.

We parked in an open field and wandered up to the check-in tent. There we paid, got registered, given raffle tickets, some information and were directed to the wine glasses. Once the glasses were acquired we were straight up to one of the two bar ares for our fist taste. A nice light easy to drink Chardonnay. Wait, I thought this was a Bordeaux event you ask? Well yes, and no. Really perhaps it should have been the 1st Bordeaux meets Rhone BBQ. Anyhow, event names aside it was a lovely if not breezy day for the event. As we were saying we started tasting immediately while we waited for our vineyard tour. The BBQ was going and we were tasting some Pinot Noir and a Merlot and just as the  food was being served we were called up to head out on our tour (don't worry we were well fed after). Each of the two large ATV's were driven by one of the vineyard managers and also along to conduct the tour was David Coventry the winemaker.

The first stop for the group was up on the top of the hill adjacent to the Chardonnay vines and across from the Pinot Noir vines. As we tasted the wine from each vineyard Dave gave us the story of the vine to the glass and the vineyard managers chimed in with some of the vineyard specifics. This was the first stop of three, with a Merlot and Cabernet Savignon stop and a Malbec and Petite Verdot stop to finish. It was an educational, interesting and entertaining tour with some nice wine to boot.

Once back at BBQ central we got stuck into the food. Some wonderful Tri-tip and beans and garlic bread followed by some pork ribs and all washed down with some lovely wines.

It was an day of good wine, food and education in a great setting that we enjoyed. As far as we could tell everyone else did as well. The event looked like it was a big success and we look forward to the next one no matter what they call it! Go by the Puma Road tasting room and check out the wine, we 'recommend' you do.

Happy Tasting Adventures,

Cheers,

WineWalkabout

Kiwi & Koala

In the parking lot Kiwi checks out the latest way to get to a tasting...

Winery & Tasting Room is located at 32720 River Road, about one mile south of the Gonzales bridge.
Open Saturdays and Sundays 12-5pm

You can also visit them at the Carmel location, on Dolores between Ocean and 7th Street in Carmel By-The-Sea. Located right next to the Tuck Box, open daily from 2:30-7pm.

Interview with Winemaker Sabrine Rodems

Just recently there was opportunity to spend some quality time with winemaker Sabrine Rodems at the Wrath Vineyards Tasting room in Monterey County near Soledad. No one in their right mind is letting that slip by. Ok, so Kiwi is not in his right mind (previous commitment whatever). Being somewhat familiar with the wines of this winery even before it was Wrath  made this an exciting opportunity. While the wines were always good, there has been a steady increase in wine quality over the years. In the last five to six years, a steady release of good to great wines from this winery. With a large range of wine styles made there is guaranteed to be a couple you will love. Sabrine has been with Wrath since 2004 and while the results have been well showcased with great scores in the 'Wine Magazines' there is a lot more to Sabrine and Wrath than just good wine scores.

In the famous words of Monty Python;
Q. What is your quest?

Sabrine: I want to make wines that with food, bring families together around the dinner table. I want to encourage peoples interest in wine, and to break down some of the barriers that make people uncomfortable with the wine culture. I hope to make people comfortable with wine and all that goes with its enjoyment. I would also love in the next five years for one of Wrath's wines, Pinot Noir, Syrah, or Chardonnay, to be a 'Wine Spectator Wine of the Year'! (we don't doubt this may happen)

Q. When did you first have an interest in wine and how did that manifest itself?

Sabrine: As a child, my sisters and brother and I were hauled around to all the wineries and farm tours in Sonoma and Napa. Back in the day, all those things were free and Mom would take us on all the tours, whether it be to a chicken farm or a winery. Not only were they free but they were very interesting and sparked curiosity which became educational. On occasion we would even get a sip of wine! There were many great experiences that planted the seed that grew into an interest in science.

As an adult, my brother in law became a collector of wine and is a very detail oriented person so along with the collection was also every known fact about it. This was a re-connection with wine that still goes on every day. Between the science and the product, it's an educational road that continues to call.

Q. How did you get started?

Sabrine: While at UC Davis I did a 6-8 week internship at Gloria Ferrer. Along with the bubbles they make a lot of still wine. I finished my Master's of Science in Viticulture and Enology from UC Davis and went to work at Wrath in 2004.

Q. What do you think separates you from other winemakers?

Sabrine: I think it’s the ability and opportunity that I have here at Wrath to experiment and try different things. We often have about five experiments that we have planned each year, but usually only end up moving forward on only two or three. These trials allow me to check the science against the intuition and I am lucky to get to do that here. 

Q. If you weren't doing this what would you be doing?

Sabrine: I would be teaching in the wine industry. Probably teaching sensory classes. The sensory side of wine has often been done in a way that makes a lot of people afraid to fully engage. It's not rocket science and it can be a lot of fun. I really like sharing the process and I enjoy watching people learn, experience, loose the fear and embrace the new knowledge.

Coming full circle. Q. What is your favorite color?

Sabrine: Orange.

Having the opportunity to talk with Sabrine, and taste the current release wines of Wrath throughout the conversation, made for a great day. Her passion and energy is contagious, and one can only believe that the best is yet to come. Her technical knowledge is clear, and her passion she wears on her sleeve. But that is only part of the package, as there is also her intuition that helps guide her choices when the science has run its course. This is where the difference between good and great wines is found, in the decisions that are made with the heart or the force or that gut feeling. Sabrine is driven to understand and yet understands that some things will never be understood. To quote Sabrine 'Winemaking is the best of both worlds, the amalgamation of science and art.'

Go by one of the Wrath tasting rooms and experience for yourself the award winning wines of Wrath and the magic that Sabrine brings to them. We 'recommend' you do.

Cheers,

WineWalkabout

Kiwi & Koala

Wrath wines are available for purchase and tasting at both of our tasting rooms.  Both of them!

A visit to Talbotts on River Road

We decided that while most folks here in America were preoccupied with some version of football we would sneak out and have a taste at some unsuspecting tasting room in central California along the River Road Wine Trail in the Santa Lucia Highlands. How would we select the lucky or maybe not so lucky establishment?

It was to be first on the right after the turn off. Just that simple and arbitrary. Who might that be, well the lucky Cellar door was TalbottVineyards. Originally known just for their Chardonnay (Specifically their signature Diamond T) they are now just as well known for their Pinot Noir. But really, should they be? Let’s find out!

As we slid into the parking lot we were determined to find out, was the reputation of quality really deserved or just a marketing masterpiece that had the Wine xyz magazines falling in line singing their praise. Lucky for you all, we at WineWalkabout are not yet famous enough to be recognized and as such, usually get what anyone would get, and that is what allows us to pass on what is most likely to happen to you, if you choose to go, where we have been. Or something like that.

So as it turns out there are two distinct tasting lists; the standard and the reserve. The price range is also distinctly different. But sometimes in life you get what you pay for. Simple as that; Good, better, best!

After being welcomed in to the tasting room and the tasting options clearly explained both of us decided on the premium tasting. Two Chardonnays and three Pinot Noirs.
First up the 2009 Diamond T Chardonnay. Made from grapes from the original Diamond T vineyard planted in 1982 on a mountaintop in Carmel Valley. A crisp clean wine with sharp apple notes with a subtle minerality and a balanced acidity. A 7+ and **(*** if you are wine club member). Next up the 2009 Cuvée Audrey. Soft yellow fruits with a nice subtle acidity, typical of a quality traditional Chardonnay. A solid 7 and **. Next it was on to the Pinot Noirs with first up the 2009 Diamond T Pinot Noir. A bright looking wine with rich color, light to medium body with nice cherry and plum notes with an easy finish. Solid 6 and **, ***with membership. This was followed up with 2008 Cuvée RFT, Pinot Noir. With nice bright color and a lovely full mouth feel and with notes of ripe dark fruit and spice and a soft well balanced finish. Solid 7 and **.  Last but not least was the 2009 Cuvée Sarah Case Pinot Noir. This wine is sourced from the Sleepy Hollow Vineyard and is the best of what this vineyard has to offer. A bright medium bodied wine with notes of cherry and plum, it has nice soft spice notes and a smooth balanced finish. A 7 and **.
Koala managed a sneak peek of the barrel and production facility which showed an efficiently used and spotlessly clean facility which may go some way to explain some of the well presented wines.

The young lady in the tasting room was knowledgeable enough to inform us of most things important about Talbotts history and current production information and articulate enough to keep our attention. We each purchased a bottle of the 2009 Diamond T Pinot Noir (VALUE- Kiwi was tempted to purchase the Cuvée RFT, but the price point was in favor of the Diamond T)) and a bottle of the 2009 Sleepy Hollow Vineyard Pinot Noir(extra VALUE) which was later consumed whilst watching the aforementioned football game on DVR (so we could fast forward most of the game and watch the commercials) with bbq'd vegetarian polish sausage (you know, made with turkey).

So while we only uncovered what some may have expected, the wine xyz magazine editors can sleep well knowing that WineWalkabout's Kiwi and Koala validated their ratings.

So if you find yourselves in the River Road area looking for some wine to taste, we 'recommend' stop by Talbotts and tell them WineWalkabout sent you! Be sure to ask what the thing hanging over the back door is used for.

Happy Wine Adventures,

Cheers,

WineWalkabout

Kiwi & Koala