问问酿酒师:圆塘邨的Muiris Griffin

With around 400 wineries in 纳帕 Valley, it can be difficult for winemakers to stand out. Muiris Griffin has more than overcome that challenge with his work at 圆塘邨. In addition to utilizing new techniques to get the absolute best yield from their soil, Muiris has developed innovative winemaking techniques that allow for the production of single-berry wines—a longtime goal for many winemakers—which has the potential to significantly impact in the wine industry.

在这次采访中, Muiris provides an insider perspective on what it takes to run one of the leading wineries in 纳帕 Valley. In addition to discussing micro sites and the production of his single-berry wine, he explains to us why visitors to his winery are so important to his long-term success, along with some of the steps he and his staff take to ensure that everyone has a memorable and fun time while visiting 圆塘邨.

If you’re interested in getting an inside look into the mind of a leading winemaker, then read on.

1. 你最喜欢卢瑟福的哪个地方?

My favorite spot in 卢瑟福 is without a doubt the gravel streaks running through the Eastern section of our site. 整个圆塘葡萄园出产令人惊叹的葡萄酒, and those streaks are consistently putting out what I think are some of the best wines in the world.

2. Aside from your own, is there a winery you are currently impressed by/enjoy? 是什么让它与众不同??

There are so many wineries that are putting out amazing wines up and down the Valley, 以及加州周边地区, 不可能挑出一个. Obviously Thomas Rivers Brown is one of the top, and I’m always impressed by the wines he touches. And Michael Silacci at Opus One is always inspiring me to go farther in using every tool possible to get the best out of the vineyard and to optimize everything in the cellar to make absolutely incredible wines.

3. 你最喜欢的三种当地葡萄酒是什么? 国际葡萄酒?

Top three local wines are definitely Montebello from Ridge, Opus One, and Smai. Top international are Chateau Pape Clement, Vieux Telegraphe, and Jean Luc Columbo.

4. 如果你下班后要出去，在哪里可以找到你?

I’ll frequently stop at The 卢瑟福 Grill after work—it’s kind of my hang out spot just down the road. But sitting out on our Terrace has to be one of the best places to be in the Valley!

5. 你希望人们更多地了解葡萄酒的哪一方面?

我觉得是结构和酸度的平衡. I think getting that tannin/acid balance right is the biggest qualitative factor in making 卢瑟福 Cab. 还有甜水果口味vs. 糖, a lot of people equate a sweet fruit profile with residual 糖, like on our 卢瑟福 Sauvignon Blanc which has tons of rich sweet fruit notes but is totally dry.

6. 你最喜欢什么酒 & 食物配对?

我现在最喜欢的搭配是闪闪发光的寿司, or our Sauvignon Blanc with some slightly spicy curry (can’t do it too spicy, 我是爱尔兰人!).

7. 你最感兴趣的酿酒趋势是什么? 最不感兴趣?

The thing I’m most excited about is locating micro sites within vineyard blocks to get the absolute best out of your various soil profiles. We have so many tools now to identify different soil types in the vineyard and such a better understanding of how those differences can be optimized for the best possible quality. 这些葡萄酒更好地代表了它们的产地, 在混合过程中我们有更好的选择. 这些都不是我不看好的趋势. 我觉得越疯狂越好, 人们在葡萄园或酿酒厂做的随意的事情, 我们从结果中学到的就越多.

8. 你是如何将葡萄酒作为职业的?

酒 as a profession was actually proposed to me after taking an aptitude test in middle school. 当时我没多想, but after studying in France after high school I had grown rather fond of wine (mostly very cheap Rosé) and I was thrilled to rediscover the wine country where I’d grown up. I started with a family friend in their tiny vineyard and I was hooked!

9. 你的工作最棒的地方是什么?

我的工作有很多很棒的地方, 最不喜欢的可能是所有的电子表格, most favorite is probably the artistic expression it allows me. 这不是一门完美的科学. I do the things I do because I believe those techniques to be the best to extract all of the potential quality from the grapes we grow here, 但其他人肯定会做一些不同的事情. Even though I want to be as hands off as possible in the cellar, 我仍然觉得我可以通过这些酒来表达自己.

10. 完成这个句子:“酒应该是……”

葡萄酒应该好好享受! 每一种酒，每一次. 不管它是什么，我们都应该享受它. If you don’t like a particular wine you may be served at a dinner party for instance, 不要为了继续生活而忍气吞声, 试着享受那一刻的每一口.

11. 圆池塘最令人兴奋的是什么?

We’re doing a lot of exciting things both with our winemaking as well as the visitor experience. I think the way we’re dividing up each block into tiny micro sites based on the specific profile of the soil is yielding awesome results! It takes a huge amount of work to farm these micro sites differently within the blocks, but it allows us to hone in practices based on the performance of each vine.

Whether you come for a short olive oil or wine tasting or one of our in-depth, 全天体验, 我们的目标是与您分享ag体育正规的生活方式. Our estate is nearly 400 acres and includes 12 acres of olive trees, 六英亩的有机花园，我们从那里采购水果, 蔬菜, 我们的搭配菜单上还有鸡蛋. I’m a fan of our Terrace Lounge tastings on Friday evenings in the summer (April – October at 6 – 8 p.m. 只接受预约). 因为大多数酒厂都关门歇业了, our guests are enjoying the fantastic 纳帕 Valley sunset and views of the iconic Mayacamas Mountains paired with wines and special bites inspired by the garden produce. 这就是天堂.


兴奋地探索圆磅庄园和附近的酿酒厂? 发现 奥克维尔-卢瑟福酒厂 今天就开始计划你的旅行吧!

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作者

酒Country集体

酒Country is made up of a dedicated and passionate team of wine, food, and travel aficionados. We diligently explore regions, both near and far, to curate the best ideas and resources. 不管你是在思考你的下一个葡萄酒冒险, 计划一个浪漫的周末, 在家享受葡萄酒之乡的生活方式, 或者只是想娱乐一下, 相信我们是您的全面指导.