Afleveringen
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This episode with Vine Street Imports founder and CEO Ronnie Sanders delves into the evolution of Australian wine over the last 25 years. It explores the shift from the '90s highly manipulated, high alcohol content wines appreciated by critics like Robert Parker, to a modern appreciation for natural, lower alcohol content wines. Ronnie contrasts the older, bigger, and bolder styles with the fresher, more minimalist approach influenced by the natural wine movement. Highlighting both a historical perspective and current trends, Ronnie acknowledges the shifting spectrum of winemaking philosophies in Australia. Amidst these shifts, the episode also touches on his personal stories and connections in the wine industry, emphasizing how the personalities of Australian winemakers are reflected in their wines. The discussion brings out the diversity of Australian wine, underlining its global uniqueness and the value it offers across various styles.
01:08 Reflecting on Australian Wine: A 25-Year Journey
05:34 The Rise and Impact of Parkerization
06:21 Championing Traditional Winemaking Amidst Trends
08:22 The Shift Towards Lower Alcohol Content
12:16 Exploring the Natural Wine Movement in Australia
18:10 Generational Shifts and Future Trends
20:25 Personalities Behind Australian WinesHosted by Charlotte Alsaadi.
Special thanks to SNACKTIME for the music!
Vine Street Imports Instagram | Website
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This episode with Vine Street Imports' founder and CEO, Ronnie Sanders, discusses the dynamics affecting Australian wine prices. Beginning with an overview of how market demand, rather than production cost, determines pricing, the discussion tracks the shift from the era of 'cheap and cheerful' Australian wines to today's landscape of premiumization. Key factors include the global financial downturn in 2008, supply chain challenges, rising costs of labor, expensive land and grapes, alongside environmental issues like bushfires and drought exacerbated by climate change. Ronnie reflects on the early days of Australian wine importation and the evolution of the market, emphasizing the significant increase in labor costs and other economic pressures. He advocates for strategic pricing to build and sustain wine brands, concluding with the potential of Australian wines to offer value within the global market despite higher price points. The episode argues for a reevaluation of New World biases, presenting Australian wines as competitive in quality and value against global benchmarks.
00:37 The Evolution of Australian Wine Prices
01:17 The Golden Age of Affordable Australian Wines
04:47 The Shift in Australian Wine Economics
05:13 The Rising Costs of Labor in Australia
07:20 Navigating the Complexities of Wine Pricing
10:59 Advice for Wine Producers on Pricing Strategies
12:15 Finding Value in Australian Wines Amidst Global Pricing
13:34 Concluding Thoughts on the Value of Australian WineHosted by Charlotte Alsaadi.
Special thanks to SNACKTIME for the music!
Vine Street Imports Instagram | Website
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Zijn er afleveringen die ontbreken?
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This episode of Stories from the Cellar gets into Western Australia's wine region, with a special focus on Margaret River. With insights from Ronnie Sanders, founder and CEO of Vine Street Imports and an expert in Australian wines, the podcast uncovers the geographical isolation, diverse climates, and cultural uniqueness that make Western Australia's wine regions so special. Highlighting Margaret River for its Chardonnay and Cabernet productions, the episode explores the region's history, climate influences, and its blend of Bordeaux and California characteristics, alongside a culture that combines luxury with a casual surf atmosphere. The discussion also touches on other important wine hubs in Western Australia like Pemberton, Denmark, and Franklin River, emphasizing the variety of wines produced due to the area's vast size and varied climates.
00:29 Welcome to Stories from the Cellar: The Western Australia Wine Episode
01:23 The Geographical and Viticultural Diversity of Western Australia
03:25 Spotlight on Margaret River: A Premier Wine Region
04:34 Margaret River's Unique Climate and Culture
06:12 The Surf-Inspired Lifestyle of Margaret River
07:28 Wrapping Up: Insights and InvitationsHosted by Charlotte Alsaadi.
Special thanks to SNACKTIME for the music!
Vine Street Imports Instagram | Website
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In this episode, we dive deep into the world of Victorian wines, featuring Vine Street Imports founder and CEO, Ronnie Sanders. The episode highlights Victoria's distinct climate, geography, and the exceptional wine producers within the region. Ronnie shares his passion for presenting Victoria's cool climate wines, such as Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Syrah, which challenge the common perceptions of Australian wines. The discussion traverses through various Victorian wine regions, showcasing their unique soil types, wine styles, and standout wineries. Key areas like the Macedon Ranges, Yarra Valley, Rutherglen, and the Pyrenees are spotlighted for their innovative and diverse wine offerings. 00:29 Exploring the Unique Wines of Victoria, Australia 02:24 The Diverse Wine Regions Surrounding Melbourne 04:33 Highlighting Exceptional Australian Winemakers 04:58 Personal Anecdotes and the Impact of Victoria's Wines
Hosted by Charlotte Alsaadi.
Special thanks to SNACKTIME for the music!
Vine Street Imports Instagram | Website
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This episode featuring Ronnie Sanders, the founder and CEO of Vine Street Imports, focuses on wines from South Australia. Ronnie shares his extensive knowledge on the subject, discussing the history, key regions like McLaren Vale and Barossa, notable grape varieties, the influence of climate and soils, and the pioneering of the natural wine movement in the Adelaide Hills. He also emphasizes the importance of old vine material, the diverse winemaking talent fostered by the University of Adelaide, and touches on personal relationships and stories intertwined with South Australia's wine industry. The podcast aims to provide educational insights into the complexities and distinctions of South Australian wines, celebrating its significance in the global wine landscape.
00:47 The Genesis of Vine Street Imports
01:07 Exploring Australian Wine: A Series Overview
01:33 Deep Dive into South Australia's Wine Scene
02:28 The Significance of McLaren Vale and Barossa
03:13 The Rich Diversity of South Australian Wines
08:09 Understanding the Impact of Soil on Wine
09:42 The Role of Education in South Australia's Wine Industry
10:42 Personal Connections and Closing ThoughtsHosted by Charlotte Alsaadi.
Special thanks to SNACKTIME for the music!
Vine Street Imports Instagram | Website
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This episode is the second half of our conversation with Johan Meyer (also known as Stompie) from Mother Rock and J.H. Meyer Signature Wines based in the Swartland, South Africa. Here, we dive into his wines and why the Cape needs to diversify beyond old vine Chenin Blanc. We also talk about the new wine of origin appellation called Picket-bo-berg that heâs created at his home estate on top of the Piketberg Mountain. Plus, we end with the story of why Stompie is called Stompie. Weâll pick up our conversation where we left off, talking about how Chenin Blanc allows him a little bit more creativity than Chardonnay, and why this desire to make something outside the box led him to become South Africaâs first producer to receive the special invite to the âBrutal!â club of winemakers, a label that is very much a part of the global natural wine movement today.
Hosted by Charlotte Alsaadi.
Special thanks to SNACKTIME for the music!
Vine Street Imports Instagram | Website
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Today's episode is with Johan Meyer (also known as Stompie) from Mother Rock and J.H. Meyer Signature Wines based in the Swartland, South Africa. If youâre privy to the natural wine scene in the Cape, youâll know these labels without a doubt. I often hear people say that there are three guys that really put natural wine on the map in South Africa and that is Johan Meyer, Jurgen Gouws of Intellego (thereâs an episode with him a few back) and Craig Hawkins of Lammershoek and Testalonga.
In this episode, youâll hear how Stompie got into natural wine, and how it wasnât always what he did. At the beginning, he was working for a big commercial winery called Sutter Home â you might have heard of it â out in California. After another stint at a smaller winery in New Zealand, plus a transformative experience at Matassa in Southern France â a natural wine project started by Tom Lubbe, a New Zealander who grew up in South Africa South â Stompie returned home determined to do his own thing. He shares how the Swartland Revolution which took place around 2010 helped pave the way for newcomers like himself, and how at that time, there was a huge gap in the market for affordable natural wine made at scale. Enter: Mother Rock Wines.
That is all part 1 of my conversation with Stompie. In Part 2, we talk more about the wines, including his 'Brutal!' series, which is a natural wine âclubâ of sorts, to which Stompie was the first South African producer ever invited. Youâll also hear about the new wine of origin appellation that he has established at his high elevation home on the Piketberg Mountain, about two and a half hours north of Cape Town. Plus, stick around for the end of part 2 where youâll hear why Stompie is called Stompie.
To begin the story, we need to go all the way back to Stompieâs childhood in the Garden Route, where the dominant type of farming was not of grapes, but of cows...
Hosted by Charlotte Alsaadi.
Special thanks to SNACKTIME for the music!
Vine Street Imports Instagram | Website
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This episode is a compilation of interviews with the Cowley brothers: Ben, the viticulturist, and Luc, the winemaker.
For some excellent context on Benâs backstory, go back and listen to the episode just before this one. It tells the story of how he made the switch from the film industry to wine, and how, at the beginning when he moved from Auckland to his parents' new Auntsfield estate, he was living in a primitive woolshed on the property that still had the slats for manure to fall through while the sheep were being sheared. Youâll also hear about Benâs thoughts on how Marlborough became synonymous with Sauvignon Blanc, and his take on new wave New Zealand.
Today, weâre diving into the place and the wines. You'll hear about the history of Auntsfield as Marlborough's first commercial winery. You'll hear what makes the Southern Valleys particularly well suited to Pinot Noir, and why it makes less herbaceous styles of Sauvignon Blanc. And you'll hear about the new Appellation Marlborough map that is the first of its kind to highlight the subregional differences in Marlborough.
This is an excellent episode if you're curious about the climate, soils, and history of Marlborough!
Hosted by Charlotte Alsaadi.
Special thanks to SNACKTIME for the music!
Vine Street Imports Instagram | Website
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Today's episode is with Ben Cowley, the viticulturist at Auntsfield Estate based in the southern valleys of Marlborough, New Zealand. Auntsfield is unique in Marlborough for two main reasons. First, they put a heavy focus on their Pinot Noir production in an industry that is almost entirely focused on Sauvignon Blanc. Unlike many Marlborough vineyards, Pinot Noir makes up half of Auntsfieldâs vineyard area, as itâs particularly well suited to the old clay hillsides found there. Second, Auntsfield was the first commercial winery to be established in Marlborough in the late 1800s. A Scottish immigrant named David Herd planted his first vines in 1873 at a time when most agricultural work had to do with sheep, not wine.
As youâll hear Ben explain, wine was made at Auntsfield until the 1930s when prohibition kicked in and the vineyard closed. Fast forward about 70 years, and Benâs parents Graeme and Linda bought the property and restored the wine estate with the help of their sons, Ben, the viticulturist, and Luc, the winemaker. Before getting into wine, Graeme and Linda were movers and shakers in the New Zealand film industry, having been the first people to rent motion picture cameras, which kick started the independent filmmaker movement. Ben followed in their footsteps and was working in the film industry in Auckland before his second career in wine. As youâll hear, an unsteady freelance paycheck and a newborn baby got Ben and his wife thinking about their futures, and then a house break in was the straw that broke the camelâs back. They packed up their car and headed to the south island on the fateful day of September 11th, 2001.
In this episode, youâll hear all of those stories, plus weâll get into New Zealand's wine scene â the challenges, the cool stuff happening, and the balance between old-school and next-gen. We talk about why the Cowleys are so passionate about Pinot Noir, and why Marlborough became synonymous with Sauvignon Blanc. For a deeper dive into the wines and the site, check out the episode just after this one with both Ben and Luc. But first, the story of Auntsfield as told by Ben, who could never have imagined such a dramatic switch from film to wine...
Hosted by Charlotte Alsaadi.
Special thanks to SNACKTIME for the music!
Vine Street Imports Instagram | Website
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This is the second half of ourconversation with Louis Schofield from Worlds Apart Wines. Part 1 is integral for understanding who Louis is thanks to the mentors, especially Taras Ochota, who helped shape his winemaking identity today. You should really start there if you havenât listened already. In this episode, we go into more depth with Louisâ Worlds Apart wines. We cover the extraordinary places that they come from, why Louis believes that âin South Australia, the path to Burgundian style winemaking is not paved with Pinot but with Grenach,â as well as his thoughts on the challenges and opportunities present within the Australian wine industry today.
To jump back in, weâll start with the meaning behind the name, Worlds Apart.
Hosted by Charlotte Alsaadi.
Special thanks to SNACKTIME for the music!
Vine Street Imports Instagram | Website
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Today's episod is with Louis Schofield from Worlds Apart Wines based in Adelaide Hills, Australia. Louis is a jack-of-all trades wine industry legend who spent a decade working in fine wine retail and dining, including at the acclaimed Orana and East End Cellars. He was content in that world, until he met one of his biggest mentors, the late Taras Ochota of Ochota Barrels. Taras was a mover and shaker who is widely credited as having been the impetus behind South Australiaâs new wave. His style can be summed up as punk, boundary-pushing, minimalist, small-batch wines. Or, as Taras puts it, âI reckon you can often see the styles of music people like in the wines they make. I like edgy music, rawer, sharper, and my wines tend to be all elbows and knees sticking out."
Louis met Taras when he was working at East End Cellars, and he was was quick to accept when a friend alerted him that Taras was looking for harvest workers. Seven years later, Louis is still an integral part of the Ochota Barrels production, helping Tarasâ wife Amber in the cellar after Tarasâ tragic passing in 2020.
At first, Louis was reticent about starting his own label. âThere were enough people making shit wine without me doing it too,â he told me. But with a bit of a nudge from Taras, Louis and his now wife, Hannah, co-founded Worlds Apart in 2017. Their wines could technically be called natural, with no additives but minimal sulfur, but they avoid rigid dogma and focus on crafting wines that are pure, vibrant, and most importantly, speak of place. They source grapes from all over South Australia, notably McLaren Vale, Adelaide Hills, and Eden Valley. Youâre going to find verve and energy in Louis wines, a bit of texture in the whites, and lacy tannins in the focused reds.
In this episode, which is part one of two, Louis and I talk about his experiences at Orana, East End Cellars, Ochota Barrels, and even that time he did a harvest in Arizona with Maynard James Keenan from Tool. We talk a lot about Taras, and the impact he and Amber continue to have on Louisâ wine identity. There are some really special memories that Louis shares in here, and having never met Taras myself, I feel really lucky to have gotten to hear firsthand from someone who knew him so well.
In part two, we talk a little bit more about Louis wines, and the extraordinary places that they come from, why Louis believes that âin South Australia, the path to Burgundian style winemaking is not paved with Pinot, it's paved with Grenach,â as well as his thoughts on the challenges and opportunities present within the Australian wine industry today.
To start our conversation, we begin with how Louis got into winemaking in the first place. It was a circuitous route, starting with a job in music, and briefly, shed engineeringâŠ
Hosted by Charlotte Alsaadi.
Special thanks to SNACKTIME for the intro music!
Vine Street Imports Instagram | Website
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This episode is with Matt Gant from Gant & Co. wines based in Karridale at the southern tip of Margaret River in Western Australia. This is the second half of our conversation with Matt â go back and listen to Part 1 if you havenât already. In this episode, we dive into the wines in more detail as well as the special place that Matt now calls home. Plus, why Australia's past is it's biggest challenge...
Hosted by Charlotte Alsaadi.
Special thanks to SNACKTIME for the music!
Vine Street Imports Instagram | Website
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Today's episode is with Matt Gant from Gant & Co. wines based in Karridale at the southern tip of Margaret River, Australia. Matt has been a friend of Vine Street for the last two decades. We began importing his First Drop line from the Barossa in about 2004/2005. We no longer work with First Drop â nor does Matt â but last year we picked up his newest venture, Gant & Co. These wines come from the family estate established by Claudiaâs father in Karridale, which is a cool-climate subregion of Margaret River, highly influenced by both the Indian and Southern oceans.
The lineup includes a Semillon-Sauvignon Blanc, which is made in a savory rather than fruity style with lees aging and subtle oak presence, as well as two lighter-bodied reds. The first is called Nouveau. Itâs made in the Portuguese Palhete style, which is a nod to Mattâs many years working in Portugal. He is actually currently a partner in a project at Quinta da Pedra Alta in the Douro, and this co-ferment of red and white varieties is similar to the base wine of port prior to fortification. Think crushable, chillable red thatâs also a really serious wine made from dry-farmed grapes, indigenous yeast, etc. etc. Finally, the Jeune is a light red blend of Cab, Merlot, and Malbec, and itâs made in what Erin Larkin from the Wine Advocate calls âa summertime Cabernet.â Listen to the second episode of this interview to hear me fangirling over this wine.
These wines disprove every trite American perception of Australian wine as sunshine in a bottle. They are light and acid-driven, yet pack so much flavor and texture onto that slender frame. Theyâre really great wines, and theyâre such an incredible value, especially for Australian wine these days.
Our conversation is split into two parts: in the first episode we talk about Mattâs background, and how his palate has evolved over the years thanks to his time working abroad. In the second episode, we get into Karridale and the wines.
To begin, Matt started by sharing with me his very first memory of wine growing up â not in Australia, but in a small town near in the county of Essex, just northeast of London...
Hosted by Charlotte Alsaadi.
Special thanks to SNACKTIME for the music!
Vine Street Imports Instagram | Website
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Ronnie Sanders, founder and CEO of Vine Street Imports, recounts the story of meeting Matt Gant from Gant & Co., a husband-wife winemaking project based in Karridale at the southern tip of Margaret River. Plus, Ronnie shares the defining thing that he loves about Matt's winemaking style.
Special thanks to SNACKTIME for the music!
Vine Street Imports Instagram | Website
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This episode is the second half of our conversation with Martin Dicuzzo from Magna Montis based in Argentina's Uco Valley. In Part 2, we talk about Martinâs first vintage that received praise from Tim Atkin, Martinâs first time meeting Ronnie and the Vine Street team, the crazy reality of inflation in Argentina, and of course, the wines. To pick up where we left off, Martin explains that with his bright, fresh Tupungato Malbec that is fermented in stainless steel and aged in concrete, he ended up creating somewhat of a paradox...
Hosted by Charlotte Alsaadi.
Special thanks to SNACKTIME for the music!
Vine Street Imports Instagram | Website
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Today's episode is with Martin DiCuzzo, the owner and winemaker of Magna Montis based in Argentinaâs Uco Valley. Magna Montis is the first Argentinian producer that Vine Street has ever imported. Ronnie was really drawn to these wines because theyâre so unlike the typical fruit bomb stereotype of wines from Mendoza. They are super fresh and bright, even the ones aged in oak. If you know the rest of our portfolio that is largely built off the ânew waveâ ethos â youâll know instantly that they fit right in. The lineup includes three Malbecs â thereâs the Tupungato, which is fruit-forward, fresh and bright, the Paraje Altamira which is aged in oak and is more classic in its profile, and the Machinte, the most premium wine, which is very elegant and powerful â as well as one uniquely floral and saline Chardonnay.
In this two part conversation with Martin, we talk a lot about this new chapter of Argentinian wine. Part 1 is all about Martinâs background, including his nearly four year stint living in China working for Bodegas Norton as an Asian distribution manager. We talk about how he got into winemaking without any formal education, and his big hopes and dreams for his countryâs wine reputation. In Part 2, youâll hear about the praise Martin got from Tim Atkin in his first ever vintage, his experience meeting Ronnie and the Vine street team for the first time â including how Ronnie simply could not believe that Martin had never heard of the Grateful Dead â and of course, weâll touch on the wines and the reasons behind his winemaking ethos.
Martin grew up in a pretty quiet neighborhood in a middle class family. His childhood obsession, which turned into something of a lifelong passion, was music. He had a rock band and even started his own company importing music electronics. For much of his twenties, it really didnât seem like wine was anywhere in his futureâŠ
Hosted by Charlotte Alsaadi
Special thanks to SNACKTIME for the music!
Vine Street Imports Instagram | Website
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This episode is the second half of our conversation with Jurgen Gouws of Intellego Wines. If you haven't already, go back and listen to part 1 to hear more about Jurgenâs background. In this episode, we talk about how a surfing trip in Bali inspired on of his most beloved wines, the Kedungu red blend, his recent foray into the pet nat world, and the subtle intricacies of working with growers who supply fruit to many different producers.
Hosted by Charlotte Alsaadi.
Special thanks to SNACKTIME for the music!
Vine Street Imports Instagram | Website
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Jurgen Gouws from Intellego Wines is a laidback guy with a surferâs tan who makes serious natural wines. His lineup runs the gamut from pet nats to skin contact whites to chillable reds and seriously incredible Syrah. After studying at Elsenburg in Stellenbosch, he traveled the world to work at Terroir al Limit in Priorat, at StĂ©phane Ogier in the Rhone Valley, Matassa in the Languedoc, and even two harvests in Russia. Back in South Africa, he spent four years at Lammershoek with Craig Hawkins, who, having also spent time at Matassa, liked to play with elements of natural winemaking. Jurgen was developing his own winemaking identity as he watched Craig lean more heavily into that ethos with the launch of Testalonga. With his own brand Intellego, Jurgen adopted many of the same ideologies: organic farming, minimal intervention in the cellar, and a real focus on place more than anything. Intellego translates to âI understandâ in Latin and is aptly named, as Jurgen has really begun to understand the potential of the incredible Swartland. He has a particular affinity for some of the older Chenin Blanc bush vines in South Africa and is not afraid to push the boundaries of texture.
Jurgen came to the US recently and we were lucky enough to snag him for an hour to chat. This episode is part 1 of 2. Here we talk more about Jurgenâs background and in part 2, we talk more about his wines. In this episode, Jurgen shares his experience working in Russia, Afrikaans culture, the influence that Eben Sadie had on his career, and how he decided to get into wine at 15 years old after giving up his lifelong dream of being a dentist...
Hosted by Charlotte Alsaadi.
Special thanks to SNACKTIME for the music!
Vine Street Imports Instagram | Website
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Mick Craven from Craven Wines was our very first guest on this little podcast when we launched last year. He was back in town, so we sat down for a quick catch up.
In this episode, we talk about the Cravens' infamous Pinot Gris, which (surprise, surprise) was rejected yet again by the South African Wine & Spirits Board for not conforming to the 'typicity' of Stellenbosch. Mick has some things to say about that. We also talk about the exciting things happening in the Polkadraai Hills (a ward of Stellenbosch), the Cravens' new cement toys in the cellar, and cheesesteaks...
Plus, Mick shares a new wine that might be coming on the Craven horizon!
Hosted by Charlotte Alsaadi.
Special thanks to SNACKTIME for the music!
Vine Street Imports Instagram | Website
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This episode is part 2 of our conversation with Franco Lourens of Lourens Family Wines based in Paarl, South Africa. Go back and check out part 1 if you havenât already, as this episode is a continuation of our conversation.
In this episode, we talk about how Franco launched his own project, as well as the stories behind his wines. We start with the story of his white blend. Franco released his first solo wine as a means of getting some extra cash for an engagement ring. The plan worked, and later, he would rename this white blend after his wife, Lindi Carien...
Hosted by Charlotte Alsaadi.
Special thanks to SNACKTIME for the music!
Vine Street Imports Instagram | Website
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