The Wine Down - Discover Rockpile with Clay Mauritson of Mauritson Wines
EPISODE SYNOPSIS:
Clay Mauritson joins The Wine Down to bring some outrageous varietals from his family imprint, Mauritson Wines, and discuss the details of soil, terrain, and elevation of the Rockpile Appellation.
Clay is one of the most knowledgeable wine makers we know, and to hear him talk about the environmental impact on the grapes, as well as the distinct traits of different soil is almost intimidating. That is, until his easy going demeanor keeps the character of the conversation down to earth.
It goes to show that in the age of mass produced wines, to be an independent winemaker requires more knowledge than ever. Drink up!
GUEST BIO:
Clay Mauritson's family has been farming in what is now known as the Rockpile Appellation, since 1884. The Mauritson family label finds its home in Dry Creek, home to some of the most awarded wines in California.
From his appearance in the Rose Bowl to the Cotton Bowl as an Outside Linebacker for the Oregon Ducks, Clay now finds himself carrying on as the 6th generation grape grower and winemaker. He now combines his family's vineyards with those of his own in the heralded Dry Creek Appellation, located just outside of Healdsburg where he resides with his wife Carrie-
Anne, his two sons and two dogs.
ADD'L LINKS:
EPISODE BREAKDOWN:
00:01 Welcome to the Wine Down.
00:50 Introducing Clay Mauritson of Mauritson Wines.
02:12 The 140 year history of the Mauritson family in California--from sheep to grapes.
04:34 The Mauritson family loses land through eminent domain.
05:30 Not being compensated fairly by the government for thousands of acres.
08:05 Creating a separate AVA for Rockpile--a miniscule area of growing.
09:30 Attributes of the hillside environment for growing.
13:34 The importance of claiming a separate AVA.
15:40 The pyramid of wines and the hierarchy of terroir.
16:32 The concept of single-soil wine.
19:32 Growing the proper varietals in the right place, and why filoxera was the best thing to happen to the California wine industry.
21:53 Tasting the Rockpile Rosé.
23:04 Soil broken down.
25:53 95% fruit and 5% not screwing it up.
26:53 Being able to taste the soils in the wine.
29:06 Dry Creek, Russian River and Rockpile and Sonoma County distinctions.
31:48 The second greatest asset of Mauritson Wines.
33:40 An equation for costing fruit vs. bottle prices.
35:25 The actual gross of growing high quality fruit, and contracts based per acre.
39:27 Tasting the Sauvignon Blanc.
41:59 What made you decide to go into football, and how did football guide you there?
44:40 The prodigal son returns to the family farm.
47:58 Tasting the Dry Creek Zinfandel--the most difficult grape to grow.
50:17 Thanks and Cheers!
Segway Wine Tour Healdsburg, California
Enjoyable day riding a Segway through the vineyards
Video tour: Dry Creek Villa - Healdsburg, CA
Check out what awaits our lucky guests who stay at the most modern, private vacation rental in world famous wine country.
Bill Arbios of Arbios Cellars talks Sonoma/Alexander Valley wines
Bill Arbios and Mike talk about his vineyard and the Sonoma/Alexander Valley AVA.
Bartholomew Park Winery
Lately I've been riding my bike up to the Bartholomew Park Winery and today (May 23, 2009) I took some video to show how pretty it is there!
Bartholomew Park Winery is situated in the heart of the 400-acre Bartholomew Memorial Park in Sonoma. A visit to the winery includes a sampling of Bartholomew Parks premium wines, access to vineyard-view picnic grounds, hiking trails, and a museum chronicling the propertys illustrious history and current grape growing practices.
The picnic grounds at Bartholomew Park overlook the vineyards and a replica of Agoston Haraszthys Palladian Villa which was destroyed by fire around the turn of the century.
In the hills behind the winery are approximately three miles of marked hiking trails. A variety of indigenous California vegetation -- oak groves, manzanita, madrone, redwood-shaded fern grottos, and fields of spring wildflowers -- provides visitors with a generous sampling of the visual delights and natural beauty of Sonoma County. On a clear day, the view from Bartholomew Parks trails extends to San Francisco.
The Palladian Villa is open Saturday and Sunday from 12 p.m. until 3 p.m.
MUSIC:
Brighter Day
Just Enough
Clearing A
Destiny
Waterfall near Dry Creek Road, Healdsburg, CA.
Waterfall near Dry Creek Road in Healdsburg, CA. January 26th, 2010.
2015 Healdsburg High School Junior Internship
See what the 2015 HHS Junior Interns were up to this year with an overview of the six-day program
Special Thanks to:
Atterbury & Associates, Inc.
Healdsburg District Hospital
Healdsburg High School
Mauritson Wine
McConnell Chevrolet
Mike McGuire State Senate Office
Olam Specialty Coffee
Healdsburg SHED
Social Finance, Ine.
Wine Country Group Realtors
Best Western Dry Creek Inn
Best Western Dry Creek Inn- A Tuscan Oasis In The Heart of Sonoma Wine Country
Pacific Star Winery
Winery just north of Fort Bragg, California
Florence Vineyard Rockpile November 2015
Carol Shelton describes what happens out in the vines at Florence Vineyard in Rockpile.
Dry Creek General Store Healdsburg | Tastemade App video by Sean Pressler
This video was made using The App
It is an App that restricts the creator to 1 minute long videos made up only by:
A Ten second intro
Followed by 4-5 3 second shots (without recorded audio)
A Fifteen second middle
Followed by 4-5 3 second shots (without recorded audio)
And a Ten Second outro
All set to a small choosing of their proprietary music library
UNWINED: Russian River Valley Part One
Join host James Van Kreidt as he visits with master winemaker Ryan Zepaltas (of Zepaltas Wines) and discusses the unique climate of the Russian River Valley (in Napa, California) and the Pinot Noir and Chardonnay that are produced there.
Napa Valley Winery Tours | Limo to Napa | Napa Wine Tour | Napa Limousine Wine Tour by Elite Limo
Napa Valley Winery Tours, Limo to Napa, Napa Wine Tour, Napa Limousine Wine Tour, Napa Wine Tasting Tours by Elite Limo. Call 1 (707) 313-5555
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Field Stone Winery in Alexander Valley, California produces small lot, world class wines from their 50 acre estate with a portion of the vineyard growing Petite Sirah that was planted in 1894. Three Generations Strong, their cave like facility was built after the first generation, Wally Johnson (and former Mayor of Berkeley, California) utilized the cut and cover technique to build the Bart system in the city of Berkeley. Field Stone Winery became one of the first wineries built into a hillside! Other wines including Chardonnay, Viognier, Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, Sangiovese, Rose of Petite Sirah and Port are also produced.
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