This week I’ll be taking you on a tour of Oregons Firesteed Vineyards with winemaker Bryan Croft.
Guy interviewing winemaker Bryan Croft
Recently I had the pleasure of spending the morning with Bryan and walking through the vineyards, crush pad, tank and barrel rooms and then tasting all the wines that this Willamette Valley producer makes.
About Firesteed: In the early Nineties, the public’s attention was turning toward red wine and distributors were hard pressed to meet the new demands: high-quality varietal wine that was vintage dated and very affordable. During those years,Firesteed founder Howard Rossbach was visiting markets throughout the country, representing the interests of wineries from the Pacific Northwest. The plea from consumers for affordable wine could not be met by his clients, who struggled to cover the overhead of vineyards, wineries and tasting rooms.
Howard sharpened his pencils, picked up his telephone and set out to find the solution. It wasn’t long before he located growers that were producing excellent Pinot Noir grapes in Oregon, a winery that had more room than it needed, and a highly-regarded winemaker with time on his hands to consult. That was the genesis of Firesteed and the business strategy that continues to be successful for Firesteeds growers, distributors, and wine consumers. Production of the 1992 vintage was about 7,000 cases. This year, we hope to surpass 60,000.
Good Life Guy’s Wine of the Week:
2008 Firesteed Oregon Pinot Noir
Watch the Firesteed Pinot Noir video
Ruby red in color with aromas of strawberries, cedar and spice the wine’s luscious flavors of vanilla bean and cherry tart are well-supported by its surprising structure. Grapes for this wine, as in previous years, were sourced from throughout the Willamette, Umpqua, Rogue and Walla Walla Valleys, creating a truly Oregon blend.
Pick up a bottle Firesteed at Jacob Liquor Exchange and join me for a taste of Oregon Pinot Noir