My guest this week is Natalie Berkowitz with her new book “The Wine Maker’s Hand – Conversations on Talent, Technique, and Terroir. 
In these fascinating interviews, winemakers from the United States and abroad clarify the complex process of converting grapes into wine, with more than forty vintners candidly discussing how a combination of talent, passion, and experience shape the outcome of their individual wines. Each winemaker details their personal approach to the various steps required to convert grapes into wine. Natalie Berkowitz speaks to winemakers from different backgrounds who work in diverse wine-producing regions, including Chile, England, France, Germany, Greece, Israel, Italy, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, and the United States. They talk about familiar and unfamiliar grape varietals, their struggles with local terroirs, and the vagaries of Mother Nature. Some represent small family wineries with limited production while others work for corporations producing hundreds of thousands of bottles. Each individual offers rare insight into how new technologies are revolutionizing historic winemaking practices. The interviews are supplemented with personal recipes and maps of winemaking regions. An aroma wheel captures the vast array of wine’s complex flavors and aromas.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Natalie Berkowitz
Natalie Berkowitz is a wine, food, and lifestyle writer. Her articles have appeared in the New York Times, Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, Wine Enthusiast,Wine Spectator, and many other publications. She is also the author of the wine blog Winealicious and formerly taught a wine appreciation course to seniors at Barnard College and Columbia University. There have been many books about the science, art and craft of winemaking but I think this might be the first about the unique individuals from all manner of background and experience who actually do the work. In my travels and through this show I have had the opportunity to spend time with and become friends with many who make wine. While there are some common threads, they are all individuals with some unique stories about their journey in wine and more importantly the craft of winemaking.
In the second half, Schane Gross joins us in-studio to talk about Fork & Fennel, her latest restaurant adventure in addition to The Anchor and Douglas Avenue Chop Shop and more importantly…The Strong Ale Fest at the Anchor!Strong ale, as defined by the annual Strong Ale Fest at the Anchor, is just beer that has a higher-than-normal alcohol content, and some of it tastes deceptively smooth.
Schane Gross
The Strong Ale Fest, now in its sixth year, will close down the popular downtown bar at 1109 E. Douglas from 1 to 4 p.m. on Saturday Feb 21 and is expected to draw 200 Wichita beer geeks and fans, all looking to sample a collection of 8-percent-and-higher alcohol content beers amassed by Anchor owner Schane Gross plus local beer distributors and brewers.
The 6th annual Strong Ale Fest featuring ales 8% ABV and up. Approximately 100 beers. Styles including Belgian strong ales, American wild ales, brown ales, American strong ales, barleywines, dubbel ales, tripel ales, quadrupel ales, IPAs, Imperial IPAs, black ales, porters, imperial stouts, saisons, chile beer, doppelbocks and barrel aged beers. Cost is $40 ($5 for designated drivers)
2012 Frogs Leap Napa Chardonnay “The 2012 Chardonnay is a wine that retains a delicate slate, lemongrass aromatic with just a hint of stone fruit. Super clean on the palate, this wine’s rich flavors are all underscored by a light touch of minerality. The superb balance of bright acid and lovely flavors of peach and citrus make this your go-to wine for all you seafood delights.” Pairs perfectly with freshly shucked oysters to a simple grilled or sauteed filet of sole.