My guest this week is winemaker Ondine Chattan. We first met many years ago while judging at the New World International Wine Competition.
Growing up close to wine country in Marin County, California, Ondine Chattan was enthralled with art, science, and nature from an early age. From exploring marshlands near her home to studying insects and flowering plants, her interest in science grew over time into a love of biology and chemistry. The daughter of an artist and theatre set designer, Ondine also was drawn to fine art and spent considerable time visiting museum exhibits in nearby San Francisco. She wrestled with conflicting desires to pursue either scientific or creative disciplines; however, it took only a single introductory lecture on viticulture, at California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo, for her to realize that she had found a pursuit that combined her interests in hard science and subjective aesthetics.
After her first job at Sonoma’s Cline Cellars, Ondine went back to school for a master’s degree in Enology at California State University, Fresno. Following graduation in 1997, she went to work at Ridge Vineyards, which, like Cline, is another winery known for using traditional, time-honored winemaking techniques. She joined Geyser Peak in 1999 and became its Director of Winemaking in 2010, remaining there until December 2017. Ondine was also the lead winemaker at XYZin, which is produced at the Geyser Peak facility. In 2018, she joined Share a Splash wine co. in the Sonoma Valley, where she makes a number of different varietals and, as of March 2019, is the Head Winemaker. Ondine is also makes wine for Naked Wines.
Until October 2010, she and her spouse David Reed were co-owners of Atelier, a boutique winery in Healdsburg, where she focused on producing Zinfandel and Syrah.
The combination of established techniques of winemaking with a winemaker’s relentless pursuit of the new is what motivates Ondine. She sees her interests in sustainable viticulture, terroir, and ‘risky’ techniques such as native yeast fermentations as perfectly intertwined.
I have a couple of Ondine’s wine that I purchased through NakeWines.com and we will share some insight on each.
And then…
Something NEW! Virtual Tasting with Good Life Guy, Saturday April 18th 6:00 p.m. on Face Book LIVE.
Stop by Jacob Liquor Exchange East or West and pick up the three bottles of Matua wines shown below and available nationwide. You can call ahead for curb side pickup or tell them at checkout that your purchase of these 3 wines is for Good Life Guy’s Virtual Tasting Experience you only pay $35 plus tax. (discounted price in Wichita only)
Jacob on North Rock: 316 636-4566 – West 21st St. N. 316 729-4566
I’ll be talking about these wines, New Zealand and Matua winery during the radio show Saturday between 12:05-1:00 p.m. on KNSS 98.7/1330, but join me on Face Book LIVE Saturday evening at 6:00 p.m. and we will taste them together 🙂
Good Life Guy’s Wines of the Week:
Three fine New Zealand Wines from Matua
Sauvignon Blanc, Rose’ and Pinot Noir
