The Good Life

My guest this week is Talia Baiocchi, Editor and Chief of PUNCH an on-line resource for anything associated with wine, spirits and cocktails. And now the author of  “SHERRY – A Modern Guide to The wine World’s Best-Kept Secret, With Cocktails and Recipes.”

First we’ll talk about PUNCH;
According to Talia; “Our goal is to capture the ethos that’s driving drinks forward: the connection of beverage to tradition and place, the passion to innovate and yes—fun. We also believe that the wine, cocktail and spirits worlds share more in common than they probably realize. We want to bring them together and shine a light on the many places where their values are entwined.  While stories are the core of the PUNCH vision, we’re also bent on becoming a one-stop font for everything from drinks-related travel to mixing the perfect Manhattan. So we’re building a library of editor-tested cocktail recipes and an A-Z guide to drink.”

Then it’s all about the book and Sherry;
There is no other wine that is as versatile, as utterly unique in its range and production methods–and, unfortunately, as misunderstood—as sherry. For centuries, sherry was considered one of the world’s great wines, spoken about in the same reverential terms as the finest Bordeaux and Burgundies. But in the last few decades, sherry lost its way—and cheap, cloyingly sweet blends sullied the reputation of what remains one of Spain’s oldest and greatest winemaking traditions.”

Thankfully, sherry is in the midst of a renaissance. Beloved of sommeliers and bartenders in the craft cocktail community, today sherry is being re-discovered and re-appreciated as an incredible table wine and essential component of many classic cocktails.

Talia Baiocchi

About Talia;
TALIA BAIOCCHI is the editor-in-chief of PUNCH, an online magazine focused on wine, spirits, and cocktails. Previously, Baiocchi was the wine editor for Eater and a columnist atWine Spectator. She has written for the San Francisco Chronicle, Decanter, Bon Appétit, and Wine & Spirits magazine, among others. In 2013, she was named a top new talent in the food and wine world in Forbes magazine’s “30 Under 30” feature. She lives in Brooklyn, New York.

In the second half Jerry Owen joins us to talk about Lady Hill winery.

A wine industry pathfinder, fifth-generation farmer, and respected community leader, Jerry Owen brings passion, energy and management expertise to the creation of Lady Hill Winery and the Lady Hill wine brands.  As the steward of his family farm—continuously farmed since his ancestors came to the land in the 1850s—and with an education that includes both agriculture science and literature, Jerry possesses an unusual sensitivity to both the economics and poetics of agrarian-based businesses and the responsibilities of being a steward to the land and its heritage.

In 1995 Jerry entered the wine business with the planting of his estate St. Columban Vineyard, followed in 1999 by co-founding Owen Roe Winery. Deeply involved in all aspects of managing winegrowing, fruit sourcing, and winery management, Jerry’s reputation for integrity, fairness, and energy has cemented extensive relationships with key growers and winemakers throughout the Northwest.  Seeking to build on his experience with grapes from across the Northwest, and to honor his five-generation Oregon family heritage, Jerry founded Lady Hill in 2012 and built the Lady Hill Winery in 2013.

Good Life Guy’s Wine of the Week:
2012 Lady Hill Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
Dusky dark red color looks almost like maroon velvet. Complex scents of campfire smoke, rosemary, and dried rose petals surround fruity aromas of figs and plums. On the palate the wine offers fresh and focused flavors of cassis and fig fruit, with elements of black tea, truffle, and plum-infused cola.  The flavors are quite layered and intertwined, with varietal characteristics of both cabernet sauvignon-like plumminess, and cabernet franc-like leafy fig.  The tannin structure is quite fine and unobtrusive, while bright acidity gives the wine a clean and forward character. 2012 vintage in Washington was almost ideal, with plenty of even growing season warmth that allowed the grapes to ripen fully and naturally, resulting in wines that are generally considred to be rich in fruit, balance, and elegance. This is an enjoyable wine today, but will age well for the next 4-8 years.

Looking forward to trying this wine…
…stop by Jacob Liquor Exchange on North Rock Road Today
Between 2-5 p.m. Meet Jerry and taste Lady Hill wines