Lost Grapes: Creating Rare Wines from Near Extinction (Part 1: Exploring Grapes Series)

Somm Women Talk Wine

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If we asked you to name rare wines made from nearly extinct grapes, could you name any? Neither could we until we started looking beyond our local wine shop and city limit! What we discovered are entire species of wine grapes being rediscovered and replanted. They're making a comeback in vineyards from grand cru estates to small, off-the-beaten-path vineyards in the U.S. and abroad!

As we kick off a three-part series on wine grapes, or grapes used to make wine, we're going back in time to explore some ancestral varietals innovative winemakers and wine brands are using for sparkling wine to still wine. We're not talking about new Cabernet Sauvignon vineyards in Bordeaux. Nor are we talking about New styles of Sauvignon Blanc in Napa Valley. We're talking obscure varietals we've never seen on a wine list or in stock at any store!

This week's episode takes us to TerraVox Vineyard in Kansas City Unincorporated. In other words, outside the main city with a full view of cornfields, cows, and vineyards! Here, visionary entrepreneur and museum designer, Jerry Eisterhold, is living out his dream one case at a time. With somewhere between 40 and 60 different wine varietals soaking up the sun in the south-sloping vineyards, Jerry and winemaker, Jean-Louis Horvilleur, are testing not only varieties such as Stark Star, Favorite, Cloeta, Hidalgo, Lomanto, and many other rare grapes, they also are trying different winemaking styles to make these unique grapes shine!

Why, you ask? As Jerry says, if he didn't do it, who would? Inspired by the work of American horticulturist, Thomas Volnay Munsun, most famous for introducing American rootstock to European vineyards to battle Phylloxera, some saying he saved the European wine industry, Jerry is on a quest to ensure no more varieties go extinct. Jerry and the team pursued grapes from Texas, Arkansas, U.C. Davis, and beyond. Often they weren't even sure what they received was what they ordered!

Tune in to hear Jerry's story and how TerraVox creating a new product from ancient, or ancestral, grapes and putting a new spin on what you'll find in your 750ml bottle! We're certain you'll plop a few bottles in your cart!

Crossing the Atlantic, we're not stopping to visit the great Domaine and Chateau of France. We're not even stopping in Piedmont to pick up a few bottles of Barolo or Barbaresco. We're heading to Spain, Catalunya to be exact, to visit Familia Torres and check out their Varietat Recuperada project. That's all we're sharing! You'll have to listen in for the story!

Stay tuned for Chapter 2: Hybrids and Chapter 3: Noble Grapes! These are episodes we know you don't want to miss!

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