EPISODE #15 BLENHEIM VINEYARDS/KIRSTY HARMON WINEMAKER & GENERAL MANAGER

Fine Wine Confidential Podcast

Kirsty's story of how she fell into winemaking begins as almost a fairly tale. At the young age of 24 early in her career working as a microbiologist she decided to leave the lab and devote her time to a side project she had as a calligrapher and wedding planner. In the course of that business she planned the wedding for none other than Patricia Kluge owner of what would become known as Kluge Estate. It was there that she met Gabriele Rausse , Kluge's vineyard consultant. In 2000 Kluge asked Kirsty to build her a winery. In the process when Gabriele learned of Kirsty's background in science and microbiology he suggested that she be the winemaker. Surprised, but with his guidance, she began to make wine. He then encouraged her to get a degree in enology which she did by gaining admittance to the program at UC Davis in California. She would go on to do an internship at Domaine Faiveley in Burgundy and then Craggy Range in New Zealand before being recruited by Blenheim Vineyards to return to Virginia and become their winemaker in 2008. She has never looked back.
HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE INTERVIEW INCLUDE:
a). how her background in microbiology helped her gain entry into the UC Davis Enology program.
b). The full story of how Patricia Kluge asked her to build a winery.
c). Meeting Gabriele Rausse and how that mentorship shaped her future.
d). What her amazing experience in Burgundy at Domaine Faiveley and then Craggy Range in New Zealand taught her about winegrowing.
e). background on the Matthews family and Dave Matthews the well known Rock Star and their role in the winery.
f). Her experimentation with different varietals like Gruner Veltliner and Albarino has led her to continue to plant other not so common varietals seen in Virginia like Mencia.
Much, much more. Take a listen or read the Transcript attached.
Thanks for being a listener to the Fine Wine Confidential Podcast. For more information go to www.finewineconfidential.com