Winemaker Steve Doerner : Vinography
There’s a new episode of I’ll Drink to That! available. Episode 495 features Steve Doerner, who is listed these days as Winemaker Emeritus by Cristom Vineyards in Oregon.
Steve Doerner was minding his own business in a biochemistry lab when the invitation to JOIN AN EPIC SCENE AND LIVE THE WINE LIFE OF GLORY arrived for him in the form of a job offer from Josh Jensen and the Calera Wine Company. But sometimes the start of an epic scene doesn’t feel too epic, it just feels really hot and sticky on an open-air piece of ground with no refrigeration, no drains, lots of sweat, and not much shade. Also, no real bathroom. But it was the start of something, and Steve joined the Pinot Noir winemaking life just as it was starting to get really serious in the United States. I wish I could say it was all plaudits, praise, and success for Steve from there on out, but instead, Steve experienced a more incremental, behind-the-scenes, mostly unheralded path as a winemaker, and relatively few people outside of Pinot Noir heads may even know who Steve is still today, even after over forty years of fermentations. What has he learned and seen over that period of time? It turns out lots, and this episode is fairly bursting at the seams with the kinds of insights that may totally change your view of certain wines and times. Wish you had been there for the American Pinot Noir Revolution when it was just getting going? Take a listen.
Episode 495 is available on many listening platforms, including at these links:
I’ll Drink to That!, one of the world’s top wine podcasts, is hosted by Levi Dalton. Levi has had a long career working as a sommelier in some of the most distinguished and acclaimed dining rooms in America. He has served wine to guests of Restaurant Daniel, Masa, and Alto, all in Manhattan. Levi has also contributed articles on wine themes to publications such as The Art of Eating, Wine & Spirits magazine, Bon Appetit online, and Eater NY. Check out his pictures on Instagram and follow him on Twitter: @leviopenswine
