My guest for this episode is Martin Bernal-Hafner. Martin is doing some beautiful and hard work in Mendocino County for Alta-Orsa on a vineyard that is as difficult to farm as it is magical.
Martin may be the perfect guy for such a difficult job. He’s humble and unassuming, thorough and careful, with kindness and patience to boot. And maybe that’s why you haven’t heard of him or Alta Orsa, but that, and the kind of farming he’s doing despite herculean challenges, are exactly why I wanted to talk to him for the podcast.
But even more than that, the Alta Orsa estate vineyard is something special. Halfway up a mountain at the end of what looks and drives like a dirt fire service road you come upon what could be an old Italian wine villa if it was set in Middle Earth. When the gate opens and you pass through the weathered stone entry, it’s like going through a faery door into another realm. Vineyard rows that have never been tilled in 30 years twist and turn over the steep contours of the mountainside, so closely planted that they must be tended entirely by hand… and the wine that flows from them is dusky, rich, and complex.
https://www.orsawines.com/
Sponsor:
https://www.centralaswine.com/
David Keck - Master Sommelier & Vermont Vigneron at Stella 14
Clark Smith - Postmodern Winemaking
Drew Herman - Assume Superiority, Farm Scared, and Pretend Like You Know What You’re Doing While Killing Your Plants
Deirdre Heekin - La Garagista & Domain de la Foret
Peter Schmidt - The Legend of Mythopia
Virginia Samsel - Building Connections To Your Vineyard or Orchard, Biodynamics & Reiki
Stephen Wilson - VT Vineyards
Wine & Spirit - Regeneration, Rewilding, and the Soul of Wine
Marreya Bailey - Mad Marvlus & The Bathing Collective
J. Stephen Casscles - Hybrid & American Heritage Grapes: Treat Them Like Real Grapes!
Ryan Opaz, Catavino Tours - Ecological Consciousness in a Complex World
Hoss Hauksson - Vitiforestry Polyculture in Switzerland
Special: Is The Term ”New World” Problematic?
Tidal Bay, Haley Brown - The First & Only Appellation Wine In The Americas
Greg Jones - Wine Climatologist & Abacela CEO
Mike Appolo - No-Spray Vineyard in New Hampshire, Appolo Vineyards
Aaron & Holly Puhala - Vineyard Innovations, Grape Breeding, and How to Support Your Local Grape Breeder
Isabelle Legeron - RAW Natural Wine
Randall Grahm - Popelouchum & Is Terroir Real?
Dr. Dave Johnston - Bats & Vineyard Ecology
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