Jeff Pisoni's guest appearances

Jeff Pisoni

The Inside Winemaking Podcast with Jim Duane

California Wine Country

Wine Soundtrack - USA

Erica Stancliff

Remi Cohen

Eileen Crane

Brook Bannister

Stu Smith

Adam Lee

Dan Fishman

Matt Dees

David Ramey

Joseph Phelps

Bill Nachbaur

Joel Aiken

Nicole Hitchcock

Alex Holman

Robert Larsen

OwlTail

Jeff PisoniJeff Pisoni, the winemaker at Pisoni Vineyards is our guest today on California Wine Country with Steve Jaxon and Dan Berger. Pisoni Vineyards is located in the Santa Lucia Highlands appellation of Monterey County. Jeff describes going to Fresno State to learn enology but learned the craft and the artistic side of winemaking from his father. He was always fascinated by winemaking and the complex interaction between vines and the wine, while his brother was focussed on the farming. They share and balance their specialties.Dan Berger says that this is an interesting moment because winemakers are making wines beside Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. There used to be some Riesling in the area and there is so little now. (Dan Berger is a huge Riesling fan.)Pisoni Vineyards is located in the Santa Lucia highlands in Monterey County. The wind coming off the ocean is cold because of the depth of the trench off the Monterey coast. This makes the Salinas Valley the lettuce capital of the world, where they have more days under 70 degrees in Summer than anywhere else in the country. This same weather is ideal for cool climate grapes at higher elevations. It’s a rustic agricultural area, without a lot of tasting rooms.First they taste a Rosé from a wine brand of theirs called Lucy. It is whole-cluster pressed Rosé, which Dan Berger compares to a sparkling Rosé without bubbles.Click the logo to visit our sponsor Bottle Barn online for the best deals on wine, beer and spirits, including Pisoni wines. Next they taste a white Alsatian blend, made of Pinot Gris and Pinot Blanc. In the early days of planting in Monterey County, these varietals were planted although others are more well-known. Dan Berger says you can taste both varieties, some anise from the Pinot Gris and steeliness from the Pinot Blanc. You might wait a year and these flavors will mature. A Family Operation Jeff Pisoni and his brother Mark and his father Gary all run the family operation. His grandparents started farming and made home wine, but his father planted grapes in 1982 and his passion for wine started as a collector in the 1970s. He just wanted to make wine and jokes that he planted the vineyard because he was drinking his wine collection too quickly. Jeff learned hillside viticultural techniques in Europe. He tried six dry wells before he found enough water for the vineyard. When his father planted grapes in these locations, people were skeptical. Dan Berger says it takes a crazy pioneer to do what he did. Jeff and his brothers grew up around the lettuce fields. He was interested in the science and chemistry and took a degree in enology at Fresno State and he learned the craft from his father. Dan Berger mentions that there used to be some Riesling in Monterey County and it would be a good place for it still today. When Jeff was fresh out of college, they were working with a winery that helped them make wine. He knew he needed experience and stayed in the area so he could learn from the wine community around him. Also, there were a lot of refrigerated trucks around for the vegetable business, which they used to bring the grapes to the winery in Sonoma County. Also, all the cork and glass suppliers are all in the area. They have a facility in Rhonert Park, custom built to their specs. The last wine tasted is a Pisoni Estate Pinot Noir. Jeff’s father Gary Pisoni was planting Pinot Noir while others were still planting Cabernet in Monterey County. Dan Berger says the key thing with Pinot Noir is to pick at the right date, not too early or late. In Santa Lucia Highlands, with all the wind, you have to walk the vineyard twice a day, in order to get the harvest date right.

Jeff PisoniJeff Pisoni, the winemaker at <a href="https://www.pisonivineyards.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Pisoni Vineyards</a> is our guest today on California Wine Country with Steve Jaxon and Dan Berger. Pisoni Vineyards is located in the Santa Lucia Highlands appellation of Monterey County. Jeff describes going to Fresno State to learn enology but learned the craft and the artistic side of winemaking from his father. He was always fascinated by winemaking and the complex interaction between vines and the wine, while his brother was focussed on the farming. They share and balance their specialties.Dan Berger says that this is an interesting moment because winemakers are making wines beside Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. There used to be some Riesling in the area and there is so little now. (Dan Berger is a huge Riesling fan.)Pisoni Vineyards is located in the Santa Lucia highlands in Monterey County. The wind coming off the ocean is cold because of the depth of the trench off the Monterey coast. This makes the Salinas Valley the lettuce capital of the world, where they have more days under 70 degrees in Summer than anywhere else in the country. This same weather is ideal for cool climate grapes at higher elevations. It’s a rustic agricultural area, without a lot of tasting rooms.First they taste a Rosé from a wine brand of theirs called Lucy. It is whole-cluster pressed Rosé, which Dan Berger compares to a sparkling Rosé without bubbles.<a href="https://bottlebarn.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank"></a>Click the logo to visit our sponsor Bottle Barn online for the best deals on wine, beer and spirits, including Pisoni wines. Next they taste a white Alsatian blend, made of Pinot Gris and Pinot Blanc. In the early days of planting in Monterey County, these varietals were planted although others are more well-known. Dan Berger says you can taste both varieties, some anise from the Pinot Gris and steeliness from the Pinot Blanc. You might wait a year and these flavors will mature. <h3>A Family Operation</h3> Jeff Pisoni and his brother Mark and his father Gary all run the family operation. His grandparents started farming and made home wine, but his father planted grapes in 1982 and his passion for wine started as a collector in the 1970s. He just wanted to make wine and jokes that he planted the vineyard because he was drinking his wine collection too quickly. Jeff learned hillside viticultural techniques in Europe. He tried six dry wells before he found enough water for the vineyard. When his father planted grapes in these locations, people were skeptical. Dan Berger says it takes a crazy pioneer to do what he did. Jeff and his brothers grew up around the lettuce fields. He was interested in the science and chemistry and took a degree in enology at Fresno State and he learned the craft from his father. Dan Berger mentions that there used to be some Riesling in Monterey County and it would be a good place for it still today. When Jeff was fresh out of college, they were working with a winery that helped them make wine. He knew he needed experience and stayed in the area so he could learn from the wine community around him. Also, there were a lot of refrigerated trucks around for the vegetable business, which they used to bring the grapes to the winery in Sonoma County. Also, all the cork and glass suppliers are all in the area. They have a facility in Rhonert Park, custom built to their specs. The last wine tasted is a Pisoni Estate Pinot Noir. Jeff’s father Gary Pisoni was planting Pinot Noir while others were still planting Cabernet in Monterey County. Dan Berger says the key thing with Pinot Noir is to pick at the right date, not too early or late. In Santa Lucia Highlands, with all the wind, you have to walk the vineyard twice a day, in order to get the harvest date right.

Jeff Pisoni from Pisoni Vineyards

This land has an identity.   These mountains, this soil, the rocks, the quality of air and the wind. All these traits contribute to a character unique to this very part of the earth. Our goal as a family is to work with nature, through farming and crafting wines, and to preserve this identity in wines that express this very site.The personality of this land was first recognized when Gary Pisoni began planting grapes in 1982 — some of the very first in this region. Each year we learn more about the characteristics of our vineyards, farming and winemaking to steadily improve the sustainability of what we do, and the wines we strive to create.We approach winemaking as an art, a science, and a craft. As such, from planting to pruning to harvesting, we work by hand, in accordance both with Burgundian tradition and our own ongoing understanding of what will best sustain this land we love and respect.

This land has an identity. These mountains, this soil, the rocks, the quality of air and the wind. All these traits contribute to a character unique to this very part of the earth. Our goal as a family is to work with nature, through farming and crafting wines, and to preserve this identity in wines that express this very site. The personality of this land was first recognized when Gary Pisoni began planting grapes in 1982 — some of the very first in this region. Each year we learn more about the characteristics of our vineyards, farming and winemaking to steadily improve the sustainability of what we do, and the wines we strive to create. We approach winemaking as an art, a science, and a craft. As such, from planting to pruning to harvesting, we work by hand, in accordance both with Burgundian tradition and our own ongoing understanding of what will best sustain this land we love and respect.

Pisoni Family Vineyards - Jeff Pisoni

Hailing from the Pisoni family that helped put Santa Lucia Highlands on the winemaking map in California, Jeff Pisoni shares the story of his family's relationship with farming and the development of Gary's, Pisoni, and Soberanes, which supply grapes to numerous top end wineries across the state.  Recounting clandestine attempts his father, Gary Pisoni, undertook to find water on the family ranch, Jeff shares how he and his brother, Mark Pisoni, grew up on the farm and now split the work with Mark managing vineyards and Jeff in charge of winemaking.  Jeff describes some of the challenges of growing Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Syrah in the Santa Lucia Highlands, and the ways he approaches the uniqueness that the grapes bring to his winemaking.  The Pisoni Estate brand is focused exclusively on Pinot Noir.  Jeff explains the creation of his family's other wines including Lucia Vineyards that encompass Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Syrah, and Luli Wines, which also includes a rose and Sauvignon blanc.     LINKS AND RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE  Pisoni Vineyards, Santa Lucia Highlands Lucia Vineyards, Santa Lucia Highlands Luli Wines, Santa Lucia Highlands Gary's Vineyard, Santa Lucia Highlands Soberanes Vineyard, Santa Lucia Highlands Fort Ross Vineyard, Sonoma Coast Yeast and Bacteria analysis Panel from ETS Labs  QUESTIONS?  COMMENTS?  LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU THINK: JIM@INSIDEWINEMAKING.COM   The Inside Winemaking Podcast on iTunes And Stitcher Radio Too

Hailing from the Pisoni family that helped put Santa Lucia Highlands on the winemaking map in California, Jeff Pisoni shares the story of his family's relationship with farming and the development of Gary's, Pisoni, and Soberanes, which supply grapes to numerous top end wineries across the state.  Recounting clandestine attempts his father, Gary Pisoni, undertook to find water on the family ranch, Jeff shares how he and his brother, Mark Pisoni, grew up on the farm and now split the work with Mark managing vineyards and Jeff in charge of winemaking.  Jeff describes some of the challenges of growing Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Syrah in the Santa Lucia Highlands, and the ways he approaches the uniqueness that the grapes bring to his winemaking.  The Pisoni Estate brand is focused exclusively on Pinot Noir.  Jeff explains the creation of his family's other wines including Lucia Vineyards that encompass Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Syrah, and Luli Wines, which also includes a rose and Sauvignon blanc.   LINKS AND RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE <ul> <li><a href="https://www.pisonivineyards.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Pisoni Vineyards</a>, Santa Lucia Highlands</li> <li><a href="https://luciavineyards.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Lucia Vineyards</a>, Santa Lucia Highlands</li> <li><a href="http://www.luliwines.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Luli Wines</a>, Santa Lucia Highlands</li> <li><a href="http://www.garysvineyard.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Gary's Vineyard</a>, Santa Lucia Highlands</li> <li><a href="http://www.soberanesvineyard.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Soberanes Vineyard</a>, Santa Lucia Highlands</li> <li><a href="http://www.fortrossvineyard.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Fort Ross Vineyard</a>, Sonoma Coast</li> <li><a href="https://www.etslabs.com/analyses/%24WSP" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Yeast and Bacteria analysis Panel</a> from ETS Labs</li> </ul> QUESTIONS?  COMMENTS?  LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU THINK: JIM@INSIDEWINEMAKING.COM   <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/inside-winemaking-podcast/id906249753?mt=2" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Inside Winemaking Podcast on iTunes</a> <a href="http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/inside-winemaking-with-jim-duane" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">And Stitcher Radio Too</a>

Ep. 57: Jeff Pisoni - Pisoni and Lucia Vineyards