I remember first hearing the name Randall Grahm, of Bonny Doon, nearly a decade ago, when a colleague told me of this "crazy man" in California naming his wine after a flying saucer. Realising that this was the sort of interesting chap that I'd like to try the wines from, I eagerly bought the first bottle of his that I could afford, and was introduced to the first American wine that I actually liked. Since then, I've tried and loved numerous wines from Bonny Doon so to have Randall Grahm agree to answer six questions, is a big thrill!
Randall Grahm started Bonny Doon Vineyards in 1983, planting Rhone varietals and being dubbed one of the "Rhone Rangers". When his vineyards succumbed to Pierce's Disease in the mid nineties, he started buying grapes from other producers, not only in California but Oregon and Europe. Production volumes exploded to nearly half a million cases, but in recent years, Grahm has sold off most of his bigger brands and focused on producing 'vin de terroir' from his own vineyards.
Randall Grahm started Bonny Doon Vineyards in 1983, planting Rhone varietals and being dubbed one of the "Rhone Rangers". When his vineyards succumbed to Pierce's Disease in the mid nineties, he started buying grapes from other producers, not only in California but Oregon and Europe. Production volumes exploded to nearly half a million cases, but in recent years, Grahm has sold off most of his bigger brands and focused on producing 'vin de terroir' from his own vineyards.
What is it about the Citroen DS that you love so much?
Note that the Citroën DS- 21 "Pallas" is possibly the coolest car ever made, and I am the envy of all of Santa Cruz, at least in this respect. But, I would say of all the features - the hydraulic suspension, it is perhaps the turning headlights (an aftermarket acquisition, as it turns out), that is its coolest feature.
What is the best, and the worst, wines you have ever made?
Best wine ever made is probably the 1995 Santa Cruz Mt. Syrah "Estate," our last vintage of Syrah before the vineyard (in Bonny Doon) succumbed to Pierce's Disease. The wine is still remarkably alive. There are a number of "worst" wines, as we did quite a bit of experimentation in the day. Possibly the experiment we did on carbonic maceration with Riesling, or alternatively, the Auslese-styled Syrah (though the latter has at least one champion).
Describe yourself in three words.
Take no prisoners.
You are famous for naming one of your wines after an alien's spacecraft. What would you say to an alien if you met them?
Is Sarah Palin one of your lot?
Finish this sentence. "When people drink my wine, I hope that they..."
"...have the wit to decant it, and will drink it slowly, over the space of a few hours, noting the fact that it is always changing and evolving."
Name three people, real or fictional, living or dead, that would be guests at your dream dinner party, and what would you be drinking?
David Foster Wallace, D.T. Suzuki, Carl Jung, an older vintage of Scharzhofberger Auslese.
Thanks to Freya Reinsch
Follow Randall on Twitter
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