01 Cover Master Winemakers 100 Final.qxp_Layout 1 30/01/2020 16:31 Page 1 The Master Winemaker 100 The award-winning winemakers from The Global Masters winemakers from The award-winning The Master Winemaker 100
The Master Winemaker 100 Compiled by
THE AWARD-WINNING WINEMAKERS FROM THE GLOBAL MASTERS 196-197 DELIVERT, Frederic - Tolosa WInery AA.qxp_Layout 1 30/01/2020 12:49 Page 196
Frederic Delivert, chief winemaker, Tolosa Winery
elivert studied agricultural the Sonoma Coast and Red Hills him on a pursuit to understand how sciences at the Ecole Lake County AVAs. His first these factors influence the wines. DSupérieure d’agriculture de winemaker role was at Martin Estate, Purpan in Toulouse, but discovered and he later worked at Tuck What or who inspired you to California during an internship in Beckstoffer Wines, and consulted for become a winemaker? Alexander Valley in Sonoma County. Clark-Claudon, Paon, Tamber Bey From a very young age I wanted to Returning for the 1997 harvest, he and S.R. Tonella Cellars. He joined do something related to farming. I stayed and has made wines in Napa Tolosa Winery in 2017, taking over went to college to get a masters in Valley’s sub-appellations, including from Jim Kress. Delivert’s fascination agricultural sciences, discovered the Rutherford, Oakville, Yountville, with differing soil compositions and wine industry and thought that was Howell Mountain, and Mt. Veeder, the impact of local climates has led a very interesting path to follow.
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master winemakers
What’s your favourite part of placed at. I am more into making the job? good or great wines across the board The diversity of activities I get on any vintage with all the varietals Master medals involved with. In one day, you can I deal with, than about being known
start in the vineyard dealing with as the guy who scored 100 points for > Tolosa Winery’s 1772 Pinot farming, then look at lab reports, one specific bottling. Noir 2015 move on to some tasting, finalise the (Pinot Noir Masters 2017) production budget and finish by Who is your inspiration in the talking about our wines to wine-club wine world today? members. I don’t know a lot of jobs I can’t really say somebody in where you cover that many and such particular inspires me. I am more made from overripe grapes in different topics. inspired by style of wines – I like the general. With overripeness I find the purity of the Pinots from Maison DNA of the variety disappears and What’s the hardest part? Latour and am a big fan of Kistler, the wines are usually so big that Making sure that a product we spent Peter Michael and Mayacamas’s finishing the glass is not possible… so many hours crafting ends up Chardonnays. I am all about finishing my glass. where you want it in a bottle. Where would your fantasy How has your taste in wine What’s your go-to drink at the vineyard be? changed over the years? end of a long day? In the Allier Valley in Auvergne, I definitely enjoy more purity of After a long hot day, white or rosé. France. Auvergne used to be an fruit, freshness and elegance now. After a long cold day, probably a important wine-producing region And I have noticed that I am going straight bourbon, or a Manhattan if before Phylloxera showed up. away from oak. I take the time to make it. I was born there and always thought that would be nice to Which type of wine do you What advice would you give make something there. drink most regularly? your younger self? White wine is probably topping my Pay more attention to the business If you weren’t a winemaker, list now. Any varietal. You cannot side of winemaking. what would you be doing hide anything in a white, and I and why? find this fascinating. Pinot Noir Which wine-related Tough question, but probably is next. achievement are you most something to do with the proud of? great outdoors, like being a Which wine would you most I am really happy when I hear fly-fishing guide like to drink, and who would people who went through a flight of you share it with? wines we made, telling me they were Which wine (grape/style do 1949 DRC La Tache, with my all good. I really want to make the you find it impossible to family. best wine with each sku I am get along with? responsible for at the price point it is I have hard time with wines
‘With overripeness I find the DNA of the variety disappears and the wines are usually so big that finishing the glass is not possible… I am all about finishing my glass’
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