{"version":"1.0","type":"rich","provider_name":"Acast","provider_url":"https://acast.com","height":250,"width":700,"html":"<iframe src=\"https://embed.acast.com/$/62301a5c63c97500122f8a76/632a98b6be09a700134ce895?\" frameBorder=\"0\" width=\"700\" height=\"250\"></iframe>","title":"Casting Long Shadows over Columbia Valley w/ Gilles Nicault, Longshadows","thumbnail_width":200,"thumbnail_height":200,"thumbnail_url":"https://open-images.acast.com/shows/62301a5c63c97500122f8a76/show-cover.jpg?height=200","description":"<p>After spending two decades promoting the wines of Washington State, Allen Shoup founded <a href=\"https://longshadows.com/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Longshadows</a>, a collective of partnerships leveraging internationally renowned winemaking talent to express the best of the Columbia Valley.&nbsp;Director of Winemaking, Gilles Nicault, describes how the partnerships work from both a business and winemaking perspective; what he’s learned from making wines with the likes of Michel Rolland to Randy Dunn; and how Washington State’s wine profile has been elevated from this concept.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p><br></p><p>Don’t forget to support the show on <a href=\"https://www.patreon.com/xchateau\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Patreon</a>!</p><p><br></p><p><strong>Detailed Show Notes:&nbsp;</strong></p><p>Allen Shoup founded Longshadows</p><ul><li>He was CEO of Ste Michelle Wine Estates (“SMWE”) for 20 years</li><li>His mentor was Robert Mondavi, who founded Opus One, a collaboration between the old and new world</li><li>At SMWE, Allen started collaborations with Eroica (Dr. Loosen) and Col Solari (Antinori)</li><li>Wanted to build partnerships for Longshadows - showcase the Columbia Valley, which is east of the Cascade Mountains and has very dry terroir (~6 inches of rain/year), enabling great diversity of grapes to be grown (Bordeaux, Rhone, Italian, Spanish varieties)</li><li>The name “Long Shadows” refers to renowned winemakers casting long shadows over the Columbia Valley</li></ul><p>Partnerships</p><ul><li>Poet’s Leap, a Riesling w/ Armin Diel (Schollsgut Diel in Nahe, Germany)</li><li>Saggi, a Super Tuscan (Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah blend) w/ Ambrogio &amp; Giovanni Folonari (Tuscany)</li><li>Pedestal, a Merlot w/ Michel Rolland (Pomerol)</li><li>Pirouette, a Bordeaux style blend w/ Agustin Huneeus, Sr and Phillipe Melka (Napa)</li><li>Feather, a Cabernet Sauvignon w/ Randy Dunn (Napa)</li><li>Sequel, a Syrah w/ John Duval (Barossa Valley, Australia)</li><li>Gilles crafts his own Cab / Syrah blend with 30 months in French oak</li></ul><p>All partnerships were established when Longshadows was founded in 2003 except Folonari, which came in 2004</p><p>All are true partnerships - each partner owns 25% of their labels, which are separate companies. They are not consultants and are not paid any other fees</p><p>Longshadows does the sales &amp; marketing for the wines</p><p>Working relationships w/ partners vary</p><ul><li>John Duval can be there during harvest (Southern Hemisphere)</li><li>Partners did not give any recipes for wines but pitched in and developed styles together</li><li>Fruit sourced from across Columbia Valley and its 15 sub-AVAs through acreage contracts</li><li>Source both old vines and can work with growers to plant specific clones (e.g., German clones for Poet’s Leap Riesling vineyards)</li><li>Volume of wines set by Allen Shoup and Dane Narbaitz (current President and Allen’s son-in-law), choose quality over quantity</li><li>Wines that don’t make the main wines go into 2nd label Nine Hats</li></ul><p>Each winemaker is so different. Gilles learned there are many ways to make wines</p><ul><li>E.g., Randy Dunn wants the jacks of the fruit in the wine, whereas Michel Rolland wants all of them out</li><li>Winemakers are interested in what each other does but do not work together</li><li>Each winemaker has their own allocation of vineyards and blocks for their wines</li></ul><p>Selling Longshadows</p><ul><li>The wine club “Key Club” is a big part of sales</li><li>2 tasting rooms - at the winery (Walla Walla) and in Woodinville (near Seattle)</li><li>Some distribution in the US and a few international markets</li></ul><p>Longshadows was honored to be selected 4x to be served at the White House</p><p>The future - partners are getting older, and many are on the verge of retirement. Gilles to carry the flame forward with lessons he’s learned from them</p>","author_name":"Robert Vernick, Peter Yeung"}