Winemaker Fred Scherrer talks about the choices he makes when choosing to blend Pinot Noir from different vineyards in California’s Russian River Valley. He explores the role of clones and vineyard sites in detail. Fred makes wine at the Scherrer Winery in Sebastapol, California in the Russian River Valley.
Author: Judi Scherrer
How do winemakers find ripe grapes at harvest?
Winemaker Fred Scherrer explains the relationship between grape growers and winemakers in California. Fred makes wine at the Scherrer Winery in Sebastapol, California in the Russian River Valley.
What is a balanced wine? Fred Scherrer on Angles and Rounds.
Winemaker Fred Scherrer defines balance in wine and discusses acidity, tannin, sugar, alcohol and how they can interact to create balance in a wine.
How do you select a vineyard site?
Winemaker Fred Scherrer discuses the process by which he selects vineyards from which he makes wine in California’s Russian River Valley. Fred makes wine at the Scherrer Winery in Sebastapol, California in the Russian River Valley.
Fred Scherrer’s winemaking influences
Winemaker Fred Scherrer says Tom Dehlinger and Andre Tchelistcheff are his two greatest influences as a winemaker. Fred makes wine at the Scherrer Winery in Sebastapol, California in the Russian River Valley.
Winemaking 101: Blending
Winemaker Fred Scherrer shares an interesting tip for young winemakers on how to decide when the blend is perfect and the wine complete. The answer is not as technical as you might imagine.
On winemakers and musicians.
Winemaker Fred Scherrer considers the similarities between winemakers and musicians as one plays and instrument and the other “plays” the grapes to achieve harmony and balance.
The message in the bottle…
For me, I try to allow a message to remain in the bottle from the vine’s environment, be it one that speaks of a specific site or from a specific region, if not of an individual variety and the kind of growing conditions that year. But I also want it to give pleasure while delivering the message. Sometimes this is a fine line to walk. If done right, nobody notices the ‘I’ part.
‘It’s not done till it’s done right’
I was so pleased at how the ‘core group’ played together and so unhappy with how a few delicious ‘fatter’ barrels affected the delicate balance that, to do it right, I decided to go for the slimmer, more energetic blend. If I had not been in the cellar actually doing the physical work this opportunity would have been missed.
Tired but very, very happy…
As we work with different varieties and sites that encompass the warmer and cooler parts of Sonoma County, there is usually a small break in the action of harvest activity. It allows me some rest and time to reflect on the wines we are offering in the fall. This year, things were so steady and constant that this luxury was not available. It was a real positive for the new wines, but takes its toll on me and the amount of time I have to present this offering.