Sound Tasting Episode 8 – Barnaby Tuttle

1. Orbits by Miles Davis
2. Hidden Shadows by Herbie Hancock
3. Palm Grease by Herbie Hancock 
4. Journey in Satchinanda by Alice Coltrane 
5. Street Woman by Ornette Coleman 
6. Two Headed Dogs by Roky Erickson
7. Legend of a Mind by The Moody Blues 

It all started in 2002 when Barnaby was the wine buyer at Papa Haydn Restaurant in Portland’s southeast location. German wine importer Ewald Moseler, showed him 14 different Rieslings from Germany’s famed Mosel wine region. Barnaby bought all 14 and started one of the largest German wine lists in Portland. That same night he told his wife, Olga that he needed to learn how to make wines that are as expressive to terroir (expression of the place the grapes are grown) as these Rieslings.

Without a clue as to how to start or find investors for financial backing, Barnaby and Olga started on a long journey into one of Oregon’s most difficult industries- the wine business. As luck would have it, a friend of theirs offered them fallow farm land in Alsea, Oregon, to start a vineyard. So in 2005, along with a handful of good friends, they put 2000 vines into the ground, mostly Pinot Noir and some Pinot Meunier and Pinot Blanc. As they were learning how to manage the vineyard, Barnaby left his restaurant career and started as a rookie at a shared winery facility in Carlton.

Barnaby and Olga produced their first commercial vintage in 2008 which included their Estate Pinot Noir from the Alsea vineyard and Pinot Meunier made with fruit from a U-pick vineyard called Borgo Pass. From there, they increased our production by purchasing fruit from other vineyards around the Willamette Valley. Even though Oregon’s soil type(s) is nothing close to ones in the Mosel Valley, their wines are similar in style. When they pour their wines for their German winemaker friends, they nod their heads and smile. That right there tells Barnaby and Olga they’re doing something right!

Sound Tasting with Host Marti Mendenhall, features interviews with chefs, musicians and foodies about music, food, behind-the scenes info and a how-to recipe on every show.