In the first-ever installment of our new "3 Questions With ..." #interview series, we caught up with Alex MacGregor, head winemaker at Mendocino's Saracina Vineyards, to chat about vintage, vines, and the greatness of Calvin Trillin.
PBI: How is the 2024 vintage shaping up in #Mendocino?
AM: “Well, heat has definitely been a thing this year but I’m happy to report that all our newer vines have so far sailed through heat domes and some very hot days. It’s a testament to the efficacy of the Moser trellis system — thanks to the dappled light allowed through by the canopy and the increased airflow, our cabernet grapes, which typically are prone to sunburn, did beautifully. The fruit is still in great shape. Actually, I’ve never seen healthier vines in a young vineyard.”
PBI: What are you most excited about in the #vineyard right now?
AM: “We’re in the midst of re-pruning our zinfandel block and it’s pretty amazing. Our lead viticulturalist and real dirt farmer Peter Chevalier has ‘a guy,’ Chema, who’s a head-trained vine whisperer. A genius of few words but real wisdom with all things vinous. He goes out, mornings only, sits on an upside-down 5-gallon pail in front of each, unique zinfandel plant and prunes to create what will be the perfect head-pruned vine. They’re shaped a like a windmill as you peer at the vine from above — nature’s ideal trellis without wires, they’ve got adequate canopy to protect the fruit, allowance for dappled light to barely kiss the clusters, and plenty of opportunity for critical breezes to circulate and mitigate mildew and botrytis pressure. It’s my absolute favorite way to ‘winegrow,’ particularly when farming organically as we have begun in this lovely zin block.”
PBI: What's on your #summerreading list?
AM: “I’m reading and rereading some Calvin Trillin, including his new book, 'The Lede: Dispatches from a Life in the Press.' His writing on food is some of the best in the world. His books are just charming and lovely — he’s one of the best, most authentic food writers out there.”
#drinkpalmbay