Rutger de Vink the founder of RDV established is Vineyard in 204 after having working as an intern with Jim Law and Linden in the early 2000s. He credits Jim for a fortuitous trip he took at Jim's invitation with a group of winemakers to travel to Bordeaux in 2002. It was during that trip that he met a fellow Dutchman, Kees van Leeuwen, when they visited Cheval Blanc in St. Emilion. It was Kees, who was a vineyard consultant, that he listen to about what was necessary for a vineyard site to be great. Just prior to that trip Rutger had been looking on the West Coast but when he came back he decided he would search for an ideal site in Virginia, which he did not that far from Linden where he had apprenticed. RDV's first vintage was 2008, and once again he would be fortunate as he was introduced by Jean-Phillippe Roty to Eric Boissenot an enologist and consultant to Ch. Latour and several of the other First Growth Bordeaux. Eric came on as RDV consulting enologist and still works with them today.
The RDV story is very compelling and was the first to see a $100 bottle of wine produced in Virginia.
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE INTERVIEW:
a). Rutger talks about the importance of Jim Law, the owner of Linden Vineyards, for not only inspiring him but to the Virginia Wine Industry.
b). You will hear from Josh Grainer, RDV winemaker and Virginia native who has been with RDV since 2008.
c). Josh tells a historic and fascinating story about how their Flagship wine, Lost Mountain was named. The story involved George Washington.
d). Rutger recants his mission is to not just produce the highest quality Virginia wine, but wine that is equal to the best from anywhere in the World.
e).Rutger and Josh share insightful thoughts about terroir in general and how that translate to Virginia.
f).Rutger and I discuss the comparisons between when Oregon first broke through and how that relates to Virginia. He answers my question in a way that essentially breaks the code for me about why Virginia hasn't had the National success, as of yet, that Oregon has enjoyed.
g). The best way to sum up my Interview is Rutger thinks BIG!
You can read the full transcript of the interview at my website www.finewineconfidential.com
Enjoy the Episode.
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