The wilson foreigner team
A friendship that spans the divide between California and The Cape in South Africa has manifest in the partnership that is the talented viticultural and winemaking prowess behind Wilson Foreigner. After working the 2004 harvest together in South Africa, Dave Wilson and Chris Alheit, remained friends as they both gained experience working at some of the most prestigious vineyard and winery estates throughout the world. In 2015 they produced a Valdigue from Rancho Chimiles, Dave's family's home vineyard in Napa, and also an Albarino from the Rorick Vineyard in the Sierra Foothills. As it takes more than just technical passion to develop a successful new brand, both of their wives, Christine Wilson and Suzaan Alheit, are part of the team with Christine managing the critical aspects of sales, marketing, and administration. (Lots of cool photos on their Instagram feed). The Wilson Foreigner wines have a clearly delineated style, which Chris describes as a "nervous energy," and the hue of the Valdigue is "electric magenta." This podcast captures the passion that this young partnership has for finding off-the-radar sites and showcasing their excitement for those vineyards with minmalistic winemaking.
LINKS AND RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
- Wilson Foreigner
- Alheit Vineyards in South Africa
- Broadbent Selections
- Chateau Angelus, Bordeaux
- Stag's Leap Wine Cellars, Napa
- Merryvale Vineyards / Starmont Winery and Vineyards, Napa
- Pahlmeyer, Napa
- Cruse Wine Co., Petaluma
- Flagstone Wines South Africa
The Inside Winemaking Podcast on iTunes
Questions? Comments? Let me know what you think: jim@insidewinemaking.com