Michael McClendon - winemaker, talks Rosé and Kiepersol - Kiepersol Texas Podcast ep 6

Kiepersol Texas Podcast

Michael McClendon - winemaker, talks Rosé, varietals, vintage, and Kiepersol - Kiepersol Texas Podcast ep 6 . . . Michael McClendon is originally from Van, TX where Michael attended high school. He managed to get a scholarship to UT Tyler where you got a degree in biology and a minor in chemistry. He got a call from Dr. Don Killebrew about an internship at Kiepersol. Michael didn't drink wine at that time and was surprised to find out there was even a Winery in East Texas. Michael met Pierre and Marnelle, working his way into the craft as a winemaker. . Michael believes that Bourdeaux varietals grown here at Kiepersol are what sets us apart, along with the fact at we are 100% Estate Grown. This does present challenges in the short-term but creates long-term success. No two vintages of grapes harvest or wines are the same at Kiepersol, which forces us to have to make choices that highlight special characteristics of the fruit that will change the experience of the wine. Things such as how much hang time the fruit has, how to prune and when to prune go a long way in determining the quality of the wine. Once the grapes make its way into the wine production facility, there are a lot of techniques and factors that go into creating special characteristics of the vintage. . Michael loves scientific discovery, considering himself between an "impresario and a farmer." . "Farmers are some of the first scientists." Michael points out how farmers were always thinking on their feet, figuring out contingency plans for different consequences during each growing season. . Michael dispels the idea that Texas winemakers and specifically East Texas winemakers are hillbillies or without class. With sophistication, Kiepersol actively seeks to make the best wine available on the global market. . With a heavy influence on the Rosé production at Kiepersol, Michael talks about the idea behind it. It's a red wine made in a white wine production. White wines sometimes get a quick and light pressing with the skins, leaving a different tint. Rosé can be processed the same, giving it a light red/pink or more of a rich color and palate. Rosé is blended with multiple styles of wines and can range in the hue of color based on its blend. . Kiepersol was talking to some Sommeliers about wanting more dry Rosé available in Texas. Which created the conditions and inspiration for us to formulate our current 2017 Rosé. . Here in Texas, we seasons of extreme heat, which we sometimes don't feel like drinking a full-bodied red wine, so we prefer something lighter, like rosé. Michael loves a nice Sauvignon Blanc, but sometimes a good Rosé hits the spot. . There is a belief about how Texas makes dry rosé just as good as anyone else in the world. Which speaks testament to the various AVAs and terroir throughout Texas. . Michael as an impresario wanted to experiment and break the rules in winemaking with the Kiepersol Rosé Reserve by oaking it and using the best grapes grown to accomplish some complex results. Here in USA, it's like being in the wild west for winemakers, as they have a lot of freedom to try new things out. Compared to the old wine world, where each region has a lot of laws and regulations in what style of grapes they can grow or make into wine. . Not only did Michael and his team create a Rosé and Rosé Reserve, but he also created a canned Rosé called Flight. Flight is something completely outside of the box, it cannot be seen. Since our wine is great, we are able to have the freedom to experiment in this new format. This delicately sparkling rosé was created to be enjoyed in the format that people want to enjoy their wine. Flight allows us to educate and bring new people to understand and appreciate wine. You can take Flight to a picknick or bbq or to an event where glass is typically prohibited. Visit us at www.kiepersol.com