Hip Tastes Blog

Hip Winemaker: Richard Batchelor
filed under: Hip Tasters

I asked a handful of up-and-coming winemakers, such as Richard of Napa's HALL winery, to answer a few questions about things I thought readers would like to hear about. Read on for Richard's responses, and be sure to check out the Napa Man blog for the scoop on HALL's totally fabulous upcoming collaboration with the one and only Frank Gehry (yes, that means there will be a Gehry-designed winery for you all to visit in Napa before too long).

Interview with Richard Batchelor

This New Zealand native joined HALL in 2003 as assistant winemaker and was promoted to head winemaker in 2006. Before coming to HALL, Richard was an enologist and lab director at St. Francis Winery & Vineyards in Santa Rosa for three years. In New Zealand he worked at Sherwood Estate and Seifried Estate wineries and received a postgraduate degree in viticulture and enology from Lincoln University in Christchurch.

- best white under $10, hands down?
Oxford Landing Chardonnay, Australia

- best red under $10, hands down?
Rosemont Diamond Shiraz

- your favorite pink wine?
Sorry I don't usually drink Pink.

- fav bubbly?
Cristal - While I know it's the cliche pop star bubbly of choice, it's really excellent wine!

- fav new "hip" wine region?
Rioja, Spain

- a really great glass of wine, to me, is like...
Wow, this is dangerous.

- best white over $30?
Why is white wine over $30?

- best red over $50?
Kathryn Hall Cabernet Sauvignon

- best wine you've ever had?
Every new vintage of wine I try.

- quick advice for the wine novice?
If you're not enjoying the wine in your glass, don't talk yourself into "liking" a wine if you don't. Pour it out and try the next one and the next one. Don't deny your palate-figure out what YOU like and branch out from there.

Taste his wines

Posted by Courtney on September 2, 2007 12:07 PM