EPISODE BREAKDOWN

00:00 Show Intro

01:18 Audience question answered

01:45 Intro for Wes Hagen

02:55 Clos Pepe’s 2009 Prerelease Brut Rose sparkling wine.

03:50 What makes you want to make sparkling wine?

04:40 How did you acquire a passion for wine making?

07:15 How did you transition from growing up in Palos Verdes to becoming entrenched in the world of agriculture?

08:40 Wes’ Family: Steve and Kathy.

10:25 How old were you when you decided to get into this field?

10:45 Was it ever a daunting perspective to make such a big change?

13:00 How was the challenge of learning both farming your grapes and producing wine at the same time?

14:50 Why do you grow so much more Pinot Noir than Chardonnay?

16:10 Sta Rita Hills AVA involvement.

17:10 Did the landscape dictate what you planted?

19:00 Wes’ outline for success in winemaking?

20:34 Do you consider yourself a farmer? What is your title?

21:30 Effects of frost.

22:58 Reactionary winemaking: Going with the flow and natures course.

25:00 Healthy drinking.

25:45 Wine and Fire Festival.

27:10 What is the importance of the Santa Rita Hills and why is that important to the consumer?

28:15 Why do you abbreviate the Santa on Sta. Rita Hills labels?

30:55 There’s a reason people get into the wine business.

31:48 Other great winemakers in Santa Rita Hills.

32:30 What do you think of SeaSmoke adding Grand Cru to their bottles?

34:00 California wine culture: Thieves

36:40 Defining topicity vs. Terroir.

38:10 Biodynamics Organics and Environmentalism.

41:00 Using Sheep.

42:38 How do you approach producing wine once you’ve grown the grapes?

45:50 Do you have a formula you follow each year or do you change it up?

49:50 When is a wine ready?

50:40 Wine Tours

52:55 Why is Pinot Noir so hard to grow and produce good wine from?

54:29 How has social media changed your business?

55:30 Defined Wine Culture.

58:50 What would you like to leave our viewers with?

1:00:00 Wes makes a very special offer to our viewers.

1:01:00 Wrap up