#winemaking

#winemaking

'I'd been offered a winemaking job at Buena Vista Winery and thought, why would anybody want to live in California?' he said. The earth looked dead. I just couldn't do it.

A few obvious things stand out with lemon wine: It's not made from grapes, doesn't rely on the intricacies of terroir, and there's no need for giant oak barrels. It's therefore simple to make and readily available, with far less fuss and frenzy.

"It's a great change of pace; it's bubbly, cold, and less acidic. It's a perfectly refreshing palate cleanser," explains winemaker Sherman Thacher of Thacher Winery in Paso Robles on California's Central Coast.

The 2020 vintage was on track to be the perfect year for the 874 wineries of Oregon's Willamette Valley until late summer, when the valley choked on smoke from record-breaking wildfires.

"As I reflect on my career, it’s a unique intersection of aviation, business strategy, and navigating high-profile personalities like Donald Trump and Michael O'Leary."