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The Weinnotes newsletter is written by A.J. Weinzettel, a wine journalist and podcaster who has written about Oregon wine country since 2019. Each issue tells the story of a winery and the people behind it, mostly in the Willamette Valley.

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Dispatch · Saturday, May 6, 2023

Jackson Holstein of Granville on the Podcast

A birthday dinner picked off the internet, what James Suckling's Oregon report missed, and a podcast with Granville's Jackson Holstein.

Coming up with birthday ideas at times can be difficult. With family back in TN, it can be a little challenging to figure out what to do for birthdays, but when you do a little online research and find a little rundown place with killer reviews online, it makes birthday decisions much more effortless.

I ordered five plates with ten sides, cornbread, and dessert for two people. The only information I gave them was an address and time to pick up food. To see the box of food they came home with was fabulous!

Going out for birthday dinners is excellent, but ordering food to pick up without giving away the restaurant or the food makes the day way more special!

I found it interesting Jancis Robinson is already scoring 2022 Bordeauxs. I know there is a small handful of Oregon 2022s in bottle, but they are mainly Roses, I think. I am not aware of any Pinots in the bottle ready to go! Heck, I am just now starting to dive into the 2021 vintage.

Do you have Apple TV+ and watching Drops of God. It is a wine-based series subtitled for French, Japanese, and English. It’s a great story so far, and I can’t wait to see where it goes!

The Oregon Wine Experience is coming up in August, and you might want to check it out.

If you don’t get my Events Newsletter, you might want to check out the Oregon Wine Press guide for Memorial Day Weekend.

Did you watch Wine Wednesday on KOIN AM Extra this week? Did you notice anyone you recognized or know? In case you missed it, I had the pleasure of talking about Carlton and some wineries you should visit while you’re there.

Let’s dive a little into James Suckling’s Oregon Report of 599 tasting notes. Forewarned, I am not posting any scores. It would be interesting to see scores, but it’s not worth the $100/year for me to see them for one report.

Of course, all the prevalent brands are highlighted, and one of Ponzi’s 2020 Pinots was on the center stage. As I dive deeper into the report here, I noticed so many producers not listed, such as “Iterum, Hazelfern, Kings North, Audeant, de la boue, Approachment, Lundeen, Flaneur, Celestial Hill, Arlyn, RR Wines, Ridgecrest, Dusky Goose, Antiquum, Harper Voit, Elevee, Prive and so many more! There are so many hidden gems in Oregon Wine Country, and no matter how large or famous the Oregon wine region becomes, there will always be killer wineries people don’t know much about! Here is a link to the report if you are curious.

I almost forgot to mention bud break broke out all over the place last weekend! So it’s official, the 2023 vintage is in full gear!

There were over 70 events that for the last Events Newsletter!

You don't want to miss the next one coming out May 15th

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Doing the podcast continues to be a blast; for me, it provides a deeper insight into the people and wine we enjoy. For example, when I met Jackson Holstein for the first time last year, I was aware of how kind, generous, humble, and down-to-earth human being he is.

This morning when I opened an email from Tim Atkin, he wrote the following paragraph.

One of my golden rules in life is that people who are rude to waiters in restaurants – the “do you know who I am?” brigade – are fundamentally unpleasant human beings. The same is true of winemakers. The pompous, self-important ones – we can all think of a few – are best avoided. The friendly ones who have time for other people are those who deserve our patronage.

If you were to look at the exact opposite definition of pompous in the dictionary, you would find a picture of Jackson Holstein. We hear the stories of second generations taking over their family's Legacy. You don’t hear much about Jackson and Granville Wine Company. His dad, Allen Holstein, was deep into Argyle's farming and worked closely with the Drouhin family in their vineyards.

Jackson’s school bus would drop him off in front of Argyle. The saying it takes a village holds true on so many levels, and without knowing it, Jackson knew quite a bit about wine by the time he went into college. It wasn’t all work, though. There might have been some goofing off with packing wrap, putting it around some people’s desk, and using a forklift to hide it atop pallets.

Slight, quick left-hand turn.

There is a new sponsor for the podcast this week. Aubaine, pronounced Ō-bane, is a single vineyard Chardonnay and Pinot Noir producer in the Eola-Amity Hills. The rockstar Isabelle Meunier is the winemaker, and we will spend some time diving into some great backstories over the coming weeks!

I am a personal fan of the 2020 Athas Chardonnay, and for some reason, it makes me think of the movie, “When Harry Met Sally.”

In the glass, there is a vibrant yellow color transfixing you on a nose where you get the slightest classic Chardonnay characteristics, but you get the sense there is something more to it. On entry, there is nothing but a smooth transition to your mid-palate, where you are greeted with a delicious ever, expanding mineralogy overflowing into a “YES!” reminding me of a diner scene in the movie “When Harry Met Sally.” The acidity level for this wine is bonkers, with a structure that will stand the test of time.

Memorial Day is fast approaching, and I know you will share wine with friends and family. So if you enjoy looking like a rockstar, visit Aubaine’s website, add a few bottles to your cart, and use promo code WEINNOTES for 20% off.

Ok, I am getting back on track with Jackson Holstein's interview.

If you get the opportunity, go to the 40-minute 30-second mark of the YouTube (link is below) and watch Jackson’s reaction when I bring up Legacy. That is one word this man does not take lightly.

One other sidenote about the interview. I met Jackson at the Granville tasting room at 9:00 in the morning and didn’t bring a blind wine. It was too early to even think about tasting any wine. I walked away from this interview feeling extremely grateful Jackson took the time to sit with me. Now I get to share some insights about this remarkable man whose wife (Ayla) is deep into the thick of it with him with their two kids making some extraordinary Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Sparkling! When you visit this gorgeous tasting room with a breathtaking view of the Valley, please tell them, “A.J. sent me!”

Please enjoy this conversation with Jackson Holstein from Granville Wines!

With Gratitude,

A.J.

A.J. Weinzettel

Wine journalist & podcaster covering Oregon wine country