EPISODE # 38 DAMIEN BLANCHON:AFTON MOUNTAIN VINEYARDS WINEMAKER & VINEYARD MANAGER

Fine Wine Confidential Podcast

Damien Blanchon was born and raised in the South of France where his family had roots in the Beaujolais Village region of Burgundy. He grew up with wine in his family and when he was 8 years-old he already knew this what he wanted to do--drive a tractor in the vines and be a winegrower. He would go to school to learn the craft of winemaking and recalls a teacher tell him when he was finishing to gain his degree in Viticulture & Enology that he English would be the most important language he could learn and so he pursued an internship in the U.S.
He was fortunate to answer an announcement placed by Matthieu Finot another French winemaker who was working in Virginia and took a position at Old House Vineyards in Culpeper, Va. He would be at Old House for 5 years before being recruited by Elizabeth & Tony Smith the new owners of Afton Mountain Vineyards. He would join them in 2011 and has been the winemaker and vineyard manager since.

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE INTERVIEW:
a). Damien recounts when he was young his grandfather would test him early by giving him a bottle of wine that had been tainted by the cork to see if he detected it. He did.
b). He describes how a teacher of his told him that English would be the most important language he could learn. This promoted him to take an internship in Virginia.
c). Damien talks about his unique approach to vineyard management. He brews his own concoction of different herbs, and organic teas which he uses to spray the vines in lieu of using large amounts of pesticides and other inorganic sprays that are normally used to fight diseases in the vineyard.\
d). I was surprised that no research university or organization involved in grape growing had even contacted Damien to learn more about his methods and the results.
e). Damien shares he thoughts on Beaujolais and admits his favorite "Cru" was Mont Brouilly.\
f). Damien speaks about how his Uncle was very involved in the 70's conducting trials for the viticulture department of Beaujolais changing various trellis system inspiring him.
Much, Much more. Listen to the Audio posted below or read the attached text transcript.
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