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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, July 23, 2022

Michael Juergens and a Vineyard in Bhutan

A neighborly small-world moment, a correction about Brooks, and the podcast's first guest from outside Oregon: Michael Juergens, who planted vines in Bhutan.

It is 6:45 on a Friday evening before the newsletter's looming deadline, yet I am not worried too much. It’s been a great week, and I must share a story with you.

Every morning I take Globgor for a 2-mile walk. There are many people I cross paths with all the time. Some of the people say hi, and continue walking along. Other people stop to have a conversation. One older gentleman is a member at Adelsheim and enjoys his wine. We have talked numerous times. He knows my name, Globgor’s name, and my daughter. Unfortunately, I suck and don’t remember his name.

Anyway, the other morning we passed one another and started talking. During the conversation, he brought up another neighbor. She is always outside with her two little daughters. Come to find out, the older gentleman and mom were talking about me. It sounds like the topic was I know a little something about wine.

The mom follows an excellent Instagram account called Tasting With Tots. I ran into them back in November, and they are incredible humans! The mom saw the post where I ran into them at Bledsoe McDaniels the other week and was probably a little surprised to see a fellow neighbor. It’s such a small world we live in!

I messed up BIG time last week when I said Brooks produces a Chardonnay. I got caught up, was excited, and for some reason, I thought Brooks had a Chardonnay. I am sorry to mislead you, and thank you to those who let me know of my error!

If you haven’t heard of Okta opening up in Mac, you need to read this PDX Monthly interview about Chef Matt Lightner. Make reservations now! Also, there’s another new restaurant in my hood that just opened up called Brix Tavern. I can’t wait to experience it!

I doubt you have been watching the Tour de France, but if you have, wow, it has been a stellar Tour! On a more negative side of the news, the air quality was getting pretty bad due to fires in Bordeaux. It sounds like 2020 isn’t going away. It's going to different regions of the world.

One of the vineyards/wineries I want to visit big time is Antiquum. Their philosophy on farming and winemaking goes beyond anything I have experienced or read. Take a minute to read Paul Gregutt’s piece on Antiquum!

Mark your calendars for Friday, August 26th, for Hyland Estates' 5th Annual Block Party featuring Brooks, Clos Griotte, Domaine Divio, Dundee Wine Library, Hyland Estates, Kelley Fox, Martin Woods, Nicolas Jay, Patricia Green, Penner-Ash, Sokol Blosser, and Solana Estate. It’s going to be a killer event!

It’s a podcast week, and this will be the first time I dive into someone’s story that is not part of the Oregon Wine Community. So you have been forewarned, and fingers crossed you don't hang me up by my toenails in the coming week. There will probably be other people I highlight who aren’t from Oregon. Rest assured, their stories and who they are aligned with every story presented weekly.

The first time my path crossed with Michael Juergens was in May of 2019 when he posted pictures of him planting vines in the country of Bhutan via a WhatsApp Group we are both members. Seeing the pictures, I thought it was cool as all get out, but it didn’t blow my mind at the time.

Before COVID was a thing in 2020, he sent out a message to the same group mentioning if you wanted to be on his wine newsletter to send him an email. So naturally, I jumped on it hotter than the mid-July pavement in Southern Georgia. His newsletter is called “Drinking and Knowing Things,” aka DAKT. As with any newsletter, you learn about the person behind the newsletter. He started doing live DAKT calls via Zoom and got an Instagram account.

I think it was his interview on the “Black Wine Guy Experience” podcast where my mind blew its top off when I heard the back story of his vine planting in Bhutan. He went to a marathon in Bhutan, and while running, the question, “Where are the vineyards?” kept going through his head. So long story short, Micheal is the “Pioneer of Bhutan Wine.” He created the business plan and the wine laws for the entire country of Bhutan! Can you recall the last time laws for a country were designed for wine? Neither can I!

Next week Michael is taking his Master of Wine exam. The last couple of times, the tasting portion of the exam has kicked his patootski. Here is an excerpt from his newsletter earlier this week.

Yes, this is my final shot at this thing. If I fail (again) I gotta sit out at least a year and then I am eligible to re-apply. Who knows, I’ve been at this thing for eight years, so I’ll have to think long and hard about whether I want to take the do-over or just punt.

That said, my goal is to pass so hopefully it will be a moot point. Stay tuned…

The structure of the exam is simple. Day one is all white wines. Day two is all red wines. And day three is a grab bag of sparkling, sweet, rosé, fortified etc. Anything goes. Because you have to pass all three days, you gotta have your game tight across the entire spectrum of wine. Also, you’ll note that it isn’t a “Master of Fine Wine” certification. It’s a “Master of Wine” certification which means you have to understand the entire quality spectrum of wines. We’ve had everything on the exam from $6 bottles of rosé to Dom Perignon and Grand Cru Burgundy, and everything in between.

I will say this right up front. Don’t listen to this episode of the podcast if you don't have colorful language. But, for everyone else, this episode sheds light on vineyard issues in Bhutan, wine NFTs with Club DVin, a glimpse into Prowein, a debate on screw caps verses corks, rice wine, and so much more!

When you listen to the interview via YouTube, Spotify, or Apple Podcasts, please take a second to like and subscribe! Also, don’t be shy to leave a comment or email me what you thought of the episode, even if you disliked it worse than oxtail covered in sauerkraut.

Here are all of the links and topics we dicussed for your enjoyment, and please like and subscribe to help spread the word!

Topics

00:00 - Intro
01:00 - How the newsletter got started
04:21 - Self-help group and blowing up cars
07:18 - Prowein 2022
09:43 - Club Dvin
22:15 - Punk Rock NFT
23:20 - Sourcing wine for the Bhutan Airline
26:15 - Planting vines in Bhutan
37:25 - Fall Harvest Party in Bhutan with Club Dvin
40:00 - Debate of screw caps and corks
45:30 - Bhutan Rice Wine
47:34 - Moving from Cali to the East Coast
48:30 - How does he do everything he is doing
50:42 - The Grand Slam - marathon on every continent
52:22 - Drinking and Knowing Things Books
55:10 - Signup for the DAKT newsletter and other Promos

With Gratitude,

A.J.

"Believe your beliefs and doubt your doubts."

F. F. Bosworth

PS - We all need a laugh. The words, “Emanuel, don’t do it,” will have you cracking up!

PPS - If anyone has advice on how to encourage confidence like this in a 13 year old daughter, please let me know

A.J. Weinzettel

Wine journalist & podcaster covering Oregon wine country