Weekly Tasting: The Vine Whisperer

Discover legendary winemaker Greg La Follette and the historic grapes and vineyards behind Marchelle Wines. Thursday 10/15, 5–7pm What does a legendary winemaker do after decades spent making some of California’s most celebrated wines? In Greg La Follette’s case, you go back to the vineyard. Greg’s remarkable career has included being mentored by the great André Tchelistcheff, serving as the founding winemaker at Flowers, and becoming one of California’s most respected voices for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. But with Marchelle Wines, Greg's latest venture, his attention turned to another part of California’s wine story: historic vineyards, old vines and grape varieties that risk being forgotten. This Thursday, we’re tasting three Marchelle wines that bring those two worlds togetherl; the experience of a legendary winemaker and the extraordinary viticultural history hiding in California’s vineyards. We’ll be pouring: Marchelle – “Grower’s Reserve” Pinot Noir THE WINEMAKER We begin with the grape most closely associated with Greg’s remarkable career. Pinot Noir has taken him through some of California’s great cool-climate vineyards, and the Grower’s Reserve brings together fruit from Sonoma and Mendocino. It’s our introduction to Greg’s restrained, vineyard-focused approach, and the perfect starting point for the story of Marchelle. Marchelle – Old Vine Colombard, Russian River Valley THE SURVIVOR Here the story takes a fascinating turn. Colombard was once an important part of California wine but today rarely receives this kind of attention. Marchelle works with remarkable old vines, including vines at the historic Betty Ann Vineyard dating to around 1902. Rather than allowing another piece of California’s viticultural history to disappear, Greg helped bring the vineyard back to life. The resulting wine gives a forgotten grape the opportunity to show just what it can do. Marchelle – “Family Cuvée” Old Vine Proprietary Red, Lodi THE HERITAGE Finally, we head to Lodi, home to some extraordinary old vineyards and varieties with deep roots in California wine. The Family Cuvée brings together heritage grapes including Carignan, Zinfandel and Cinsaut, creating a wine that feels like a window into another era of California viticulture, seen through the eyes of a thoroughly modern winemaker. These aren’t wines about nostalgia. They’re about looking at California’s past and realizing just how much it still has to teach us. Today, Greg's wines bring together two sides of his remarkable career: the experience of a legendary winemaker and the curiosity to keep discovering something new in very old vines. Details 📍 Perry’s Palm Springs 📅 Thursday, 10/15 ⏰ 5–7pm Free and open to all 21+