Episode 160: From Government to Grapes – An American Wine Dream
From inside the beltway to outside in wine country, wine grape growers Clark and Bonny Lystra talk with us about finding their dream home in the Russian River Valley. There was only one small add-on: 35 rows of Pinot in Siduri’s Betty Ann Vineyard.
In this episode we sat back and sipped along. This interview has something for everyone – including those of you who like to geek it up with enology and viticulture.
In our Glasses (00:40)
Steph: Breckenridge Bitter from the Breckenridge, CO Distillery.
Val: Middle Earth Pinot Meunier Rose’ 2017, Nelson, New Zealand.
Clark & Bonny Lystra of Betty Ann Vineyards (2:38)
Bonny and Clark Lystra are friends of Jen, one of our fabulous patrons, and were Val’s equally fabulous hosts when she went to Santa Rosa for the 2017 Wine Bloggers Conference. We have a connection via our careers in the military where, incidentally, many of us discover and bond over a love for wine.
Their story is one that speaks to those who may dream of waking up among the vines; it also speaks to following your heart. It’s a sweet interview with real people who followed their love of wine and are now growers. A powerful reminder, the 28-minute conversation reminds us anything is possible.
The Dream on a Napkin (4:57)
All they wanted was about a quarter of an acre and to engage in a little hobby wine making near Clark’s childhood home in the Bennett Valley. While they looked at a lot of properties, the floor plan of their dreams remained a sketch on the back of a napkin.
Bonny was about to tell the realtor to hang it up after three and a half years into their search, as she took what she thought would be one last flight out to look at a property. She walked in the front door and realized she was standing in the “napkin sketch” dream home. There was just one issue: it was on a three acre vineyard.
“We don’t know anything about growing grapes. We live in a townhouse in DC, we don’t even have a rake!” Bonny said. But a little more research reassured them there was already a plan in place.
Seven Rows a Day Keep the Gophers Away (08:48)
The operation was practically turn-key. Enter Jim Pratt, the vineyard manager, to the rescue. The vineyard had been planted in 2008, and Jim had been managing it ever since. No fear.
Clark commuted back and forth between Santa Rosa and DC for the first year, while Bonny held down the grape fort and learned how things all came together.
Bonny now walks the 35 rows of vines, seven rows a day during the week, to report to Jim with anything that could be an issue. From canopy management to gophers and blackberries (which are, really, weeds), Bonny’s the “eyes on the ground.”
And let’s hear it for the guy with a tractor!
WineGeek Factoid Alert! (12:12)
This segment is brought to you by a quick lesson on shoot thinning and suckers (yes, suckers are ‘a thing’). Bonny also provides a little 411about their pruning and why they use Vertical Shoot Positioning (VSP).
Clark and Bonny also manage the trellis wires, which can be very time consuming.
A Seat at the Betty Ann Table & Siduri (15:06)
Betty Ann Vineyard provides Pinot to Siduri Winery. In this segment Clark tells us about the different vintages, the particular clone they use, and the resulting wines. They had recently attended a Siduri wine dinner, so it was cool to be able to hear about the different wines that were tasted at the event.
The Winemaker (17:07)
Adam Lee is the lead winemaker who started Siduri with his wife, Dianna, about 25 years ago. He’s great friends with Jim, the vineyard manager: we suspect it’s not just because he has a tractor.
It cannot be stressed enough that the winemaker and the vineyard manager being able to work together is integral to producing great wines from great grapes picked at just the right time.
In 2015 the Lees sold the winery to Jackson Family Wines, but they’ve got some other projects in the hopper.
If you Make it, Flaunt it! (17:48)
Speaking of other projects, Dianna Novy Lee is also launching her new sparkling wine, Flaunt, which is a result of decades of wine making and winery operations under her belt.
The Fires (19:45)
This interview happened about a month after the massive wildfires broke out in 2017. The Tubbs fire devastated Coffey Park, a five-acre neighborhood located about three and a half miles northeast of Betty Ann Vineyard.
In this segment we learn how their Pinot, already fermenting in the tanks, was saved, as the Siduri wine making facility was located in Coffey Park. “It was amazing that it ‘jumped’ over their facility,” Bonny recalls.
Standing on the edge of the vineyard, one could still see where the char took its toll only weeks before this interview.
Just how Stressful is it? (21:41)
One of the things we wanted to know was about the stresses of owning a vineyard, particularly compared to surviving in Washington DC.
“The weather is probably our biggest stress,” says Bonny. She says it’s a different kind of stress than what comes with living in DC.
Clark: “It’s wine country stress.” He also mentions that they haven’t been on vacation since the big move, because they feel like they live in the middle of a perfect vacation spot – not to mention their killer view every morning!
It’s a Funny Story (24:11)
This is all Clark here. It started with a question at a gathering of other Russian River Winegrowers. We’ll let you click and listen to how he answered it.
A Note About Sustainability & another Factoid Alert! (25:50)
Map: https://www.siduri.com/vineyards
Betty Ann Vineyard is fully sustainable, and Jackson Family is working to make all their vineyards comply with the sustainability requirements. Bonny also indulges us with another factoid about the key differences between sustainable and organic certifications.
Wino Radar (33:34)
Looking for more Sonoma wineries, events and other resources? Here’s a short list to get you started.
First, we’d be remiss if we didn’t mention Clark’s wine blog:
- Drinking on the Job blog – “How to Get the Most Out of the Wine Tasting Room Experience”. It offers tips, advice and some recommendations on tasting rooms and restaurants.
Also check out:
- Wine Country Channel – a free internet based HD-TV network, & new to our Winoradar!
- LocalWineEvents.com – website and app to find local beverage and food events and MORE! Check out Episode 157 and interview with Eric V Orange.
- Wine Routes – we mentioned this in Episode 137 when Val met Adrian at the Wine Bloggers Conference. Use Wine Routes to plan and design your wine tasting tour (Napa, Sonoma, Healdsburg, or St Helena) with their app!
- Kazzit – the worldwide winery guide for mobile and desktop. They have event listings too!
Shoutouts (35:53)
Big thank you and hugs to Bonny and Clark for the in-person, on-location interview, their blog, and hospitality!
Connect with them on the social spaces @dotjblog.
Jim Pratt, the vineyard manager at Betty Ann Vineyards, you get a shout out too!
Flaunt sparkling wine by Dianna Novy Lee ($85)
And one more to Siduri wines and their story:
Connect with them on the social spaces @SiduriWines.
Patreon Love (36:43)
Thank you to our Patrons who support us on our Patreon crowdfunding platform!
“Riserva Superiore Supporter”
- Robin from Girls Gone Grape
“Riserva Supporter”
- Antti in Georgia!
“TENacious Tasters”
- Jeff E from the award-winning We Like Drinking podcast
- Sebastian of Sassi Italy Tours
- Jen in Maryland (and the world, according to her Instagram feed)
- David and Lisa in Illinois
- Ann Marie in Virginia
“It’s not five o’clock and we don’t care” Listeners
- Meg in South Dakota
- Clay in Arizona
- In California – Jon, Andrew, Aswani
- Chantel in Ontario, Canada
- Mary Lou in Pennsylvania
- Cathie in Georgia
- In Colorado – Chris and Janet, Diane
- In Illinois – Steve, Renee
- Cathey in Tennessee
- Ashley in North Carolina
- Sean in Ohio
“Tastemaker Listeners”
- David in Scotland
- Carole in Kentucky
- Karen in California
- Chip & Karen in Pennsylvania
- Danielle
- Sirena in New York – our newest supporter! Welcome!
Our Patreon page has details www.patreon.com/winetwofivepodcast on how to be entered into our monthly giveaway, exclusive content, and swag.
We just ordered some more of the original T-shirts (we like to say “first edition”) and have more sizes available.
All Patrons at the $2/month or higher donation level are entered into the drawing.
Connect: (38:38)
Between each weekly chat you can find us on the social spaces @WineTwoFive, and we encourage you to join our private FaceBook group called Wine Two Five Community!
And Instagram!
Connect with Val on Twitter @WineGalUnboxed and as Vino With Val on Facebook, Instagram & Pinterest.
Connect with Steph on online as @TheWineHeroine.