Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/188061
Night-harvesting at Roederer Estate keeps the fruit cooler, resulting in crisper wines. Weyrich returned to France two years after his internship to work at a retailer. In France, a retailer has more flexibility than in the U.S. and Weyrich was working in tandem with buyers, putting together private-label beverages—all the while keeping in touch with Rouzaud. By early 2000, Michel Salgues was looking to move on and Rouzaud approached Weyrich, encouraging him to interview for the job, and he was eventually offered the position. Today, Weyrich and his wife, Floriane, and two boys, Mathis and Maxence, are proud to call Anderson Valley their home. A Potentially Sparkling Anderson Valley In the early 1980s, Rouzaud was on the hunt for a cool climate in which to grow quality Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grapes in the United States. With the help of Henry Bugatto, who had great connections to the wine business thanks to his work at Montebello Wine Company, they scouted out property further north from Napa and Sonoma, in Anderson Valley where the latitude is the same as Southern Spain and the Navarro River flows from the ocean inland, providing a path for the Pacific fog to flow into the valley. The marine influence, combined with the region's well-drained soils, seemed to position Anderson Valley as an ideal place for producing 74 / the tasting panel / october 2013 TP1013_066-107.indd 74 9/23/13 10:34 PM