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"Seriously in the Rhône Zone” |
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GARRETSON WINE COMPANY, PASO ROBLES, CALIFORNIA The
fact that Paso Robles has emerged as the state’s leading “Rhône
Zone” can be attributed in no small measure to Mat Garreston. This
former Atlanta wine retailer and restaurateur was already a fan of
Syrah, but it was his introduction to Viognier that opened his eyes to
the entire sprectrum of this exotic family of grape varieties. “In
1983, a fellow retailer gave me a bottle of wine labelled ‘Condrieu’
as a birthday present,” recalls Garretson. “I wasn’t too
impressed.... until I opened the bottle.” That bottle sparked an
obsession so complete that Garretson is often referred to a ‘Mr
Viognier’ by his fellow winemakers. While
over the years Garretson has been no doubt instrumental in converting
fellow wine drinkers into the Rhône wine fold, he still feels a strong
sense of obligation to keep spreading the word. “If I hadn’t been
given that bottle of Condrieu so long ago, all of this may never have
happened.”
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