Dr. Owen Bargreen — prolific wine reviewer and Level 2 Sommelier from the Court of Master Sommeliers — interviewed Bells Up winemaker Dave Specter a few months ago for Oregon Wine Month face-to-face via Instagram Live. Bargreen has been reviewing our wines practically from the beginning of our production, and he periodically checks in on us physically in-person, via email or phone, or social media outlets since COVID has limited his travel. He’s always been very kind in his feedback and opinions of what we’ve produced.
During their chat, the pair discuss the circumstances behind our move to Oregon from Cincinnati, Ohio, as well as what prompted Dave’s career change from corporate tax attorney to winemaker and the time he spent mentored by Joe Henke of Henke Winery. They also discuss the fires the Willamette Valley experienced in 2020, its impact on harvest, and how we coped with that disruption.
Additionally, Owen and Dave chat about our Helios Seyval Blanc — the first and only planting of this varietal in the Willamette Valley and the second in Oregon — as well as our motivations behind planting it. They also sample two wines: 2020 Prelude Estate Rosé of Pinot Noir and 2019 Jupiter Estate Pinot Noir (which Owen had never sampled prior to us sending it to him specifically for this conversation).
The transcript for the interview is available here. Or, watch the video:
