Isabel Gassier is back for one of her semi-annual visits to work on the Sixteen 600 wines, and we dragged her out of the lab for a sit-down with Brian, Danielle, Jasmine and Sam.
Normally, when Isabel shows up this time of year, the winery is bustling with end-of-harvest activity. The press is running all day, tanks are getting dug out, wines are going into barrel and extended macerations are in full swing. Sometimes there are even a few fermentations still bubbling away.
Not this year.
So instead of a harvest visit, this is a blending visit for Isabel, and she brought along some early renditions of future Sixteen 600 wines for us to try. Including a new white blend with a working name that’s equal parts wine quiz, geography lesson and French wordplay.
We tasted through those while recapping the 2026 vintage at Domaine Gassier in Costières-de-Nîmes, their corner of Southern France. We got into regenerative farming, old vines, new blends and even the wine Isabel served at her wedding!!!
We also spent some time tasting and talking about Enrico Valentine, the brand that was born when Isabel emerged from the lab looking like a wild-eyed mad scientist, carrying a blend of Zinfandel, Grenache and a few other things that had no business being quite so delicious together.
So pop open something regenerative and take a listen. And while you’re at it, make sure you’ve got your tickets to S.O.R.B.E.T. 2.0, November 8, 2026, at Fort Mason in San Francisco. [Ep 434]
https://sorbetwine.org/
https://www.evwines.com/
@isabelgassierwine
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