EPISODE # 40 LEE HARTMAN BLUESTONE VINEYARD WINEMAKER

Bluestone Vineyard started out as a small family vineyard when Curt and Jackie Hartman were, encouraged by their friends Phil and Lois Kreider, to help them expand their own availability of grapes for the purpose to produce wine for their own personal use in 2003.  In 2007 the decision was made to turn it into a commercial venture and in 2008 they began to plant more vines at their already existing property on the hill alongside of their house.  In 2009 they had their first production of just 500 cases.

In 2010 a winery was built when Lee Hartman, their son joined them and assumed the position of winemaker and production manager. His 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon won a Gold at the Governor's Cup competition and was in the inaugural Governor's Case. That wine was also named one of the "37 Great American Wines" by Saveur magazine. He has never looked back.

HIGHLIGHTS:
a). Lee draws attention to the fact that he was a history major before he started making wine without any formal training or education in Enology. 
b). We learn what sets the Shenandoah Valley apart from the other wine growing regions in Virginia.
c). He explains how the idea and ultimately the execution of putting some of his wine in cans made so much sense to him and why it has worked.
d). The story behind the branding with the name Bluestone and how it ties back to the land/vineyard.
e). Lee takes pride in the fact that his first vintage, 2010 a Cabernet Sauvignon they produced made in into the Inaugural Governor's Cup Case.
f). we get his take on Climate Change and what it has meant to his winemaking.

Much, much more.  Read the transcript below or listen to the audio.

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