I’m in Monterey, California by request. An interview with Drew Barrymore. Yes, that Drew Barrymore. I accept this assignment with a rush of excitement, and butterflies. Oh, there was vetting. A list of potential questions. Flirting with the topics we would discuss. I sent samples of questions I might cover in the interview and warned I focused on more organic conversations. We would go where the conversation would take us.
On the day of the interview, I’m attending events at Pebble Beach Food and Wine. Tasting much of the afternoon, I kept my spitting (of wine) in check. About 15 minutes before our appointed time, I begin walking from my hotel to Restaurant 1833. It’s just a few blocks from my home base. I know enough about the public Barrymore to want to avoid talking about her career, family, and kids. To me, this story is a Vintner story. Her Vintner’s story. Granted there are twists and turns of her career & journey. Life does that to all. My focus is not entertainment, it’s my job to cover food, wine, and the tastemakers within.
Wandering into the restaurant from the rear entrance, I am thrown off. My eyes survey the rooms of which there are many and the bar. It’s a maze. Materializing in the nick of time, a young woman who works at the restaurant guides me to my destination. I join a representative from Jackson Family. She’s keeping the journalists entertained with small talk, a warm fire and the wines of Carmel Road. Two are in an ice bucket. The Barrymore Pinot Grigio and Barrymore Rosé, the Pinot Noir is resting on the table. Sitting next to me is a yammering writer from another publication.
Lingering over food before a fire on a cold day is pleasant & relaxing. Time is distorted and although I can sense a delay I don’t know how much time has passed. We’re told Drew is doing a shoot for her brand while a camera news crew waits for their turn. I study the gardens outside where she is hidden from view. There are people near where I imagine she is, tending to her needs and keeping the flow going. The wines we are tasting while in the “green room” are intriguing. For each, there is a complexity beyond my expectations. Sipping the Rosé I dwell on the taste. The acidity and brightness are memorable. There is an unexpected level of complexity that enchants me. Settling back I recline on the loveseat. The fire warms me and I ponder the questions I will begin with.
Finally, I am summoned to the garden. I spring up gathering my recorder (no video allowed) and inhale. This could be amazing or I can totally screw it up. A little voice says “How on earth could you screw this up?”. Seriously.
A nice young man is leading me outside, into the garden as I try to take in all that I am seeing. A group of people I don’t recognize, a RED camera and some newsy-looking people. Then I arrive at the firepit. I set up my recorder and try to relax in a wrought iron chair. It’s the kind of chair your grandmother had in her garden. You can’t get comfortable in any position. While I squirm, Drew Barrymore emerges from her shoot. She is with Kris Kato her winemaker.
Introductions out of the way we sit and she asks about my recorder, “That’s rad”. I start to explain it and hesitate once I get into the technical side of it as I see her nodding. Of course, she knows what directional mics are. She’s a renowned actress. That type of mic is on set.
Rosé evolves as this perennial star product ~ DB
My confidence wavers for a moment as I take in where I am and who I am with. Asked if I’d like a glass of wine I decline. Time to work. It’s the three of us. Barrymore, Kato and myself. I look at her and take in her vibe. She’s dressed hippie chic. Colorful faux fur wrap, long wavy locks parted down the middle, her green eyes sparkle. Focused, her expression serious. The wind blows her hair and she swings her hand to move it from her face. The air is chilly, time is short. I will get a 2-minute warning when it’s time to wrap. Let’s get this party started.
Drew Barrymore and Kris Kato are the wine version of soulmates. They have similar palates. They share a desire to bring forth the best flavors the vineyard provides showcasing them in the wine. She conveys to Kris what kind of profile in non-technical terms, she wants. Kris works in the vineyards and with the grapes is able to bring that vision to life. Designing these wines under the radar to a degree was important. Barrymore didn’t want to be just another celebrity making wine. She wanted to be taken seriously and was low key about the wine while they were getting their blends down.
How does one find a dream team of this sort?
“I always call it a pre-arranged marriage because The Jackson team put us together. We got lucky! We have similar sensibilities, aspirations, likes of wines. We have a similar palate. But my palate does not dictate his palate. He’s a master, I am an enthusiast and a producer. We try really hard to make easy drinking wines that don’t lack in complexity. ” says Barrymore.
Passion is 100% behind this venture. She wanted to make a great Rosé. Number one goal. The one we sipped is just beyond her wildest dreams.
The most difficult part of the process?
For Barrymore, this project is one that encompasses her heart. She enjoys all aspects. From writing labels to choosing bottles and getting the tastes refined. The passion behind it drives them to create wines they are both excited about. They work hard on the road to get the wine sold and make the business work. It’s always a business but one she loves. For Kato, the aspects of nature can be cruel. It’s that part that is exciting and beautiful. He has one chance a year with grapes. The reward is as amazing as is the stress. He motions to the Rosé in his glass, “We’re drinking the Rose just 6-7 months after we picked it. That is the payoff.”
The best part of working together?
“We both love pairing the wines we’re making. Pinot Grigio with a really lovely spicy Thai Dish, or a delicate sushi, fish tacos. There are no rules. We love drinking the red we’re making. The pinot noir, chilled, cherry driven tobacco spicy, a nice unsweet finish is beautiful summertime. It seems to me the way we are drinking wine is now becoming more perennial”, she explains.
When I ask her about her favorite wine she exclaims, “Oh my God. It’s our Rosé. With the Rosé we were trying to go with something fruit forward, and I was drawn towards the beautiful lavender Barrymore Rosé notes. I find as the years go by and Rosé evolves as this perennial star product, I find that I do love a little more peach and apricot. I think Kris made a wine where I was tasting the melon, the apricot, and the citrus. I don’t like wines that finish sweet.”
Kris explains, “Our vineyards are here in the southern Monterey County. That’s our wheelhouse. Full climate varieties for me. Like Pinot Noir, it expresses itself so much more than any other grape variety. You have the ability to get one variety and shape it in many ways even in the Rose form, that’s the beauty of it. For our Rosé we pick the grapes a little early, using a soft press process and separate the juice from the skins. It’s much like making the white wine. It’s really about minimizing the color, which is why we get beautiful hue. Cold slow fermentation all in stainless steel to preserve the aromatics and the freshness.”
Drew signed up with the Carmel Road team because she had been in Italy studying Pinot Grigio. She wanted to make Italian wine. The Carmel Road team asked her all the appropriate questions. “Why are you making Italian wine, you’re such a California Girl?”. Drew said, “That’s cool. I get that. I am that definitely.” The training in Italy inspired her. It was invaluable to helping her articulate what she wants to convey in a wine to her winemaker. She found a huge learning curve in pivoting to Pinot Noir grapes from California. Provence-style Rosé was where her comfort zone was but Kato made her a believer. “What Kris does with these grapes and the way the winds of the ocean and the temperatures affect the wine is incredible”
The wine is 13 % alcohol, European in style and still, retains that amazing flavor.
I’m the fairy running through the fields. ~ DB
I asked Kato about the moment he found out he might be working with Drew Barrymore. He had been working at Carmel Road and his boss at the time told him they wanted him to work on the Barrymore project. Kris wasn’t familiar with it and asked for them to tell him more about it. His boss repeated, “The Barrymore Project.” Kris hesitated and said, yes, I’m not familiar with it. His boss then said “Drew Barrymore!”. Kris said “What?!” He didn’t know what to expect and had not worked with a partner of her stature. The relationship has blown his expectations out of the water. He feels like it’s a partnership that two people are putting everything they have into it. Creative energy and crafting something to be enjoyed by other people. Drew chimes in “My relief was you hadn’t heard that I was making wine. Because to me, that shows that it’s not a celebrity publicity sort of name slapping endeavor. I really was working from the inside out. I have a lot of humility too. I know oenophiles must be “Oh no, she’s making wine?” I get it. I completely understand it.
At that precise moment, the warning that my time is running short is announced and Barrymore continues without a pause, “We’d like to grow. Slow and steady wins the race and be a good product because that’s all that matters at the end of the day. And we like it! We like drinking it. You should make what you love. I don’t know how I would be a part of something that I didn’t really participate in a 100%.”.
I asked if there were going to be additional varietals coming up and Barrymore assures me, “If I can help it yes. It’s insanely prolific we’ve made three wines already. We are trying to pace ourselves smartly. We’re not a partnership that’s a one wine star. I think we’re finding ourselves along the way. We’re all about integrity and just trying to deliver something delicious, lovely and memory making.”
The interview closes with Barrymore talking about family. “Our slogan is ‘From our Family to Yours’. Kris has a wife and kids, I have my children and we’re human beings trying to make something we’re proud of. Kris will talk about weather and soil and I’ll talk about another aspect of it and we’ll switch places. It’s a nice harmony we have.”
When asked if I would find her in the vineyard with boots tending to the grapes, she replied, “You can find me in the vineyards taking pictures and drinking the wine. I don’t think you want me anywhere near the nature process. I like kill every plant I touch. I’m the fairy running through the fields. ”
We’re reminded our time is up. I ask Drew and Kris if they mind if we take a photo together and say I am grateful for the opportunity. She says “We’re grateful you are sharing our story in your publication.”
PS Drew Barrymore has a message to the rest of the journalists out there… “You should put out an APB to everyone telling them they need a device like yours. ” The device is a Zoom. You can find it here. We hug, Kris, Drew and I. I say I hear your headed home. She says yes, excitedly “It’s my daughter’s birthday.”.
What I learned: There is no amount of Hollywood, success, challenge or adversity that makes you a good person. It truly is your character. Drew Barrymore’s business practices, her professionalism, and her success are directly tied to who she is. The integrity, her down to earth spirit and the heart she puts into her work shines through everything she touches. ~ The Wine Siren
The Wines:
They came up with the brand first.
Visit Carmel Road & Barrymore Wines
Carmel Road Tasting Room Lincoln Between Ocean and 6th In the historic Pine Inn retail shops Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA 93921
Alice Tetienne of Champagne Henriot Organic is important, but not necessarily the best. It is but one part of the equation. We have to be
Barodlino has a rich history in both wine and culture. There is no better Rosé that takes the beauty of the region and expresses it than Chiaretto Rosé.
Could it be that this region, today known as the Fastest Growing Wine Region in the United States is the world’s next Napa Valley? This is Idaho Wine Country.
The 55 judges awarded silver, gold and grand gold medals to wines from 25 countries.
At the beginning of March, in the @paysdocigpwines region of Southern France, over 1,200 #rosé wines from across the globe competed for the highly coveted @concoursmondial de Bruxelles medals. The @vinolok_global international Revelation Trophy was awarded this year to a rosé wine from #Italy – Y by 11 Minutes Rosé – produced by @pasquawines in #Veneto. Well done!
The Winners of the International Wine competition on Rosé for 2023 are in:
The Concours Mondial de Bruxelles is an international wine competition that takes place annually and is considered one of the most prestigious wine competitions in the world. The competition is held in a different location each year, and it attracts thousands of entries from winemakers around the world. The focus of the competition is on identifying wines of high quality that are representative of their region and grape variety.
In recent years, the competition has added a separate category for rosé wines, recognizing the growing popularity and diversity of this style of wine. The competition judges rosé wines on their color, aroma, taste, and overall balance, with the aim of identifying the best examples of the style from around the world.
Winning a medal at the Concours Mondial de Bruxelles can have a significant impact on a winery`s reputation and sales, as it is widely recognized as a mark of quality and excellence. The competition also provides an opportunity for winemakers to receive feedback from a panel of international experts, helping them to refine their techniques and improve their wines.
Winners link is: https://resultats.concoursmondial.com/en/results/2023
Congrats to all the Rose producers who participated!
#WineCompetition #winetasting #rosé #winelover #trendingwine #whattodrink #concoursmondialdebruxelles #paysdoc #montpelier #france #Veneto #winemedals #thewinesiren #wineoclock #winerating #winejudge
When great viticulture is an obsession you chose wisely and well. @vitnerd for @lecole41 on sustainability, great viticulture and award winning passion for vines.
WATCH WITH LINK IN BIO: SADIE DRURY - VINEYARD MANAGER
Sadie Drury is a Walla Walla native who has been passionate about agriculture since her first job of picking strawberries at the age of 12. In 2007, Sadie decided to combine her passion for agriculture with her love for wine by attending the Center for Enology and Viticulture at Walla Walla Community College and pursuing a career in viticulture. In 2008, Sadie started an internship at Ciel du Cheval Vineyard where she moved up the ranks to Assistant Vineyard Manager. Sadie joined the North Slope Management team in early 2013 and took over the reins as GM later that year. She currently manages 6 vineyards including the famed Seven Hills Vineyard. Sadie is the current Chair for the Washington State Wine Commission. She is the 2019 Power’s Sabbatical Recipient, the 2020 Washington Winegrowers Erick Hanson Memorial Grower of the Year, and a 2021 Wine Enthusiast 40 Under 40 Tastemaker.
#WashingtonWine #WallaWalla #lecole #Viticulture #sustainable #Sustainability #Vine #winelover #DrinkSustainable #TheWineSiren #SevenHills #wineeducation
https://www.youtube.com/live/PiWKkhnre94
The Ritz, Paris.
A destination since 1898, the Ritz Paris is one of the most iconic hotels in Paris.
There is no better place to return with a couple of my most cherished friends and begin our dinner and catch up session with an exquisite bottle of Extra Brut
Champagne Barons de Rothschild. Made from Chardonnay 60%;Reserve wines, the majority of which
are kept in their perpetual reserve (solera) 40%,
Pinot Noir 40%,
Grands and
Premiers crus 85%
Dosage 1.5 g/L
Ageing 4 years minimum
Exquisite perlage enhanced by notes of minerality and salinity, the brioche like aromas reveal notes of pear and fig. Delightfully well balanced its arômatic finish satisfies. This beauty is cellar worthy and will reveal its riches for years to come.
The stunning facade has a place in history since 1705. Jules Hardouin-Mansart, the most famous architect of the Baroque period, drew the initial design for Louis XIV.
The luminaries who frequented the hotel were many, Marcel Proust, F. Scott Fitzgerald and Ernest Hemingway. Many are the writers and artists inspired by the Ritz in their work as well. Hemingway for The Sun Also Rises and F. Scott Fitzgerald for Tender is the Night. In fact, the hotel’s “Bar Hemingway” was named for the author.
For 💋🍷💋#TheWineSiren a return to the Ritz is a return to the incredible history of Paris and a moment of great drinks and bites with dear friends. From the moment you cross the threshold the inviting aroma and views of luxurious surroundings envelope you.
Do you Ritz?
Photos
1. The Ritz Paris champagne. Pure deliciousness. Notes below.
2. The stage is set at your entrance. Visuals and aroma envelope your senses.
3. Cherished Parisian friends to share the experience with.
4. The stage is set at @barvendome
5. Fresh truffles with French fries
6. Probably the best steak tartare on the planet. Served mild, spicy or extra spicy . Texture and rich flavor abound.
7. Just one of the lovely cocktails served.
8. The vibe at Bar Vendome
9. The Hemingway Bar . Very few seats and always packed.
10. And the regroup at the end of the evening. This is where memories are made.
#Paris #ritzparis #TheWineSiren #champagnerothschild
From Carcassonne to Montpelier the beauty of @paysdocigpwines shines through. I`ll share more on my newest discoveries when I`m back in the US .
The bar @hotelricherdebelleval .... incredible. Have you been?!
#winetravel #winetraveler #thewinesiren #kellymitchell #wine #winelover #ginlover #barsofinstagram #beautifuldestinations #wheretofindme #france #montpellier #justdrinks #cocktailtime
Learn about new products, wine travel tips and the latest on wine, food and fab.
Learn about new products, wine travel tips and the latest on wine, food and fab.
15 Responses
Great article. I think you really conveyed the feeling you got there in the piece. Just woke up and read it over Coffee.
Thanks so much for taking a moment with coffee to read the Drew Barrymore piece. I really appreciate it.
Great read. Thank you
Thank you for popping by and taking the time!
Absolutely fabulous!
Seems like such a fun interview! Looking forward to trying her wines. I’d like to be one of the fairies running through the fields too… although, I’m not a runner, so maybe I could sip & skip around the vines;) Cheers!
Ah, Misty! We have something in common. I too want to run through the vineyards like a fairy sipping wine and having fun. We can skip if we get tired! Cheers.
Her credibility is compelling and to be taken seriously. I imagine she is someone who is given the best of the best, around the world, and is likely not craving to obtain approval. She has been exposed to excellence for years and combined with a passion, sincerity, and under Kris. Kato’s expertise, it would seem that is all it would take to trust this label. Who better than to craft a authentically delicious unpretentious line. She doesn’t need to impress anyone, she is just doing this out of pure heart as it has come through in your article. I look forward to the Rose. Kelly, congratulations on your article & interview. I enjoyed it very much!
Loved my time with her Nikki and she’s got the best of the best with Jackson Family Wines and Kris Kato winemaker. Thanks so much for taking the time to read the piece!
You’re an amazing writer ! What a fun opportunity !
Thanks Mallory! That was a fun interview.
Great read! Full of emotions and this piece really shows your personality.
Here’s to more of that! Thanks for posting and reading. I appreciate it.