Rhone Ranger
Crusading winemaker travels hill and dale to the San Francisco Grand Tasting
By Janet Eastman
SAN FRANCISCO: It took time to get Pat Spangler here. But today, he’s happily pouring his Spangler Vineyards’ wine and talking about the merits of Southern Oregon Rhone varietals to those attending the San Francisco Grand Tasting at Fort Mason Festival Pavilion. Here, more than 2,000 people are tasting 500 types of Syrah, Mourvèdre, Grenache, Viognier and Roussanne wines from more than 100 wineries.
Beyond today, Spangler will continue pitching his wine and his region while serving on the board of the Rhone Rangers, which has organized the Grand Tasting for 30 years. The Rhone Rangers promote the American versions of grapes grown in France’s Rhone River Valley. Herb Quady of Quady North in Jacksonville is also serving on the board.
While driving from Roseburg to San Francisco on Friday, Spangler was on his cell phone, detailing his job as Southern Oregon’s self-appointed ambassador: “I’m here to expand the knowledge of our winery and products to a wider market.” He refers to himself as a “hired gun” and he talks like someone pleading for his life before a distracted judge: “There are so many people in California who only think Oregon has Pinot Noir. I have to let them know that we’re not limited in Oregon.”
Spangler is pumped. But his speech is interrupted periodically as he traverses tunnels, bridges, tollbooths and pockets where there is no cell phone reception. “Hold on. I’m going through a tunnel.” Silence. Then seconds later, he explains the gridlock ahead and he picks up where he left off: “We need more exposure. We are making as good of wines as California and at a lower price.” A pause. “OK, now we’re playing bumper cars…”
Nothing, however, slows today’s mission: To meet as many journalists, retailers, wholesalers, restaurant owners, sommeliers and the wine-consuming public as he can to get them excited about the wines made in Southern Oregon. “The more they try out our products, the easier it is to sell our wine,” he says. “We have such a great story about this being a beautiful place to visit and drink wine.
“Oh, wait, I’m in the wrong lane."
Pause. Then: “We want to try to push the message of Southern Oregon and get past this ideal of the cool Willamette Valley. Southern Oregon is warm and produces a tremendous amount of exceptional Rhone varietals."
Today, he’s pouring the 2007 Spangler Vineyards Petite Sirah, 2006 Syrah and Reserved Syrah, and the 2009 Viognier. “We also do Grenache but we don’t have that bottled yet,” he says.
The Rhone Rangers identify 22 Rhone varietals, but some are so obscure that Spangler isn’t sure if they’re even grown here. “There are six on the list that I’ve never tried,” he says. “It’s going to be interesting to see what people [at the Grand Tasting] have. It’s a great opportunity to compare the same variety from different regions.”
In between the pours, Spangle is free to roam the grounds and test out how other winemakers are handling Rhones, especially some of the newer ones. “In Oregon, you can’t drink or sample when pouring. This isn’t true in California. Here, you can really try what you want.”
And, perhaps, get Californians to try what Spangler is selling.
For more info: The Rhone Rangers, P.O. Box 276, Albion, CA 95410, ?(800) 467-0163?, www.rhonerangers.org
Here’s a list of Oregon wineries that are members of the Rhone Rangers: