{"id":2366,"date":"2024-08-19T00:12:09","date_gmt":"2024-08-19T00:12:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.kenswineguide.com\/blog\/?p=2366"},"modified":"2024-08-19T17:20:11","modified_gmt":"2024-08-19T17:20:11","slug":"winemaker-interview-series-cory-waller-eden-rift-vineyards","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.kenswineguide.com\/blog\/?p=2366","title":{"rendered":"Winemaker Interview Series &mdash; Cory Waller &mdash; Eden Rift Vineyards"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.kenswineguide.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Cory-Waller-Eden-Rift-Winery.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-2368\" src=\"https:\/\/www.kenswineguide.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Cory-Waller-Eden-Rift-Winery-233x300.jpg\" alt=\"Cory Waller Eden Rift\" width=\"233\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.kenswineguide.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Cory-Waller-Eden-Rift-Winery-233x300.jpg 233w, https:\/\/www.kenswineguide.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Cory-Waller-Eden-Rift-Winery.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 233px) 100vw, 233px\" \/><\/a>On Wednesday, June 19, 2024, we had the opportunity to meet and interview <a href=\"https:\/\/shop.edenrift.com\/Story\/Winemaking-Team\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Cory Waller<\/strong><\/a>. Cory is the winemaker for <a href=\"https:\/\/edenrift.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Eden Rift Vineyard<\/strong><\/a>. Cory is also the brother of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.calerawine.com\/our-story\/winemaking\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Mike Waller<\/strong><\/a> over at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.calerawine.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Calera<\/strong><\/a>. Mike introduced us to his brother, and we are glad he did. We covered his 2020 vintage wines. We covered a Pinot Gris, three Chardonnays and four Pinot Noirs with Cory. We have since covered a 2019 Chard that I am also adding to the post. Check out what we learned from and about Cory.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Before we get to the wines, I thought I would share some tidbits that Cory shared in the interview.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Mike is 3 years older than Cory.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Cory started his wine career at Pine Ridge working with Josh Widaman.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">He also worked at Chimney Rock, Stags Leap, and then Etude as a cellar hand with Jon Priest.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Next stop was as an assistant winemaker with Tony Soter at his Soter Vineyards for 3 years.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">After that, he was at Calera as an associate winemaker for 4+ years.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">He became the winemaker at Eden Rift in April of 2017.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">We talked about the Cienega Valley.<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">It was one of the earliest premier growing regions for grapes in California.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">By 3 pm the wind cools down the valley. The nighttime temperatures are in the 40\u2019s and 50\u2019s.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Eden Rift is the oldest continually producing vineyard in California. Planted in 1849 by Theophile Vache, the 120-acre estate rests on the San Andreas Faultline and is part of the Cienega Valley AVA.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Some vintages of note per Cory are: 2019 was epic (So, we had to try the Chard Dave had acquired) and in 2023 they were picking in October.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">They use 60% to 70% of their grapes each vintage. They now produce about 10,000 cases per year.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The Palmtag wine uses Mt. Eden clone grapes.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Lansdale has Calara grapes from Calera\u2019s Reed Vineyard. The Block Q vineyard is their highest vineyard.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Finally, Cory likes to pick at night and use whole clusters.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Below is a summary of the wine offerings from Eden Rift that we covered with Cory. The links below are to our full reviews. If you are interested in ordering and trying these wines, you will find some of these wines via your favorite fine wine shop or on top quality wine lists. You can also purchase these wines directly from their website.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.kenswineguide.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Eden-Rift-Vineyard-Logo.gif\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-2367\" src=\"https:\/\/www.kenswineguide.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Eden-Rift-Vineyard-Logo.gif\" alt=\"Eden Rift Vineyard Logo\" width=\"213\" height=\"271\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">1) <a href=\"https:\/\/www.kenswineguide.com\/wine_review\/Eden-Rift-2020-Terraces-Pinot-Gris\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Eden Rift 2020 Pinot Gris &#8220;Terraces&#8221;<\/strong><\/a> (Cienega Valley) $32<\/span> (<span style=\"color: #800000;\"><strong>KWGTP 91<\/strong><\/span>)<br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\">2) <a href=\"https:\/\/www.kenswineguide.com\/wine_review\/Eden-Rift-2020-Estate-Chardonnay\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Eden Rift 2020 Chardonnay &#8220;Estate&#8221;<\/strong><\/a> (Cienega Valley) $42<\/span> (<strong><span style=\"color: #800000;\">KWGTP 92<\/span><\/strong>)<br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\">3) <a href=\"https:\/\/www.kenswineguide.com\/wine_review\/Eden-Rift-2020-Terraces-Chardonnay\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Eden Rift 2020 Chardonnay &#8220;Terraces&#8221;<\/strong><\/a> (Cienega Valley) $54<\/span> (<strong><span style=\"color: #800000;\">KWGTP 92.5<\/span><\/strong>)<br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\">4) <a href=\"https:\/\/www.kenswineguide.com\/wine_review\/Eden-Rift-2020-Reserve-Chardonnay\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Eden Rift 2020 Chardonnay &#8220;Reserve&#8221;<\/strong><\/a> (Cienega Valley) $65<\/span> (<strong><span style=\"color: #800000;\">KWGTP 93.5<\/span><\/strong>)<br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\">5) <a href=\"https:\/\/www.kenswineguide.com\/wine_review\/Eden-Rift-2020-Estate-Pinot-Noir\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Eden Rift 2020 Pinot Noir &#8220;Estate&#8221;<\/strong><\/a> (Cienega Valley) $48<\/span> (<strong><span style=\"color: #800000;\">KWGTP 93<\/span><\/strong>)<br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\">6) <a href=\"https:\/\/www.kenswineguide.com\/wine_review\/Eden-Rift-2020-Terraces-Pinot-Noir\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Eden Rift 2020 Pinot Noir &#8220;Terraces&#8221;<\/strong><\/a> (Cienega Valley) $64<\/span> (<strong><span style=\"color: #800000;\">KWGTP 93<\/span><\/strong>)<br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\">7) <a href=\"https:\/\/www.kenswineguide.com\/wine_review\/Eden-Rift-2020-Palmtag-Block-Pinot-Noir\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Eden Rift 2020 Pinot Noir &#8220;Palmtag&#8221;<\/strong><\/a> (Cienega Valley) $78<\/span> (<strong><span style=\"color: #800000;\">KWGTP 94.5<\/span><\/strong>)<br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\">8) <a href=\"https:\/\/www.kenswineguide.com\/wine_review\/Eden-Rift-2020-Lansdale-Slope-Pinot-Noir\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Eden Rift 2020 Pinot Noir &#8220;Lansdale&#8221;<\/strong><\/a> (Cienega Valley) $78<\/span> (<strong><span style=\"color: #800000;\">KWGTP 94<\/span><\/strong>)<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong><u>Wines Covered In Other Tastings, Post Interview<\/u><\/strong><\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\">9) <a href=\"https:\/\/www.kenswineguide.com\/wine_review\/Eden-Rift-2019-Estate-Chardonnay\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Eden Rift 2020 Chardonnay &#8220;Estate&#8221;<\/strong><\/a> (Cienega Valley) $42 493 cs<\/span> (<strong><span style=\"color: #800000;\">KWGTP 92.5<\/span><\/strong>)<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">You can find reviews of past and future wines of the <strong>Eden Rift<\/strong> portfolio that we cover on their <a href=\"https:\/\/www.kenswineguide.com\/wine.php?winery=3053\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>KWG winery page<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0on our website.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">We hope you enjoy these terrific wines as much as we did. Cheers! \u2013 Ken<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>On Wednesday, June 19, 2024, we had the opportunity to meet and interview Cory Waller. Cory is the winemaker for Eden Rift Vineyard. Cory is also the brother of Mike Waller over at Calera. Mike introduced us to his brother, and we are glad he did. We covered his 2020 vintage wines. We covered a [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2368,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1476,92,13,2530,2528,2529,1846,2227,2228,11,1477,890,32,12,2307,2230,126,8,6,240,1292,1288],"tags":[2541,2533,1697,491,2535,1921,2539,2531,2532,1428,2192,2234,2534,2544,1478,2540,2543,900,2235,492,2373,1427,2538,2536,901,2542,2537,1835,2466],"class_list":["post-2366","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-calera","category-california","category-chardonnay","category-cienega-valley","category-cory-waller","category-eden-rift-vineyard","category-estate-wines","category-etude-wines","category-jon-priest","category-kens-wine-guide-tasting-panel","category-mike-waller","category-pine-ridge","category-pinot-gris","category-pinot-noir","category-stags-leap-winery","category-tony-soter","category-wine-ratings","category-wine-recommendations","category-wine-reviews","category-wine-tasting","category-winemaker","category-zoom-wine-tasting","tag-block-q","tag-calera-vineyard","tag-california","tag-chardonnay","tag-chimney-rock","tag-cienega-valley","tag-cienega-valley-ava","tag-cory-waller","tag-eden-rift-vineyard","tag-estate","tag-etude","tag-jon-priest","tag-josh-widaman","tag-lansdale","tag-mike-waller","tag-mt-eden-clone","tag-palmtag","tag-pine-ridge","tag-pinot-gris","tag-pinot-noir","tag-reed-vineyard","tag-reserve","tag-san-andreas-faultline","tag-soter-vineyards","tag-stags-leap","tag-terraces","tag-theophile-vache","tag-tony-soter","tag-whole-clusters"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kenswineguide.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2366","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kenswineguide.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kenswineguide.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kenswineguide.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kenswineguide.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2366"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.kenswineguide.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2366\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2369,"href":"https:\/\/www.kenswineguide.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2366\/revisions\/2369"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kenswineguide.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/2368"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kenswineguide.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2366"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kenswineguide.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2366"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kenswineguide.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2366"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}