Tag Archives: Cienega Valley

Alphonse DeRose Interview

Alphose Derose

I had the pleasure of sitting down with winemaker Alphonse DeRose at a wine tasting at Silverlake Wine the other day and of course had to pick his brain. Alphonse DeRose is a winemaker based in Cienega Valley, Northern California, and grew up watching his father create wine from vine to bottle. All of their grapes are harvested by hand, and very little is changed in the winemaking process, letting the grapes really shine through.

As for Alphonse, there are two things you need to know about him: he could win a moustache competition if he wanted to and he’s overall an awesome guy. Now that you know that, let’s get to know him a little better:

What is your cocktail of choice?

A: I’m pretty much a martini guy when I’m not drinking wine. I like vodka martinis with no vermouth and two olives.

Do you have a favorite restaurant near your vineyard?

A: Yes, there’s actually, in Hollister of all places a sushi restaurant called Miyako. Very authentic, the owner is a super nice guy, just a great family restaurant.

If you could pair one of your wines with any experience, what would your pairing be?

A: I would pair our old vine Zinfandel with midnight rides through the vineyards in the Dodge Pickup.

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