Episode 1

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Published on:

18th Apr 2023

Introducing the Troon Talk Podcast

Introducing the Troon Talk Podcast Series on Wine Camp

I am pleased to introduce our Troon Talk podcast series focusing on the team’s work at Troon to create a genuinely regenerative farm. As general manager of Troon Vineyard in Oregon’s Applegate Valley and the author of this website, I am excited to be able to present the thoughts and knowledge of a creative group of innovative farming and winemaking professionals via these podcasts.

We have a story to tell at Troon Vineyard. We are going to tell it here. The explosion of podcasts is overwhelming, but we have a unique and important story to share, as our mission exceeds the boundaries of our small farm. That vision goes beyond naturally crafting exceptional wines, as our mission is to change the world — or at least to be a small part of that change. The slogan of the Regenerative Organic Alliance is “farm like the world depends on it.” It does, and we do at Troon Vineyard.

As committed as we are to biodynamic regenerative organic farming and winemaking, what we do on our 100-acre farm will not change the world unless we convince other farmers and winemakers to adopt that same mission. Also, we must convince wine consumers that wine crafted with quality, place, and planet in mind is worth the search. Those are the missions of this podcast.

I have been sharing my thoughts about wine online for two decades at Wine Camp. Since 2016 my writing has been focused on our journey at Troon Vineyard as we transformed this special vineyard into the biodiverse, regenerative farm it has become today. Now, in addition to my writing, we will add this podcast, along with our Vimeo and YouTube video libraries, to better share our progress toward true regenerative agriculture. We aim not only to convince but to convert.

At Troon Vineyard, we are certified Organic, Demeter Biodynamic®, and Regenerative Organic Certified®. What does all of that mean? In the simplest terms, Organics tell you what you can’t do. Biodynamics works with a framework of natural rhythms and proactive probiotics, the Biodynamic Preparations, to feed the life in your soils. Regenerative Organic certification starts with organic certification and then goes far beyond to include no-till agriculture, human and animal welfare, and the requirement to show that you are just not hurting the environment but actually making it better. Most of all, biodynamics and regenerative organic are not simply sustainable, a term the greenwashers hijack. It is not enough to sustain the status quo. We have to actually improve our farms and soils, which, of course, will also improve our wines.

The goal of this podcast is not to present wine or regenerative agriculture 101 courses. We will delve into some of the more technical aspects of our farming and winemaking. In the show notes for each episode, there will be links and email addresses where you can reach out with even more detailed questions. Sharing what we have learned is the foundation of regenerative agriculture.

We will be posting new episodes every two to three weeks. Upcoming podcasts will include:

  • Winemaker Nate Wall on native yeasts fermentations (which was released today)
  • Farmer Garett Long on no-till agriculture and carbon sequestration
  • Director of Sales Nate Winters on the markets for natural wines
  • Assistant Winemaker Hannah Thorning on the Equitable Farm Initiative and the Regenerative Organic Gold Certification
  • Farmer Garett Long and Biodynamic Consultant Andrew Beedy on the Biodynamic Preparations
  • Winemaker Nate Wall on making Amber or “orange wines”
  • Viticulturist Jason Cole on dealing with red blotch virus in the vineyard
  • Farmer Garett Long on integrating livestock in the vineyard and on the whole farm
  • Winemaker Nate Wall on making Pét Nat sparkling wines

For more information or suggestions for topics you would like to learn more about, please email me at Craig Camp

Visit our website at Troon Vineyard for an overview of our farm and winery.

The Home Page of the Troon Talk Podcasts can be found here.

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About the Podcast

Wine Camp
Digging deep into Biodynamic Regenerative Organic winegrowing and farming
Troon Vineyard is Oregon's only Demeter Biodynamic® and Regenerative Organic Certified® winery and farm. Our Troon Talk podcast episodes explore our voyage to farm like the world depends on it and to naturally craft fine wines and grow healthful, nutritionally rich produce.

About your host

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Craig Camp

Today I am a biodynamic winegrower in Oregon's Applegate Valley, but I was born and raised in Harvard, Illinois, a land of Manhattans, Pabst beer and Friday-night fish fries — wine was unknown. However, during a college semester spent studying in Europe I discovered fine wine and food.

After graduating from college, I worked as a photojournalist and food and wine writer for four years before my passion for food and wine overwhelmed my sense of reality. In 1980, I joined Direct Import Wine Company, where I assembled an elite portfolio of estate wines in the Chicago market. In 1996 the company was devoured by Paterno Imports (who later fed it to Southern Wine and Spirits), but I remained at Direct as president until 1999, when I left in a fit of sanity prompted by an outburst of ethics.

In 2000 I left to pursue an education in wine production. I spent the next three years happily working in Italy, where I studied winemaking and worked in the cellars of some of Italy’s most elite wine estates in Barolo and Barbaresco. Upon returning to the United States in 2004, I became President of Anne Amie Vineyards, previously known as Chateau Benoit. Over the next several years, I totally revolutionized the winemaking and marketing. In 2009 I moved to Napa Valley and did the same for Cornerstone Cellars.

Now I am general manager of Troon Vineyard, fomenting another revolution in the beautiful Applegate Valley of southern Oregon. Surrounded by the Siskiyou Mountains, we are making natural wines and are now Demeter Biodynamic® and Regenerative Organic Gold Certified® both in the vineyard and the cellar. I am currently president of both the Applegate Valley Vintners Association and the Rhone Rangers and serve on the Board of Directors of the Oregon Winegrowers Association and the Rogue Valley Vintners. I have served on the Board of Directors of the Howell Mountain Growers Association and on the Napa Valley Vintners Association Marketing Committee, of which I also served as chairman.

My single-minded goal is to make great wine and farm like the world depends on it.