WinePodder of the Month: Doug Kingsbury
WinePodder of the Month: Doug Kingsbury
I make my home in: Houston, Texas
A little about me: I’m a native Texan who started a helicopter business about 15 years ago called Central Helicopter Service Inc. We fly mostly off shore to super tankers. One of our biggest clients is a Saudi petroleum shipping division.
Currently reading: A book about winemaking—can’t remember the name.
Four fun wine facts about me:
- I decided to buy a WinePod is because I’ve been looking at buying a vineyard in California, probably in the Templeton/San Luis Obispo area. I thought making wine in the WinePod would be a really good way to get my feet wet. I planted a vineyard in my backyard. They tell me it’s not going to make it because of Pierce’s disease and the humidity. It looks good now, though. I’ve planted three different varieties of Merlot.
- I’m one of these people who looks at wine as an adventure. I like finding a $5 wine that takes like a $20 one. I really enjoy some of the lesser expensive wines that taste great. One I’d recommend people try is the Foxhorn Vineyards California Merlot (around $6). It’s about a $5-6 bottle that tastes like a $15 bottle (or better
- We’ve also got a wine region in Texas (in the Hill Country near Austin) that’s coming of age. And, We’ve a winery closer to Houston where I live, near College Station and Texas A&M. It’s called the Messina Hof Winery (http://www.messinahof.com/), and they’re turning out some good wine.
- I also have a temperature-controlled, 3,000 bottle wine cellar with a decanting room. My most prized bottle is not the most expensive. It’s a BV George de Latour (a ’96 Cabernet, I believe).
The name of my wine: Kingsbury Estate: Cab One
I did a ferment on July 11th and have already put my wine up for aging. I bottled some of it because I pushed the cork into one of the gallon bottles. What’s different about my Cabernet is that when I made it, I didn’t put any additional tannins in because I personally have a problem with the tannins and so Greg recommended that I leave them out. (I usually drink Pinot.) I’ve tasted it, and can’t believe it’s so good and was made by me.
What I’ve named my WinePod: I haven’t yet.
Why I love my WinePod: This is an amazing product. As an inventor with several patents, I am in awe of the Winepod. It encompasses so many different systems so seamlessly, and it makes the experience of small–batch wine making simple and exciting.
I was very nervous before I received my grapes, because I couldn’t seem to follow through with the practice lot, but when the grapes arrived, they were ready to load so I had to get into gear. With the comprehensive software, instructions and unbelievable customer service (from Greg himself at times), the jitters soon went away and I was off to the races.