# 091: Rare Grape Varieties & Their Wines with Jolie-Laide Wines

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/vineyard-underground-6280933/091-rare-grape-varieties-their-wines-with-jolie-laide-wines
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/vineyard-underground-6280933/091-rare-grape-varieties-their-wines-with-jolie-laide-wines.md
Podcast: [Vineyard Underground](https://stenobird.com/podcast/vineyard-underground-6280933)
Published: 2026-02-17T09:00:00+00:00
Episode link: https://f364ccd0-b8ab-4504-aea4-3e21b899bc22.libsyn.com/091-rare-grape-varieties-their-wines-with-jolie-laide-wines
Audio file: https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/f364ccd0-b8ab-4504-aea4-3e21b899bc22/VU_Ep091_Master.mp3?dest-id=3650511
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/vineyard-underground-6280933/episodes/091-rare-grape-varieties-their-wines-with-jolie-laide-wines
Duration seconds: 3395

## Resource

How many incredible grape varieties are hiding in plain sight — simply because they don't fit the modern wine script? We dig into that question in this episode with Jenny and Scott Schultz of Sonoma's Jolie-Laide Wines, a winery built around chasing the unfamiliar and turning "pretty ugly" grapes into seriously compelling wines. We trace how Jenny and Scott's very different paths collided into a shared philosophy: start with great farming, intervene as little as possible, and let each site and vintage tell its own story. For vineyard owners and operators, the conversation opens up a practical discussion about risk, opportunity, and how alternative varieties can make both agronomic and economic sense. We also get inside their cellar to talk about what "minimal intervention" really means — early picking for natural acidity, whole-cluster fermentations, neutral barrels and concrete, and a deliberate refusal to erase vintage character. Even the labels change every year, reinforcing the idea that wine is an agricultural product, not a factory formula. The discussion dives into grapes like Melon de Bourgogne, Trousseau Gris, Scheurebe, and Mondeuse Noir, unpacking how they grow, how they're vinified, and why they deserve a bigger spotlight. It's a conversation about curiosity, craft, and what becomes possible when we stop playing it safe with varieties. In this episode, you will hear: Why Jolie-Laide focuses on rare and overlooked grape varieties Working with growers to graft or plant unconventional grapes Minimal intervention winemaking and whole-cluster fermentations Farming considerations for low-alcohol, high-acid styles Blending, carbonic fermentation, and managing tannin and structure Follow and Review: If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to follow the podcast and lea…

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