A Window into La Fenêtre

I first met Josh and Alex down at the Suncoast Food and Wine Festival in Sarasota last year.  Both New York born and bred.  They went to Stuyvesant High School so they are smart!  Beyond our new friendship, they own a winery that I’m a big BIG fan of — La Fenêtre.  Enjoy this interview with Josh and Alex and after reading, maybe you’ll want to pick up a case!  Cheers!

MICHAEL GREEN: How did you two come together and join forces to start your winery?

JOSH: I started the winery in 2005 with a sommelier palate, a vision for the wines I wanted to make, and a supposed education in business… While the winery vision was clear and the wines were perfect, in 2010 I realized that my business acumen was not ‘up to snuff’. Alex, who had spent 10 years in corporate finance (and also happened to be my best friend since high school) graciously accepted my request to discuss the finances and see if he could help. What blossomed out of those talks was a business partnership that has been quite successful so far and should continue to be for a very long time!

ALEX: I hope Josh is right about our success – I don’t want to go back to corporate finance.

MG: What is your winemaking philosophy?

J: The philosophy is fairly simple. Most importantly, wine is meant to be accompanied by a meal. In that light, start with great, cool climate terroir and produce wines that respect that terroir. That means balanced alcohol, acidity, body, and richness. These wines are classically styled.

A: Josh is the winemaker, so my winemaking philosophy is to do what he tells me to do.  But only after questioning him relentlessly.

MG: Where did you come up with the name La Fenêtre?

J: The name La Fenêtre (the window) comes from the quote, ‘Art is the window to a man’s soul,’ by Claudia ‘Ladybird’ Johnson. It is our belief that winemaking is art, and an expression of the winemaker that crafted it. Essentially, the window to his or her soul. Of course, we are also reminded where all of our money is going… Out of the window!

MG: What are all of the wines that you make?

J: We make many different wines because of the respect we have for each vineyard’s terroir. It is nearly impossible for us to blend a great barrel, which has so much to show the world… the wines are as follows:

Chardonnay

·         Bien Nacido Vineyard

·         Los Alamos Vineyard

·         A Cote ‘Santa Barbara County’

Pinot Noir

·         Bien Nacido Vineyard

·         Presqu’ile Vineyard

·         Le Bon Climat Vineyard

·         ‘Santa Maria Valley’

·         A Cote ‘Central Coast’

Syrah

·         Alisos Vineyard

·         Bien Nacido Vineyard ‘Z Block’

Riesling

·         Kick On Vineyard (labeled ‘Santa Barbara County’)

MG: Okay, you love them all.  They are all your babies, but which wine is your favorite to make and drink?

J: I would say Pinot Noir. Making Pinot Noir is like cooking an egg. If you look away for even a second, you can miss the whole thing. It is what makes it so rewarding as well, though it can be quite crushing when it doesn’t turn out well!

A: The great thing about our wines is that they have so much personality so how I get along with them individually truly does depend on my own state of mind when I’m drinking them.  In particular, our single-vineyard Pinot Noirs have that ability to really excite, inspire and even surprise me.  In terms of favorite wines to make, it also has to be Pinot Noir.  There’s more interaction with red fruit during fermentation than with white fruit, so you get more of an insight into each stage of its development.  Of course Syrah is red fruit too, but it’s a tougher varietal – Syrah is like your son who you feel can take care of himself a little better than your daughter, Pinot Noir, who you think you have to watch out for more closely (even if she’s just as capable).  Of course, I don’t actually have children in real life…

MG: When you’re not enjoying your wine, what are you drinking?

J: I like to drink wines from my friends like Au Bon Climat, Qupé , and Deovlet. I also drink beer… mostly Mexican and Belgian.

A: I love the wines of Santa Barbara County, but it’s easy to become myopic when such great wines are so accessible to us.  I try to put our wines in context by drinking wines from other parts of the world; whether it’s France, New Zealand or Lebanon, there’s always more I can learn about wine.  I’m also a big beer guy.  I like many styles of beer but the style I overwhelmingly gravitate toward is IPA.  Something about those bitter, floral hops just makes my mouth water.  Before I got into wine, it was the layered flavors of IPA that were priming my palate for the depth and complexity of the fruits of the vine.

MG: What part of your job do you love the most?

J: I love harvest and blending. Harvest is the most intense time that I actually enjoy. It is the birth of a new vintage. Each time we pick is creating a new relationship between the wine and me. A new puzzle to be solved. Blending is the fruition of the creative process. All of the hard work is rewarded when the wine is blended and can then speak to the world

A: I love that I make something that brings people together.  There is genuine satisfaction in knowing that on any given night, somewhere around the country, people are spending time with friends and family and enjoying it a bit more and lingering a bit longer with one another because they’re sharing a bottle of La Fenêtre.

MG: Which part less so?

J: Bottling. Hands down the worst part of winemaking. It can be exciting, but the logistical mess that is bottling is literally a nightmare! Is the wine ready? Chemistry healthy/correct? Do we have the right number/size/style of corks, glass, labels, capsules? Do we have enough tanks for blending? Just a few of the million points that go into a successful bottling!

A: Accounts Receivable.  Mundane, but true.  Hassling people for the money they owe you is a pain.

MG: If you were to share your wine with one person dead or alive who would it be?

J: I don’t know if I could pick just one person… I want to show these wines to the world! Maybe Claudia ‘Ladybird’ Johnson. Based off of her quote, she understood the pursuit of personal expression, and I bet she would have some great stories to tell after enjoying a glass or two of wine!

A: Maybe this is kind of a cheat and corny, but it’s 2 people – my parents.  At its essence, a bottle of wine is a reason to spend time with people you love.  What could be better than sharing the wine that is the product of my own hard work and passion with the people who have given me love and support for literally longer than I can remember?