Susan Feiler can talk about paper in as much detail as she does when opening a bottle of Lake County”s finest wines. That”s because the owner of the Lake County Wine Studio spent 28 years as a representative in the paper industry, both in San Francisco and the southern part of the state. But it is, by all accounts, more interesting when discusses the nuances of a Zinfandel or Viognier than the details of paper weight. Good thing, because she has stocked the popular Upper Lake destination with boutique wines from the county since taking over in 2008.
1. When describing the flavor of wine, people use words like “floral” or “ripe blackberries” or “leather.” What does leather taste like?
Well, I think every experience of flavor is influenced by our olfactory senses, so if you smell leather, you taste it. Some of us have put our tongue on leather [laughs]. But you are heavily influenced by aroma.
2. Is it difficult to figure out the flavor profile of a wine?
The only time it”s really difficult is when the wine is young and tight and you can”t smell anything. You don”t have that problem after bottle shock is over and you smell the florals, the herbals, smoke, barnyard
3. Barnyard?
It does exist.
4. Why get so involved in wine?
I was a happy consumer. I used to be in the paper industry, but was laid off in 2007. One of my friends told me they (the wine studio) were looking for somebody. My husband and I ended up taking over.
5. Then and now, what”s the difference in Lake County wines?
The number one big change is in the quantity, in my mind. The next most significant change is it has exploded from just Cabernet and Sauvignon Blanc. Winemakers are willing to experiment. Yeah, there”s Zinfandel and others, but there are more obscure varietals.
6. Isn”t wine snooty?
No, it”s not. It comes from humble beginnings, right?
7. Ever get home and think “what was that wine I had tonight?”
I”m pretty good. You know what people do now? They whip out their smartphones and take pictures of the wine that impresses them.
8. What”s it like to work with winemakers?
They”re excellent to work with. But I don”t know if I can answer, because in a lot of cases I”m not working with the winemaker. But the winemaker”s I speak with, they are open, unassuming—they are fabulous.
9. When you get home, do you just want to have a beer?
No. The winemakers are the beer drinkers. I”m not a beer drinker.
10. What would you drink if there was no wine around?
[Long pause] Lemonade.
