Vino Frankel A Taste of Sculpterra
Corks, Closures & Harvest: The Secrets Behind Wine Bottles | Ep. 54
On this episode of Vino Frankel: A Taste of Sculpterra , Paul Frankel welcomes Rich Tanguay from Scott’s Premium Corks back to the studio. Rich is the cork man , so the conversation starts with the many alternatives to traditional natural cork. They talk about semi-synthetic, full synthetic, agglomerated and micro-agglomerated corks, glass closures and screw caps , along with TCA, oxygen and why different wineries choose different closures. With harvest underway at Sculpterra , Paul also talks about fermentation and the importance of temperature during winemaking. They discuss what happens when fermentation gets too cold or too hot, how temperature affects different styles of wine, and the equipment used to keep fermentations under control. Rich then takes Paul on a trip north to Monterey County and Arroyo Seco , discussing the region’s cool, windy conditions and its Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and other varieties. They taste a Joyce Winery Albariño and talk about how climate and terroir shape the wine. Paul also breaks down machine versus hand harvesting , including the advantages, disadvantages and why Sculpterra uses both approaches depending on the vineyard and the fruit. Wines Tasted 2025 Sculpterra Héroe Primitivo A 92% Primitivo / 8% Syrah blend from the Frankel Family Estate. Paul and Rich discuss its dark fruit, concentration, acidity and how the Syrah helps balance the powerful Primitivo. Joyce Winery Albariño An Albariño from Arroyo Seco in Monterey County, described as crisp, dry and reflective of its cool-climate growing conditions. 2023 Sculpterra Maquette A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Petit Verdot. Paul and Rich finish the episode tasting the wine and talking about its mouthfeel, tannins, dark fruit, oak and long finish. The episode wraps up with Rich's three questions for Paul: Why did Paul buy Merlot this year? Where did he get it? Are we going to panic and start making non-alcoholic or low-alcohol wines? Along the way, Rich also talks about his Mexican nickname, “Ricardo.” LIKE the episode COMMENT with your wine questions SUBSCRIBE for more Vino Frankel: A Taste of Sculpterra Produced by EZF Media
