Authentique Wine Leisure Skin Contact Pinot Gris

About Authentique Wine Leisure Skin Contact Pinot Gris

Authentique Wine Leisure Skin Contact Pinot Gris shows fresh peach, nectarine, sea spray, river rock, juicy and crisp from skin-fermented grapes grown in biodynamically farmed soils. A blend of micro-lots harvested at the perfect ripeness, meticulously fermented in concrete, stainless, and seasoned French oak.

About Authentique Wine Cellars and Nicholas Keeler

From the Winery: Our focus is single vineyard-designate Oregon Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Stewards of the land, we work with Tilth Organic and Demeter Biodynamic certified grapes. We also seek out historic own-rooted, old vine vineyards. When you taste Authentique you experience the energy of a passion, a time, and a place. Each and every vintage our wines are made with intent and great care in everything we do.

Born in Portland and growing up in the small city of Sherwood, little things make me feel like home; mountain passes lined with snow-covered firs, the cold Pacific Ocean on my feet, foraging for chanterelles, and time spent meandering through the Willamette Valley tasting with friends.

Often there was wine at the family table. My great grandfather was a wine merchant in Germany and when I was young my parents were fond of German Riesling and Eiswein. One of my favorite memories during the holidays as a young boy was enjoying a little taste.

I graduated from Oregon State University with two Bachelor of arts degrees; one in International Business, the other in International Studies, and a minor in Spanish. During my studies, I went to university in Barcelona where I was enchanted by the works of Dali, El Greco, Velazquez, Picasso, and Gaudi. A year later I found myself in Oaxaca, Mexico studying Zapotec and Mayan art, savoring the bounty of the open-air markets where numerous cultures gathered to sell their goods. Always fond of people, travel, food, and art, my adventures further introduced me to the world of wine.

When I moved back to Oregon I would spend holiday weekends in the Willamette Valley tasting with friends. Around this time I met Felix Madrid, winemaker at Carlo & Julian, who was kind enough to show me how to make my first wines in my parent’s garage. I began as a true Garagiste winemaker and was inspired to do more I continued to learn about wine through UC Davis classes, passed my first sommelier exam, and worked many harvests with talented winemakers. Thanks to a trusted recommendation from a friend, Rick DeFerrari of Oregon Barrel Works, I was presented with an opportunity to learn about French cooperage. Jacky Allary, owner and master cooper of Tonnellerie Allary, and his commercial director, Michel Simonnet visited Oregon and tasted wines with me in 2005. Fortune favored me that day and Jacky offered me an opportunity to represent his esteemed cooperage in the US. The Allary family founded their cooperage in 1953 and have three generations of French barrel-making savior-faire.

With over 14 years of experience as the North American sales director for one of France’s elite barrel makers, Tonnellerie Allary, I have visited historic French forests and tasted in famous cellars worldwide acquiring expert knowledge of French oak cooperage, forests, seasoning, fermentation, aging and many aspects of winemaking. Tasting highlights include; Jean-Marc Roulot, Thibaud Liger-Belair, Antoine Olivier, Diana Seysses, Christian Moreau, Roberto Conterno, Luisa Rocca, Fabrizio Benedetti (thank you, Gian Maria Barosio) Cheval Blanc, Leoville Poyferre, Beausejour Becot, Chateau Kirwan (thank you, Michel Simonnet) and Alberto Rubio of Vino Fluxus in Mexico. In the US there are far too many talented winemakers and friends to list who have all helped shape my intuitive winemaking.

With a deft touch, I create the Authentique wines in rotary large format, upright oak cuve, stainless steel tank, Italian amphorae, and concrete with a combination of whole cluster and carefully de-stemmed fruit to add layers and complexity. Elevage is made with extra tight grain French oak barrels from unique forest provenance which preserve the fresh aspect of the wines and respect vineyard nuance, one of the great signatures of Authentique.

I would like to thank everyone who has supported me over the years to live this dream. You are my friends, family, teachers, colleagues, clients, and peers. Special thanks go out to Julian Ranz, Jason Merck, Jordan Taylor, Felix Madrid, Ben Casteel (winemaker at Bethel Heights who has gracefully shared his valuable expertise with me) the talented Mr. Geoffrey Cecil who creates my labels and graphic design, and my rock star assistant winemaker Jose Arguelles who has diligently worked by my side countless hours. Through the quality and energy of my wines, I strive to honor and reflect my gratitude to you all.