Vint Wine Podcast Lingua Franca's Thomas Savre on His Time at DRC, Oregon Chardonnay, & Benefits of Being Acquired
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Aug 30, 2023 
Thomas Savre, winemaker at Lingua Franca, brings his rich experience from prestigious wineries like Domaine de la Romanée‑Conti. He discusses the evolution of Oregon Chardonnay, highlighting its potential and the movement towards finesse. Savre shares insights on how Lingua Franca's acquisition by Constellation enhances their mission without sacrificing quality. He also reflects on key winemaking practices learned in Burgundy, such as whole-cluster fermentation, and details the strategic growth plans for Lingua Franca's vineyards.
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Joining Lingua Franca Young
- Thomas Savre joined Lingua Franca at 27 after internships in Burgundy and helped build the winery from scratch.
- He made the first Lingua Franca vintage in 2015 and learned by writing the winery's first chapters on site behavior.
Transformative DRC Internship
- Thomas interned at Domaine de la Romanée-Conti for 18 months and tasted historic vintages during his time there.
- He described DRC as a humbling, rigorous human and winemaking experience that shaped his approach.
Daily Rituals At DRC
- At DRC Thomas experienced tight ritual and humility, from vineyard care to bottling and tasting rare wines with the team.
- He recalls shared daily rituals and being offered top bottles that accelerated his learning curve.
