An Approach to Relaxation

What would two Americans who live in Amsterdam, make wine in Australia and travel 250 days a year, call their wine business? An Approach to Relaxation of course. Carla (nee Rzeszewski) moved from acting to wine, becoming wine director at The Spotted Pig and the John Dory Oyster Bar in New York. Richard nearly became a lawyer, but instead became wine director at the 5-star resort The Little Nell in Aspen, Colorado, a master sommelier, and co-founded Betts & Scholl in Vine Vale, winemaking there 2000-09. Having purchased
grenache (their raison d'.tre) from 120-year-old vines grown on the sandy soils of Vine Vale for their first three vintages, in '17 they purchased a 6.5ha property at Siegersdorf in the centre of the so-called Vine Vale sandpit, with the Rza Block grenache planted 1850-1880 (which forms the core of Suzette). There are also some 20-25-year-old grenache and a few randomly scattered mataro vines. The remaining land is being planted to more grenache. Perhaps they will now find time to relax. Exports to the UK, the US, Sweden, The Netherlands, Denmark, South Korea and Singapore. -JAMES HALLIDAY