20 Questions with Winemaker Kate Payne-Brown
Get to know Winemaker, Kate Payne-Brown!
Kate Payne-Brown answers questions (well, 20 of them at least), revealing the best thing about 2020, her love of wine, and the answer to the age-old question…is a hotdog a sandwich?
SWG: Hey Kate, how’s it going?
Kate: Hey guys, good! I hear you’re going to ask me some questions today.
SWG: 20 questions today, ready?
Kate: As ready as I’ll ever be.
SWG: Alright, well let’s start! What’s the best thing that’s happened to you in 2020?
Kate: My son learning to ride a bike and swim without a floatie.
SWG: And what about harvest? What is your go-to breakfast during harvest?
Kate: Black coffee, and lots of it.
SWG: What are you smelling right now?
Kate: Some chardonnay. I’m just taking a sample and thinking about when we want to bottle it. I think it’s pretty close.
SWG: Well, let’s head up to the tank room.
Kate: Let’s do this!
SWG: So, Kate, you’re stuck on an island. You can pick one wine to have forever without getting tired of it. What would it be?
Kate: Champagne, of course! Georges Laval, anything by him. Give me all of it.
SWG: So, what’s this room?
Kate: This is our fermentation hall. This is where the magic happens during a harvest. As you can see, we’re pretty busy at the moment. This is where we bring in the fruit and ferment in these stainless-steel tanks that are surrounding us at the moment.
SWG: One place in the world that you’re dying to visit?
Kate: Two places, really. Antarctica or Africa. I haven’t been to either places yet. Hopefully soon? Maybe, can we travel again?
SWG: What would your superpower be? To travel?
Kate: Superpower to travel… hm I don’t know. I think I’d like to be able to fly, and get places faster, because I’m always late.
SWG: If you could share a glass of wine with anyone in history who would it be?
Kate: Oh, there’s so many people! I want to have a big dinner party with multiple people. In this moment in time, I’d probably say Maya Angelou.
SWG: Hey Kate, do you like games?
Kate: I love games!
SWG: How about trivia?
Kate: Yeah, I like trivia.
SWG: What topic would you own in trivia?
Kate: Probably film.
SWG: What film have you seen in the last six months that’s had the biggest impact on you?
Kate: Zoolander.
SWG: Can you do blue steel?
Kate: *Makes face* Not very well. It’s my stern look.
SWG: What’s your favorite Disney character?
Kate: Oh, that’s a tough one. I would have to say Peter Pan.
SWG: If you weren’t a winemaker what would you be?
Kate: A doctor.
SWG: A doctor of…..
Kate: Philosophy.
SWG: What are you most proud of in your career?
Kate: Besides making wine, some beautiful wines, I would say the relationships I’ve been able to build within a period of time in my career.
SWG: So, what is this?
Kate: This is our preview of our 2020 white pinot. It is going to be a still wine, and it’s going to be lighter in color by the time it gets to the bottle. It’s something we’re really excited to do because we haven’t made one in a long time.
SWG: What was your favorite meal growing up?
Kate: Broccoli and macaroni, my aunt’s Italian pasta.
SWG: Is a hot dog a sandwich?
Kate: Uh, no.
SWG: Sunrise or sunset?
Kate: Definitely sunset.
SWG: Puppies or kitties?
Kate: Don’t make me choose! Both.
SWG: And your favorite thing to pair with LaRue?
Kate: Everything. Sparkling wine is so versatile, it can go with just about everything from popcorn to your fanciest meal. I don’t think sparkling wine should just be for celebration, I think it should be the daily sip.
SWG: And what’s your favorite vintage?
Kate: In Oregon right now, 2005 and 2007.
SWG: Well, let’s cheers to a great harvest done! What is this, your 17th?
Kate: It’s my 17th!
SWG: Congratulations!
Kate: Cheers!
SWG: Thanks, Kate.
Kate: Thank you, see you next time.