@liocomatt

@keepercoll (Keeper Collection): We’d like to introduce you to Matt Licklider, co-founder of Lioco Wines

@keepercoll (Keeper Collection): We’re about ready to dive in w/ questions, so shout out to @liocomatt to say hello & so Matt knows you’re here! #SommChat

@keepercoll (Keeper Collection): Don’t forget that EVERY tweet during this chat should include the #SommChat hashtag in order for everyone to see it!

@keepercoll (Keeper Collection): As we ask @liocomatt our Qs, you can ask him ur Qs as well! He’ll do his best to answer all Qs in the order they come #SommChat

@keepercoll (Keeper Collection): Let’s start talking #wine with @liocomatt! #SommChat

@demilove (Douglas Trapasso): @keepercoll @liocomatt – Good morning to you both! First #SommChat of November!

@liocomatt (Matt Licklider): .@keepercoll Good morning all. Let’s get down to biznis! #SommChat

@keepercoll (Keeper Collection): @demilove great to chat with you as always #SommChat

@keepercoll (Keeper Collection): Q. @liocomatt Tell us about your #wine epiphany- how did you decide to get into the biz? #SommChat

@liocomatt (Matt Licklider): A. @keepercoll Was ski bummin N Aspen, G8 wine teachers Bobby Stuckey, Damon Ornowski, Jeff Crawford lit me up on hill & N restos #SommChat

@keepercoll (Keeper Collection): Q. @liocomatt We know you have a “low-interference” #winemaking philosophy- can you elaborate on that? #SommChat

@liocomatt (Matt Licklider): A. @keepercoll G8 wine is grown not made- we try 2 do hard work N vineyard & keep winemaking 2 a minimum. Pursuit is transparency. #SommChat

@keepercoll (Keeper Collection): Q. @liocomatt Who/what influenced you in terms of your style of winemaking? #SommChat

@liocomatt (Matt Licklider): A. @keepercoll I don’t luv the word Style. It denotes “winemaking.” We’re anti-style. #SommChat #SommChat

@jcalexanderwine (Jason Alexander): True words. RT @keepercoll: “Great wine is grown, not made” – Matt Licklider, @liocomatt #winemaking #winewednesday #SommChat

@BonVivantImport (Bon Vivant Imports): @liocomatt Matt- what are your thoughts on the past vintage? for your chard and pinots both? #SommChat

@liocomatt (Matt Licklider): .@BonVivantImport If you like hi-acid & low alc, 2011 is 4 U! The wines R pure & lithe. We are very excited. #SommChat

@wolfeswines (Jeffrey Wolfe): @licomatt @keepercoll #SommChat who besides @ChaninWine r the growers to watch 4 balanced wines in CA?

@liocomatt (Matt Licklider): .@wolfeswines Chanin is killin it. Also, frm new-skool: Ceritas, Hirsch, Arnot-Roberts, Meteor.. & ol-skool: Mt Eden, Calera, ABC #SommChat

@wolfeswines (Jeffrey Wolfe): @liocomatt #SommChat Ceritas & Meteor will look into thanks already over the others @jasminehirsch dad is rock star!

@keepercoll (Keeper Collection): Q. @liocomatt What is the biggest difference between your wines and the standard California #wine? #SommChat

@liocomatt (Matt Licklider): A. @keepercoll We focus on 3 things: purity, transparency, & energy. Site selection is paramount in this goal. #SommChat

@liocomatt (Matt Licklider): A. @keepercoll As are “winemaking” choices: early picks, whole cluster, wild yeasts, low wood impact, etc #SommChat

@liocomatt (Matt Licklider): A. @keepercoll Most “standard” CA wines R highly manipulated 2 produce marketable style. Ours R largely free of this #SommChat

@BonVivantImport (Bon Vivant Imports): @liocomatt Thanks! Sounds great! How did you decide on Carignan? a favorite? great vines? you like the end result? #SommChat

@liocomatt(Matt Licklider): .@BonVivantImport Wanted to produce an “old-timey” CA wine–the kind the pioneers likely made & drank. And sell it for

@liocomatt (Matt Licklider): @BonVivantImport We think Indica embodies what egalitarian CA wine could (should) be: authentic, affordable, gulpable! #SommChat

@demilove (Douglas Trapasso): @liocomatt @keepercoll – Is there a “lesser known” grape that is just perfect for your terroir, in your opinion? – #SommChat

@liocomatt (Matt Licklider): @demilove Good question. GAMAY!!!!!!!!!!! LIOCO will produce a Gamay at some point. Bet on it. #SommChat

@VinoCaPisco (Countess Rose Perry): .@liocomatt Do you change what wine you drink according to the weather? If so, what are your weather wine staples? Cc @keepercoll #SommChat

@liocomatt (Matt Licklider): .@VinoCaPisco @keepercoll Yes, wine in context–so imprtnt. We drink alot of Riesling & Beauj cuz we live in CA & eat Asian food. #SommChat

@VinoCaPisco (Countess Rose Perry): My weather wine staples- WARM: Grenache Blanc HOT: Prosecco COOL: Sangiovese Rosé COLD: Zinfandel #SommChat #WeatherAndWine

@MDSmitty2488 (Davis Smith): @liocomatt What has winemaking taught you that theory and tasting couldn’t? #SommChat

@liocomatt (Matt Licklider): .@MDSmitty2488 @keepercoll Gr8 questn. Gotta taste fruit on the vine b4 harvest. cant pick on #s alone… #SommChat

@liocomatt (Matt Licklider): @MDSmitty2488 @keepercoll We like to pick on flavor. Vintage 2011 is a perfect example. The numbers were whacked! #SommChat

@keepercoll (Keeper Collection): Q. @liocomatt In your opinion, what is the single most important aspect of #winemaking, if any? #SommChat

@liocomatt (Matt Licklider): A. @ keepercoll Do as little as possible in the cellar that will interfere with the unique expression of each vineyard. #SommChat

@amberdemure (amberdemure): I can’t drink anything that might stain my teeth for 3 days… What’s a fun, not-too-sweet bev? #SommChat @keepercoll @liquidaustin

@liocomatt (Matt Licklider): .@amberdemure @keepercoll That’s EZ…Champagne! All the best girls do… #SommChat

@keepercoll (Keeper Collection): Welcome to the chat @jasonswineblog @ericasimov – thanks for the RTs! Happy #winewednesday #SommChat

@keepercoll (Keeper Collection): @liocomatt Q. What do you like to pair your #wines with? #WineWednesday #SommChat

@liocomatt (Matt Licklider): A. @keepercoll I find a lot of savory notes in our wines- luv 2 pair w/Asian foods (Catonese, Japonese, and Vietnamese esp) #SommChat

@MDSmitty2488 (Davis Smith): @liocomatt How many people do you have working in the vineyard/cellar usually? #SommChat #WineWednesday

@liocomatt (Matt Licklider): .@MDSmitty2488 @keepercoll Cellar: one winemaker, one intern, a few Xtra hands on the sorting table… #SommChat

@liocomatt (Matt Licklider): .@MDSmitty2488 @keepercoll Vineyard: We buy our fruit so each vyd is diff. Many ppl R involved in the farming. Many heroes this yr #SommChat

@MattMcGinnis (Matt McGinnis): .liocomatt I notice that Lioco Wines are distributed in TX by Pioneer Wines. Do you know where in Austin I can get Indica? #SommChat

@liocomatt (Matt Licklider): .@MattMcGinnis @keepercoll Hey Matt. @wholefoodsATX smokes it with Indica. The usually stack it. #SommChat

@demilove (Douglas Trapasso): @liocomatt – Can we find your wines here in the Chicago market (BTW, please come out for a tasting, I’ll show you around Da City!) #SommChat

@liocomatt (Matt Licklider): .@demilove @keepercoll Was in Chi lst wknd. Chicago Theater 4 Widespread Panic.Purple Pig, Pops–luv it! Benny’s sells our stuff. #SommChat

@Sassodoro (Sassodoro): .@liocomatt I see your wines are distributed in Chicago by @H2Vino. I’ll look for them. #SommChat

@mmwine (Matthew S Horbund): So diff yr on yr? RT @liocomatt: A. @keepercoll I don’t luv the word Style. It denotes “winemaking.” We’re anti-style. #SommChat

@liocomatt (Matt Licklider): .@mmWine @keepercoll That’s the goal. If the wines reflect the vintage, they’re gonna B diff each year… #SommChat

@liocomatt (Matt Licklider): .@mmWine @keepercoll I would seriously question any wines that taste the same every vintage. #SommChat

@mmwine (Matthew S Horbund): @liocomatt @keepercoll unless you go for a “multi-vintage” or “non-vintage” format, always variation yr on yr. #SommChat

@mmwine (Matthew S Horbund): @liocomatt @keepercoll however, I would think without some “style”, you’d have wild swings and little predictability yr on yr #SommChat

@mmwine (Matthew S Horbund): @keepercoll It’s always a pleasure to connect with the #wine drinking pros, and non-pros, during #SommChat

@MDSmitty2488 (Davis Smith): @liocomatt Do you have a distributor in SE Michigan? I’d love to try some of your stuff! #SommChat

@liocomatt (Matt Licklider): .@MDSmitty2488 @keepercoll We not in Michigan at this time. We can direct ship U wine from CA tho. #SommChat

@keepercoll (Keeper Collection): Q. @liocomatt In your opinion, what makes #wine served from a tap better than from a bottle? #SommChat

@liocomatt (Matt Licklider): A. @keepercoll Not better, N some ways more practical. No waste & novelty of keg might get people 2 taste more interesting wines #SommChat

@MattMcGinnis (Matt McGinnis): .liocomatt do you see “virtual wineries” as a growing trend? Does the model allow companies to be more nimble? #SommChat

@liocomatt (Matt Licklider): .@MattMcGinnis @keepercoll Mos Def. A Roberts, Wind Gap, Sandhi, Ceritas, Chanin–a lot of innovating CA wineries using this model #SommChat

@Sassodoro (Sassodoro): Pls explain “virtual winery” RT @MattMcGinnis: .liocomatt do you see “virtual wineries” as a growing trend? … #SommChat

@liocomatt (Matt Licklider): .@Sassodoro @keepercoll No bricks & morter, no land. We buy fruit, we crush it in a shared facility. #SommChat

@MattMcGinnis (Matt McGinnis): @sassodoro By “virtual winery” I mean ones that source grapes from various vineyards & make the wine in rented space. Lower CapEx #SommChat

@keepercoll (Keeper Collection): Q. @liocomatt Do you have plans to “go green” w/ LIOCO #wines other than using kegs? #SommChat

@liocomatt (Matt Licklider): A. @keepercoll As a naturalist myself (surfer, skier, MTN biker) I always think abt ways 2 minimize our footprint… #SommChat

@ATXFoodnews (Kay Marley-Dilworth): Nice RT @liocomatt: @keepercoll As a naturalist myself (surfer, skier, MTN biker) I always think abt ways 2 minimize our footprint #SommChat

@liocomatt (Matt Licklider): A. @keepercoll We try 2 B efficient at every turn. #SommChat

@keepercoll (Keeper Collection): Q. @liocomatt What advice do you have for people trying to get into the #wine biz? #WineWednesday #SommChat

@liocomatt (Matt Licklider): A. @ keepercoll Very easy to produce it. Very tough to sell it! #SommChat

@JasonMalu (Jason Malumed): Damn right! Great interview RT @liocomatt: A. @ keepercoll Very easy to produce it. Very tough to sell it! #SommChat

@mmwine (Matthew S Horbund): @liocomatt where are you crushing? #SommChat

@liocomatt (Matt Licklider): .@mmWine @keepercoll Copain Custom Crush in S. Rosa. Excellent facility, service, location. #SommChat

@enjoielife (Judia Black): @LiocoMatt, Ur choice of words to describe ur wines — egalitarian, pioneer, purity, transparency & energy sound gr8. @keepercoll #SommChat”

@liocomatt (Matt Licklider): .@enjoielife @keepercoll Thx. We think our wines should reflect our personal values & our lifestyles. Those words def apply! #SommChat

@angrysomm (rob renteria): @keepercoll @liocomatt Hi Matt. The arc of success of Lioco has been fun to watch. Long live acidity! #SommChat #WineWednesday

@liocomatt (Matt Licklider): .@angrysomm @keepercoll Many thx. Kevin & I are B4 all else–wine drinkers. We love Burg, Mosel, Jura, Piedmont, Loire… #SommChat

@liocomatt (Matt Licklider): .@angrysomm @keeprcoll We hope that comes thru in our wines… #SommChat

@enjoielife (Judia Black): What if “style” is a “manner of expression” as in “natural style” @liocomatt: A. @keepercoll I don’t luv the word Style… #SommChat”

@enjoielife (Judia Black): Just another view @liocomatt: .@enjoielife @keepercoll Semantics perhaps. Style seems to me self imposed. In fashion and in wine. #SommChat”

@liocomatt (Matt Licklider): .@enjoielife @keepercoll Semantics perhaps. Style seems to me self imposed. In fashion and in wine. #SommChat

@Sassodoro (Sassodoro): @keepercoll @liocomatt Thanks for a great #SommChat! I’ll look for your wines in Chicago!

@MattMcGinnis (Matt McGinnis): Excellent chat. Thanks! RT @keepercoll: It was great to have Matt join us today for #SommChat. Please join me in thanking @liocomatt!

@keepercoll (Keeper Collection): Q. @liocomatt What can we expect from LIOCO in the near future? Events, new wines, etc? #WineWednesday #SommChat

@liocomatt (Matt Licklider): A. @ keepercoll A new winemaker! John Raytek (formerly of Copain, Rhys) is holding it down at LIOCO now… #SommChat

@liocomatt (Matt Licklider): A. @ keepercoll Look for more low alc, high acid wines of place. And some Pinot Blanc! #SommChat

@keepercoll (Keeper Collection): Thx @liocomatt for joining us today for #SommChat. Will have to chat again soon. #SommChat

@liocomatt (Matt Licklider): A. @keepercoll Thx for the thoughtful questions, all. Come visit us in S. Rosa! http://t.co/Yjqu6PAM for details. Cheers! #SommChat

@enjoielife (Judia Black): Thank u both. Looking forward to it. @keepercoll: Thx @liocomatt for joining us today for #SommChat. Will have to chat again soon. #SommChat

@keepercoll (Keeper Collection): Time to wrap up! Hope you enjoyed this hr of #wine talk with @liocomatt Matt Licklider! #SommChat

@keepercoll (Keeper Collection): It was great to have Matt join us today for #SommChat. Please join me in thanking @liocomatt for his time!

@keepercoll (Keeper Collection): If any1 missed some of the chat today, remember we’ll post an archive soon to http://t.co/USHowBAw for you to review later #SommChat

@keepercoll (Keeper Collection): Join us next Wed 11/09 11 AM CST for #SommChat with @ELVwines amazing winemaker, Sashi Moorman! #SommChat

@demilove (Douglas Trapasso): @keepercoll @ELVwines – Looking forward to the next epsoide of #SommChat !

@keepercoll (Keeper Collection): If u want to be 100% sure ur #SommChat Q gets answered, post it to FB & we’ll be sure it gets asked! http://t.co/Njd5opH4 Happy #WW!