Ep 375: Phil Long of Longevity Wines -- Bringing Heart to CA's Livermore Valley

<p>Winemaker/Founder Phil Long of <a href= "https://www.longevitywines.com" target="_blank" rel= "noopener">Longevity Wines</a> is a true<br /> Garagiste – he began his making wine in the garage with his late wife Debra in the mid-2000s. In 2008, the couple quit their full-time jobs and the couple opened their tasting room and winery in the <a href="https://www.lvwine.org" target="_blank" rel= "noopener">Livermore Valley</a> near their home.</p> <p><img style= "display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src= "https://assets.libsyn.com/secure/show/45638/_6906487.jpg" alt="" width="250" height="269" /> <img style= "display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src= "https://assets.libsyn.com/secure/show/45638/Longevity-Logo-Life-Love-Passion.jpg" alt="" width="108" height="125" /></p> <p><a href="https://www.lvwine.org" target="_blank" rel= "noopener">Livermore Valley</a> is a sub-AVA of the Central Coast with a really unique climate (I lived in Pleasanton, the next town over, so I speak from experience!) – with cool nights and some San Francisco Bay influence bumping up against the heat from the east of the Central Valley. The wines were sourced using local fruit and Longevity grew from a few hundred, to a few thousand cases. </p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img style= "display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src= "https://assets.libsyn.com/secure/show/45638/bay-area-map.jpg" alt= "" width="255" height="360" /><span style= "font-size: 8pt;"><a href="https://www.lvwine.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Map from the Livermore Valley Winegrowers Association</a></span></p> <p>Phil is revered for his balanced wines from Bordeaux and Rhone varietals. His <a href="https://www.longevitywines.com" target= "_blank" rel="noopener">wines</a> include Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Chardonnay, Debruvee (the GSM Rhone Style blend), and Philosophy (Bordeaux style blend). In 2018, the Livermore Valley Winegrowers Association voted <a href= "https://www.longevitywines.com" target="_blank" r