Tad Seestedt, Artisan |
Country of Origin: USA
Location: Sheridan, Oregon
People: Tad Seestedt, Owner, Winemaker & Distiller
Ransom Wines & Spirits, founded by Tad Seestedt in 1997, is an artisan winery and distillery located in McMinnville, Oregon. Tad sources fruit from organic, sustainable and biodynamic vineyards mostly in the Eola Hills AVA to produce small batches of site specific Riesling, Pinot Gris, Gewurztraminer and Pinot Noir. His creative and thoughtful personality is occasionally indulged by making Port (fortified with Gewurztraminer Aquavitae), Botrytised Riesling and other wonderfully curiosities. The wines are hand crafted in a style that emphasizes acidity, purity, structure and length. The 'Selection' wines are vintage cuts of the best Pinot Noir barrels and Pinot Gris wines. The Vineyard Designate wines are where yield and quality meet.
What is the difference between the Temperance Hill, Cattrall and Selection Pinot Noirs? Temperance is darkest in fruit and deepest in tannins. Cattrall is wadensville clone dominant thus has the driest herbal components on the nose, lighter in color and tannins and more red fruit oriented. Least amount of new oak as well. Selection is an amazing combination of both styles, red and black fruit, softer body than temperance but just as smoky and vanilla concentration on the nose.
All distillates are either made from press wine (Aquavitae) or pumice (Grappa). Tad also makes Jigsaw Pinot Noir, a fantastic value Pinot that we describe as "more wine and less hype." This wonderful "Pinot for the People" with its cerebral punk style is the perfect choice for by the glass and wine shop stacks. Tad feels that it is the function of wine and food to enhance fellowship, discussion and the exchange of ideas.
Wine Advocate 2012
"Tad Seestedt named his operation “Ransom Spirits” (begun in 1997) for the degree to which his idealistic and artisan – some might, after tasting the results, exclaim “alchemical” – pursuit of distillates
distinctly delicious and rigorously founded in historical research,
rendered his financial security; the patience of supportive friends; and all of his waking hours hostage to the bank. Visit the farm south of Sheridan to which Seestedt moved three years ago if you want to taste the likes of authentic Old Tom Gin, Whipper Snapper Oregon Spirit Whiskey, or a stunning recreation (long in research and development but soon to be unveiled) of fin de siecle vermouth ... but, more to the point, also if you want to experience some of the best wine values I’ve tasted anywhere in America since I was introduced to them a half dozen
years ago. Wine was part of Seestedt’s labors from the beginning, and fortunately for U.S. oenophiles, he’s now ramping back up a bit – developing new vineyard contacts and contracts – after a several year lull while his distillery grew. What’s more, he’s preparing to plant his own first vineyard, though the Ransom estate is too cool to grow Pinot
and its initial vines are going to be the likes of Albarino. Hallmarks of Pinot vinification chez Ransom have long included ultra-gentle extraction and moderate alcohol, though in the latter regard 2010 and 2011 – in which Seestedt says he believes not one lot came in above
12.5% potential alcohol – must be counted as exceptional."
Media Links
The Oregonian: New crop of Oregon-made vermouths pushes the envelope
Social Media
Twitter: @RansomSpirits
Ransom Facebook
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| Current Items from Ransom Wines & Spirits |
| Cat # |
|
Pack-Size |
Net |
Reviews |
| 7195 |
Ransom Wines & Spirits 2012 'Selection' Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley |
12-750 |
$264 |
|
| 7219 |
Ransom Wines & Spirits 2011 Cabernet Franc, Rogue Valley |
12-750 |
$240 |
|
| 6413 |
Ransom Wines & Spirits 2010 Pinot Noir, Cattrall Vineyard, Eola-Amity Hills |
12-750 |
$300 |
|
| 2369 |
Ransom Wines & Spirits (375 ml) Grappa, Gewürztraminer |
12-375 |
$264 |
|
| 3116 |
Ransom Wines & Spirits Old Tom Gin (88 proof) |
12-750 |
$360 |
BTI 93 BTI 95 W&S Best Spirits 2010 |
| 6986 |
Ransom Wines & Spirits The Emerald 1865 Straight American Whiskey (87.6 proof) |
6-750 |
$480 |
|
| 5970 |
Ransom Wines & Spirits Vermouth |
12-750 |
$300 |
|
| 3908 |
Ransom Wines & Spirits Whipper Snapper Whiskey (84 proof) |
12-750 |
$300 |
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