Slow Living Radio welcomes Chilean guest Benjamin Naylor, who, with his partner Nicolas Albagly has created a liqueur using the native herbs and Maqui berries of their country. And for some inspiration to build on your wine knowledge, we invite Swiss born, R. Christian Oggenfuss, to share his path to founding the Napa Valley Wine Academy.
Firstly, a welcome to Chile:
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| Ben and Nicolas |
Benjamin Naylor and Nicolas Albagly
MQi Liqueur
MQi liqueur
is the product of a careful process in which tradition and innovation are
combined. Native, medicinal herbs are distilled in old copper still
distillation devices according to traditional Mapuche methods, thus
creating a delicate, aromatic base which is then combined with macerated Maqui
for a prolongued period to extract its exquisite flavor, aromas and powerful
anti-oxidant properties.
The Maqui is
an indigenous berry found in the south of Chile, used throughout the
generations as part of the Mapuche’s (local indians’) diet, who collected and
either ate it as fruit; or, drank it as wine or semi-fermented grape must. Some
recognize the fruit to have the most anti-oxidants on the face of the planet, and
recent scientific investigations have demonstrated that, thanks to its
beneficial properties, it may even help prevent some illnesses such as
Alzheimer’s.
The Maqui is
collected in the Bío Bío Valley (Chile’s most southern wine growing region) as
well as Chile’s Patagonia. The terroir of Talcamávida (or ‘Mountain of Thunder’
as translated from Mapuche) is situated at the old fort site of the Araucan
War, on the shores of the great Bío Bío River. MQi is elaborated according to a
long, inherited tradition in the art of distillation brought over by the
Spanish together with wisdom passed down the Mapuche generations as how best to
prepare the fruit and medicinal herbs. Using state-of-the-art technology, the
distillation process is carried out in small batches, allowing for a high
quality finished product. This way, a unique liqueur, natural and aromatic,
free of chemical components; and, with all the anti-oxidant power of the Maqui
is produced.
Suggested uses
MQi liqueur
can be enjoyed as a cocktail, as an innovative way to make a Cosmopolitan, or
as an aperitif combined with Champagne – MQi Royal – even just as a digestive
served with just ice. Ideal food pairings include pork sirloin with an exotic
plum sauce, ceviche prepared with tropical fruit, fresh cheeses; and, puddings
based on intensely flavored fruits such as mango or guava.
R. Christian Oggenfuss,
D.W.S., F.W.S., I.W.P.
D.W.S., AIWS, FWS, IWP,
WSET-Certified, Chief Educational Officer
Napa Valley Wine Academy
Christian Oggenfuss is a
second year Master of Wine student with the prestigious Institute of
Masters of Wine in London, a passionate wine industry spokesman, wine
educator and founder of the Napa Valley
Wine Academy. He holds the DWS (Diploma Wine & Spirits), the
highest certification from the London based Wine & Spirit Education
Trust and is an Associate Member of the Institute of Wine &
Spirits. Christian also holds the French Wine Scholar (FWS) certification with
the French Wine Society as well as the Italian Wine Professional
(IWP) certification with Italian Wine Central.
Napa Valley Wine Academy
He brings 20 years of wine
experience to wine education as a marketer and brand builder for wine brands
including: Stags’ Leap Winery, Etude, Beringer Vineyards, Benziger Family
Winery, PlumpJack Estate Winery, Odette Estate, CADE Estate Winery, St.
Clement, and V. Sattui Winery.
Christian has also
successfully launched wine related businesses in Switzerland and traveled
extensively to all major wine regions in Europe and North America. He is fluent
in Schwiizerdütsch (Swiss-German) and English. Additionally, he is
a Certified Champagne Wine Location Specialist (Champagne Bureau) and
a Certified Port Wine Location Specialist (Port Wine Institute).
Founded in 2011, NVWA is a
community of passionate, creative, forward-thinking people who share a
dedication to elevating the industry. Situated in the heart of Napa Valley, they
have one foot in the classroom and the other in the vineyards.
From their Education
Center in Downtown Napa, the academy offers wine certification programs,
workshops, intensives, boot camps and more, to students of all walks of life,
whether on a specific career path or merely for personal satisfaction.
The world-class
instructors are committed to fostering excellence, creativity, culture, and
advancement in the wine industry and beyond. When you become a student of the
Napa Valley Wine Academy, not only will you explore and expand your knowledge
of the diverse world of wine, you’ll also forge critical relationships,
deepening the human connection, making accessible what once may have seemed
inaccessible.
Courses are offered in
several of America’s best-known wine epicenters: Napa Valley, Santa Barbara,
California and at the world famous Bern’s Epicurean Hotel in Tampa, Florida.
The Napa Valley Education Center is situated in the heart of California’s most
famous wine region and also serves as headquarters. The Tampa Florida courses are located in the
Epicurean Hotel, part of the world famous Bern’s Steak House, which has earned
the Wine Spectator Grand Award since 1981. Santa Barbara courses are held at Firestone
Vineyard, the allowing students to experience wine education at a working
winery. And beyond the classroom, students can explore the exciting wine
regions of Santa Barbara and Paso Robles on a private itinerary.
Certifications Offered
The Napa Valley Wine
Academy is an Approved Program Provider with the Wine & Spirit Education Trust in
London as well as a private school member of the Society of Wine
Educators.
