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Richard Olsen-Harbich is not only one of the most talented winemakers on the east coast, he is one of the most important. Rich has written an extremely interesting book about east coast and cool climate winemaking. He is currently head winemaker at Bedell Cellars out on the North Fork. He has earned huge praise from the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and Wine Enthusiast and Wine Spectator, and that's just to start.
Portrait of the Artist As a Young Winemaker
Rich has worked in the Long Island wine industry since 1981 and is a leader in establishing regional identity and vinification techniques. After graduating from Cornell University in 1983, he worked to establish Long Island’s second commercial winery in Bridgehampton, where he was among the first to market Long Island wines to New York City. Over the past 40 years he has been a leader in the region, implementing pioneering techniques for Long Island vineyards while consulting for many wineries in the Eastern United States. In 1984 at 23 years old, he became the second president of the Long Island Grape Growers Association and the youngest person to ever lead the organization. He is the author of all three federally recognized Long Island American Viticultural Areas (AVAs) - The Hamptons, Long Island (1985,) The North Fork of Long Island, (1986) and Long Island (2000.) In 1997, he organized the first Bordeaux/Long Island consultation partnership between M. Paul Pontallier of Chateau Margaux and Raphael Winery in Peconic. The two worked together for nine years producing dozens of critically acclaimed wines. Since 1995, he has been on the advisory board for the Cornell University’s Wine Grape Research program based in Riverhead, N.Y.
Olsen-Harbich has produced more 90-point wines from major worldwide wine publications than any other Long Island winemaker. His 91 point, 1988 Bridgehampton Grand Vineyard Chardonnay was one of only Long Island wines to be selected in the Wine Spectator top 100 list.
In 2004, he helped found the Long Island Merlot Alliance – the first wine quality alliance on Long Island. In 2012, he was one of the founders of the East Coast’s only sustainable certification program – Long Island Sustainable Winegrowing and in 2015 helped to start the Long Island Latino Vintners Association. In 2013 he was presented with the Unity Award for major achievements for promoting unity in the New York wine industry - the highest honor given by the New York Wine and Grape Foundation. From 2012-2020 he served on the Cornell University Extension Enology Advisory Committee and in 2019 he served as the Long Island representative on the multi-state Sustainability Wine Project sponsored by the Wine Institute in California. He is a current board member of Citizens Campaign for the Environment, a non-profit lobbying organization that works to identify key environmental concerns in communities across New York State, advancing programs that benefit the natural environment and public health.
The Sage
Olsen-Harbich has written about the Long Island wine industry since 1981 when he was first published in the Vinifera Wine Growers Journal. He has written dozens of articles about the region over the years and been published in The Huffington Post, The Grapezine, Vineyard and Winery Management, Wine Business Monthly, Edible East End, Canvas Magazine, Pulse, Northforker, The Sommelier Journal, Winepress, Wine Country International, Wine Spectator and Wine Enthusiast. He also contributed to the books, The Wines of Long Island, Behind the Bottle, and Long Island Wine Country. In 2015, he was featured in a national piece in the Wall Street Journal entitled “A Day in the Hectic, Happy Life of a Winemaker.” In 2019, Olsen-Harbich was also the focus in a national story published in Forbes entitled, “Winemaker Rich Olsen-Harbich of Bedell Cellars Talks Petit Verdot and Long Island Wine.” Television appearances include The East End Show, The Stoler Report, The Apprentice and CBS This Morning.
SUN, SEAS, SOIL, WINE is the history of Long Island winemaking from one of it's leading citizens, who has been there since the start. His writing is very fine.
This is the quote I gave for the back cover:
Richard Olsen-Harbich is perhaps one of the most important wine icons on the east coast, and one of its best winemakers. The book is a mixture of scholarly erudition and an artist’s love of his materials and the art form itself. Part natural history, part poetry, part social consciousness. A passionate homage to wine and the land it comes from. Outstanding.-Carlo DeVito, author of Drink The Northeast and Birchenall Award Winner
I've written about Rich many times, most recently in DRINK THE NORTH EAST:
And if you don't believe me, check out the review from the North Forker magazine:
Click on this image to read the great review!
Unlike other books about the region, which usually discuss specific vineyards and winemakers, “Sun, Sea, Soil, Wine” takes a deep dive into the intricacies of the North Fork’s unique climate, geography, and soils and how in turn produces high-quality unique wines unlike anything else in the country. Drawing on his expertise and passion for winemaking, Olsen-Harbich takes readers on a journey through the intricate world of crafting wines along with stories delving into the history of how the region grew to garner recognition as a premier wine destination.
- Lilly Parnell, The North Forker
BTW, it's not the first time RicharD has appeared in book form. He was profiled in Eileen Duffy's BEHIND THE BOTTLE.
AND
The Wines of Long Island, 3rd edition Textbook Binding – January 1, 2019
by Jose Moreno-Lacalle and Philip Palmedo
ANYWAY.../SUN, SEA, SOIL is a terrific book and a great stocking stuffer! Get a copy for yourself ad a copy for the local wine fan will love it too!