By Lenn Thompson, Executive Editor
Rich Olsen-Harbich, long-time winemaker at Raphael in Peconic has resigned that post and will take over the head winemaking duties at Bedell Cellars starting next week, joining a winemaking team that includes Bedell's founder and now founding winemaker Kip Bedell and consultant Pascal Marty. The news was first reported on Twitter by Howard Goldberg.
Olsen-Harbich succeeds Kelly Urbanik, whose contract has run out told me in an email "I don't have any current plans -- just going to take a few days to think about things. I'm keeping all of my options open."
Bedell's owner Michael Lynne described his new winemaking team as "a dream situation for us" when I spoke with him earlier today, pointing to Olsen-Harbich's "experience, accomplishment and knowledge" as three key reasons for the hiring.
"Our founding winemaker, Kip Bedell founded this winery 30 years ago. Rich has been working out here for 25," Lynne said in describing and discussing Olsen-Harbich's understanding of local viticulture and winemaking.
Olsen-Harbich describes his departure from Raphael, where he's served as head winemaker for more than a decade, as amicable, adding that he "Still has some wines to finish there; to get bottled. I'll help with the transition there."
"I was winemaker at Raphael for 14 years and did a lot," he said in a quick phone interview, "I was ready to pursue new challenges. I look forward to working with people at Bedell that I've known and respected for a long time -- Dave Thompson (vineyard manager) and Donna Rudolph (assistant vineyard manager), Trent (Preszler, CEO) and of course Kip, who I've known and been friends with for many years."
"I'm excited. I haven't been excited like this in a few years. This is a great opportunity for me."
This is an dramatic -- and potentially important -- winemaking change on North Fork -- one that brings two seemingly divergent styles together -- Olsen-Harbich's natural winemaking philosophy, spontaneous fermentations and terroir-expressing style and Bedell Cellars' polished, perhaps more-international style, one that focuses largely on blending.
Lynne said that they just don't know how Olsen-Harbich will change Bedell's wines but said that it's always "very exciting when there is a new creative force" behind a project.
Will Olsen-Harbich get to employ the spontaneous fermentations he's become so fond of in recent year? "That's why they hired me!" he said before adding that the overall wine program will remain the same -- the focus on blends, the expression of the fruit coming in from the vineyard.
With the addition of an experienced, talented winemaker like Olsen-Harbich, Bedell Cellars, already one of the top producers in the East Coast, seems poised to take things to the next level. It can take years for a change like this to really be felt, but it bears watching.
Best of luck in the new gig, Rich!
Posted by: Tom Mansell | June 04, 2010 at 06:27 PM
Wow, the author of all three of Long Island’s appellations joins probably the region's most prestigious winery. Yes Lenn, dramatic indeed. Should be quite exciting to see what comes from Bedell after Richard begin to exert his influence. Richard has certainly had a long journey from working at Mudd Vineyards and through Bridgehampton to arrive at Bedell. Best of luck Richard.
Posted by: Alvin Lewis | June 04, 2010 at 07:48 PM
I've been a club member at both vineyards and I am really interested to see how this plays out. Lenn's point about divergent styles couldn't be more accurate. It is hard to believe that the two vineyards are in the same hemisphere.
Posted by: steve g | June 04, 2010 at 10:59 PM
Just think of how fascinating a vertical of Bedell wines will be in a decade, or even five years. Start with '07 and work through five to eight years. I imagine the change will be dramatic. If ever a cellar demanded a vertical, it is now.
Cheers, Rich, and best of luck.
Posted by: Evan Dawson | June 04, 2010 at 11:58 PM
Lenn.... do post an update when you find out who is taking over at Raphael.
Congrats to Bedell. I've drifted away from them over the last 5 years so I'm excited that this change could win me back over time.
Posted by: Dave Foley | June 05, 2010 at 09:40 AM
Great news!
I think Bedell will benefit from Rich's winemaking style, and more importantly, his personality and down to earth approach.
Posted by: Bryan | June 05, 2010 at 11:42 AM
Congratulations to Richard Olsen-Harbich for making a pivotal and monumental career move. I have known Rich since 1999 when Raphael was just a vineyard. He has a long term outlook on Long Island's terrior and winemaking. I am sure that he will have a very positive effect on the style of Bedell's wine.
Christopher Davies
LongIslandWineCountry.COM & Wine Country International® magazine
Posted by: LongIslandWineC | June 05, 2010 at 12:29 PM
Great to hear about Rich moving over to Bedell! Very exciting news for our entire industry. We still have a Cabernet Franc in our cellar we made with Rich under the Home Restaurant label back in 1992! What a career! Congratulations Rich!
Posted by: David Page | June 06, 2010 at 08:15 AM
Richard is a genuinely nice guy and I wish him all the best in his new position with Bedell. I only hope he is able to flex his creative muscles as freely as he did at Raphael. T'would be a shame to not take advantage of all his creativity and natural instincts for creating great, if not idiosyncratic wine.
Posted by: Ron DiGennaro | June 06, 2010 at 12:45 PM
Congratulations to Richard, one of the stalwarts of the industry. It's an exciting development for all of us who enjoy the Bedell Cellars wines.
Lenn, do you have any info on the status of the other project/tasting room/facility that Raphael planned on opening?
Posted by: Dan McGurn | June 07, 2010 at 05:36 PM
Congratulations bro!
Best of luck!
Posted by: Fred | June 07, 2010 at 07:58 PM
I have only met Rich briefly and know him more by reputation. It's an exciting move and I wish him and the team at Bedell all the best together.
I did have the pleasure of working with Kelly Urbanik at Bedell during the 2008 harvest (her first as head winemaker). She was a consumate professional and a talented, hardworking young winemaker. I wish her the best as well.
Posted by: Ben | June 08, 2010 at 08:19 PM
Just returned from Europe to read the news. Congrats to Richard, who has been a great mentor to me and many other people. Looking forward to the collaboration of Richard and Bedell.
Posted by: Len Dest | June 10, 2010 at 10:15 AM
Congratulations and well deserved. I worked for Rich over 25 years ago, and after all those years, he is still the wisest, kindest and most talented individual I have ever had the pleasure to work with. Bedell is fortunate to have you on their team. Cheers, Brigid Sheehan
Posted by: Brigid Sheehan | June 29, 2010 at 06:43 PM