Cru | Weekly Wine Industry Podcast: Recent Episodes
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Cru, a weekly long-form wine industry podcast where we chat with the legends & disruptors behind your favorite wine brands. Hosted by Wine Enthusiast 40 Under 40 Tastemaker, sommelier & marketer, Chappy Cottrell. Guests include Raj Parr, Steve Matthiasson, Esther Mobley, Francoise Peschon, Andre Mack, Marissa Ross, Amanda McCrossin, Brian McClintic, and many more.
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Seth & Audrey Kitzke (@UsDoingWine) grow and make Upsidedown Wines, Kitzke Cellars, and The Devil is a Liar based in Richland, Washington.
About The Podcast Episode To kick us off with the first episode of the relaunch of the Cru wine industry podcast, I sat down with Washington State’s dynamic duo behind Upsidedown Wine, Kitzke Cellars, and The Devil is a Liar, Seth and Audrey Kitzke.
I’m so excited to be back with the first podcast episode in a few years. I’m looking forward to sharing some wonderful conversations with the legends and disruptors of the wine industry in the coming weeks and months. So you’ll want to be sure to subscribe to the show on your favorite podcasting app and leave a review!
You can find full show notes at CruPodcast.com
About Seth & Audrey Kitzke Seth and Audrey reside in Richland, Washington where they grow and make wine for Upsidedown Wine, The Devil is a Liar, and their family label, Kitzke Cellars. Seth grew up planting the vineyard with his dad, not knowing that one day he would be making the wine. He had a career shift in 2014 and went back to school to study Enology at the Northwest Wine Academy in Seattle.
He then went on to work with Charles Smith, Brennon Leighton, Brian Carter, and Charlie Hoppes before moving back to Eastern Washington to take over winemaking for Kitzke Cellars and starting their labels. Seth & Audrey have immense respect for the land and the grapes that they grow. Striving to produce the very best fruit while staying true to the region’s unique terroir.
They have a two-year-old daughter, Sage, whose curiosity usually leads her into the vineyard and winery with Mom and Dad.
Our Podcast Partner Before we get into the episode, I would be remiss to tell you about our presenting podcast partner, Monday Wine.
Monday Wine helps wineries grow their direct-to-consumer sales with digital marketing strategies and tactics that actually work. They'll save you time, headaches, and money while growing your mailing list, wine club, and DTC revenue. If you own or are responsible for the sales and marketing of a winery and growing your DTC sales has been a struggle, click the link in the show description or visit their website at Monday.Wine to apply for their services.
Our Affiliate Partner This episode of Cru is also brought to you in affiliation with Notion.
If you’re anything like me, you probably have anywhere from 15-20 different browser tabs open at one time, too many Excel sheets, and multiple projects you’re trying to manage. To keep your head above water you’re probably using too many tools. And things are a little, maybe a lot, chaotic, I would venture to guess. You can silently nod your head in agreement.
With Notion, all your work can be done in one place. You can easily collaborate with team members at the same time or across various teams and time zones. I use Notion for managing and publishing this entire podcast. I also use it in my marketing agency to manage my daily operations and everything for my clients. It’s a seamless experience between desktop and mobile. From managing a social media content calendar to planning and forecasting an entire wine release, I use Notion to manage it all. Get started with Notion for free today!
Welcome to Cru! I'm your host, Chappy Cottrell, and I'm here to take you on an exhilarating journey through the captivating world of wine. As an award-winning wine marketer, podcaster, sommelier, and wine director, I've dedicated my life to uncovering the hidden gems of the industry.
Episodes can be listened to on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or CruPodcast.com
Every Monday, we dive deep into the essence of wine, bringing you exclusive interviews with the true legends and fearless disruptors who are shaping the future of this remarkable industry. Get ready for a weekly rendezvous with the most intriguing minds in the wine business, as they unveil their profound thoughts, share their incredible experiences, and provide invaluable insights.
Whether you're a seasoned sommelier, an aspiring business owner, a master winemaker with years of expertise, or someone embarking on their very first steps in the industry, this podcast is an absolute must-listen. I guarantee that you won't want to miss a single episode!
Imagine having the brightest stars in the wine cosmos whispering their secrets and wisdom directly into your eager ears. With Cru, you'll gain unparalleled access to the minds behind the labels and business, their stories interlaced with passion, ambition, and a sheer love for wine.
But let me share a little secret about Cru's humble beginnings. Back in 2016, Cru started as my personal quest to learn from the industry's most revered figures, asking them the burning questions that fueled my curiosity about starting and operating a wine business. After a brief hiatus, Cru has returned with a renewed purpose: to continue seeking answers to those questions, exploring every facet of growing, making, marketing, and selling wine.
My mission is simple: I want each and every episode to arm you with strategic and tactical insights that you can apply directly to your own journey in the industry. I’m here to empower you, to fuel your aspirations, and to make your path in the wine world that much brighter.
You can find Cru on all major podcast platforms, including Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Simply search for Cru Wine Podcast, and our exhilarating episodes will be right at your fingertips.
If you find value in our show - and I’m certain you will - I kindly ask you to consider subscribing and leaving a glowing review. Your support goes a long way in helping remarkable industry professionals like yourself discover the wealth of knowledge Cru has to offer.
And speaking of support, I'm thrilled to announce that Cru is proudly presented by Monday Wine!
Monday Wine is a pioneering digital marketing agency dedicated to empowering wineries and growing their direct-to-consumer sales. If you're a winery looking to enhance your direct-to-consumer revenue, expand your mailing list, or attract more passionate wine club members, head over to Monday.Wine to apply for their exceptional services. That’s Monday.Wine to apply.
Thank you for joining me on this exhilarating journey through the world of wine. I’m just getting started, and I couldn't be more excited to share these captivating episodes with you. Stay tuned and subscribe!
-Chappy, host
Heather Daenitz is the founder and photographer of Craft & Cluster, a photography and social media consulting company focusing on brands in the wine and beer industries!
It was while working for a vineyard management company in Santa Barbara County that Heather rediscovered her love of photography and found a previously unknown interest in social media management. She was asked to start an Instagram account to showcase the practices of the company and decided that if she was going to do this social media thing, she was going to do it right; opting to only post high quality, original images that told a story.
After almost two years of photographing, upgrading her camera equipment, and learning everything she could about social media management for the company she worked for, she decided it was time to create her own business. She wanted to help wineries and breweries create beautiful imagery that would tell the stories behind their brands. Thus, Craft & Cluster was born!
In this episode we dig into the years of learnings, practices, experimenting, and trial and error that Heather has gone through to now being a sough after wine industry photographer. There are only a handful of incredible photographers in the California wine industry that I consider to be top notch, and Heather is one of them. She’s going to give us some very useful strategies and tactics when it comes to visually telling our stories in an authentic manner, how to take your own gorgeous photos when you can’t hire pros like her, and some fantastic resources to use as a constant reference. We previously recorded this chat via Instagram Live, so there are a few times were we take audience questions from Instagram and the interview lends itself to being more of a natural conversation.
Some resources
• StoryBrand
• Later App
• Plan That
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Instagram
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As you know, I generally interview amazing wine folks to learn about their stories and coax out a bit of knowledge and advice. Today’s podcast is a little bit of a different format however. Here’s what’s up. The other day I reached out to an incredible power couple of the wine world, Kathryn and Tug Coker who together are married with two tiny humans running around the house, operate all things Esters Wine Shop & Bar in Santa Monica, and have recently launched a new wine podcast called The Long Finish where they take time to unwind, recap the week, what’s inspiring them in this time, and of course pop a bottle to enjoy and discuss. So we hoped on an ever so handy Zoom call and spent a while hanging out to record a collaborative podcast episode chatting about chillable red wines and life to co-publish it on both of our podcasts. Fun, right?
The question that led to The Long Finish starting is, “What are we drinking tonight?” So, what did we drink? 2019 Las Jaras Glou Glou from Mendocino. A super gulpable, hence the name, refreshing chill able red wine blend of mainly Carignan and Zinfandel that I very quickly consumed the entire bottle of. You should definitely snag a few bottles of this guy either from Esters, the winery itself, or your local wine shop. I grabbed mine from Miracle Plum, a cute little boutique market & goods shop here in Sonoma County.
Towards the end our chat we’re talking about work and inspiration an I mention a new project I’m launching called SommTable. It’s a new kind of online wine shop where you can shop my entire wine list from Barndiva made up of a lot of very well priced Burgundy & Champagne, join our wine club that’s not really a club more just fun way to discover delicious wines for $75 per month for three killer bottles of vino, and my favorite part, a daily wine deal texted to you. Simply, you text me to signup, I text you a wine at an insane value everyday. The prices on these wines are well below any other retail prices that I see and they all have a sustainable focus. It doesn’t cost anything until you actually buy wine too. To jump on that list text SOMMTABLE to 31996. You should also go follow my new instagram handle for the shop @sommtablehealdsburg.
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A Virginia native, Martin was present at the inception of what is now considered one of that state’s premier wine producers, Boxwood Estate Winery, in 2005. As Executive Vice President of Winery Operations, Martin’s job was to oversee all facets of production, sales and marketing of Boxwood’s award-winning whites, rosés and Bordeaux-style red blends.
Martin’s forward thinking led directly to Middleburg having its own wine identity separate from the more generic Virginia designation, making her well suited to again start from scratch with Oceano Wines. Jancis Robinson noted Martin’s marketing savvy in her book “American Wine.”
Marbue Marke earned his enology degree from Davis and, subsequently, added to his academic resume with an MBA from Sonoma State University. His practical experience began at J Winery in Sonoma, followed by a series of moves, each adding another piece to the puzzle that is winemaking. At Cosentino Winery, he learned about the rarefied world of high-end Napa wines. He was then a barrel enologist at R.H. Philips. For two years, Marke was charged with cooperage studies, an offshoot field that many winemakers are not experienced in. During a stint at Benziger, he was immersed in that family’s heightened concern for soil and winemaking purity.
From there, Marke made a seemingly counterintuitive jump to Gallo. He reasoned that it’s always a good idea to revisit the basics of one’s craft, and given Gallo’s depth and breadth of resources, it was the perfect place for him to hone all of the skills associated with the production process.
But perhaps the most pivotal move he made, at least in terms of his future connection to Oceano, was his decision to sign on as John Caldwell’s winemaker. That Marke began working with Caldwell turned out to be prophetic for Rachel . She met Marke by way of her very own connection to Caldwell. She sourced the plant material for Boxwood Estate Winery’s first vineyard block from him. Marke has since taken over as the Director of Winegrowing at Italics Winegrowers in Coombsville, one of Napa Valley’s cooler climes and another serendipitous similarity with Spanish Springs Vineyard.
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Winc is a unique winery in that they make over 100 individual SKUs of wine from around the country at a range of price points. On top of that, their direct-to-consumer first model and mass utilization of Digital marketing mixed with a heavy dose of customer feedback has enabled them to continue to craft wines that their audience is looking for. With a 684% increase in new member sign ups between March 15 2020 and March 28 2020 and an 80% increase in revenue in March over February, the company is seeing some incredible growth.
Previous to founding and growing Winc with his partners, Brian founded successful finance and fashion startups. Additionally, he created the wine program for the tech-enabled Clo Wine in New York and founded the millennial cult brand Jolie Folle rosé.
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https://crupodcast.com/show/reimagining-the-path-from-grapes-to-glass-with-brian-smith
GET 10% OFF FROM EPISODE SPONSOR, BRICK & MORTAR AND DELTA WINES WHEN YOU SHOP NOW! ENTRE CODE CRU* AT CHECKOUT.*LEAVE A REVIEW ON APPLE PODCASTS
This is a bonus episode of sorts. Recently I sat down with Carey Vanderborg @careydrewsomm on Instagram Live to turn the tables and interview me, Chappy! For those who don't know Carey he is a sommelier at Press Restaurant in St. Helena, California. In this down time he's started interviewing some of the top talent in Napa Valley Kellie White, Chris Phelps, Carlton McCoy, and many more. He's going live at 5pm each week day on Instagram.
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A native Californian, growing up in St. Helena, Natalie came back to the Napa Valley after graduating college and fell back in love with the beauty of the Napa Valley. Growing up with a Master Sommelier father, she knew if she wanted to change career paths to the wine industry she would need to do something different.
Natalie did a harvest at Etude in 2010, embracing the long hours, manual labor, and comradery that comes with cleaning. She was hooked! Natalie spent the first part of the 2011 vintage in the Southern Hemisphere at Villa Maria in New Zealand and the second part of 2011 at Littorai in Sebastopol, getting her first experience with biodynamics working under Ted Lemon. Not knowing where to go next, a conversation with her longtime friend, Samantha Rudd, turned into an opportunity to work harvest at Rudd Oakville Estate in 2012.
“It was like finally coming home”, Natalie says. “I grew up playing in the vineyards and running around the property as a kid. Something just felt right.” When harvest finished, Natalie began hosting guests who were visiting the Estate, hoping to continue working at Rudd in any area she could. In 2014, Natalie joined the Winemaking team fulltime as a cellar hand and became the oenologist in 2016. An opportunity of a lifetime presented itself, allowing Natalie to travel overseas to work harvest at Château Pétrus in 2016. Coming back from her travels refreshed and rejuvenated, Natalie became the Assistant Winemaker in 2017 at Rudd Estate, and the following year the lead Winemaker for Crossroads.
If you haven't already listened to the round table discussion on the Wine Business x COVID_19, listen to it here!
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https://crupodcast.com/show/exploring-the-crossroads-of-farming-winemaking-with-natalie-bath
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Born in Tel Aviv, Guy grew up between California and Israel, building a strong bond with both lands. After a harvest internship in Napa Valley, Guy decided to pursue winemaking professionally, and he graduated from the UC Davis Department of Viticulture and Enology in 2013. He has worked at Cliff Lede Vineyards and Whetstone Wine Cellars in Napa Valley, Domaine Francois Villard in the Northern Rhone, and Clonakilla winery in Canberra, Australia. Most recently, before moving back to Israel to join Dalton Winery as head winemaker in 2015, Guy worked at Broc Cellars in Berkeley, one of California’s preeminent urban wineries.
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https://crupodcast.com/show/making-contemporary-wines-of-israel-with-guy-eshel
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CRU COLLECTIVE WINES:
2019 Delta California Chenin Blanc
There are only a handful of producers in California making stunning Chenin blanc and Delta is one of them. This wine full of characters classic to Chenin like lemon verbena, jasmine, Bartlett pear, apricot, blood orange, and my favorite tasting note that for me is the sign of a quality Chenin blanc, fresh persimmon. An odd one, I know! Super tasty! This Chenin is sourced from some chilly-willy vineyards way out on the Cali coast and fermented partially in stainless steel tanks and partially in neutral wood barrels which allows for a micro oxygenation during fermentation to develop more texture and provide a bit more lees contact. It’s also 12.5% alcohol so if you’re trying to stay a bit healthier, this is a solid wine for you.
So Delta is the new project from Alexis and Matt Iaconis, who just happen to be friends and neighbors of mine. Matt & Alexis first met while both working at the three-Michelin starred The Restaurant at Meadowood in Napa and now have a beautiful family, own and make wine for there primary label brick & mortar, and now have Delta. What I love about the Delta wines is that they are California appellation, but that in no way means that they are of a lower-quality than the higher-end brick & mortar. Production is still small and their commitment to sustainability is even more so in focus while $1 of every bottle sold is donated to their non-profit partners like the The Surfrider Foundation and Cool Effect to help fight for environmental change, something that is near and dear to my heart having studied sustainable development in college. What’s even better though is that this Delta Chenin is $15 a bottle, a steal of a value! But, as a listener of Cru and because I love this wine so much, you get it for $13.50 a bottle when you shop on the Delta Wines website, winesforchange.com. Just enter the promo code CRU at checkout and Matt & Alexis will give ya that 10% off. Also, if you are yearning to explore the brick & mortar wines, which the 2015 Sweet Water Springs Vineyard Blanc de Blancs from the Russian River which drinks like blanc de blancs from my favorite village in Champagne called Vertus, you can snag 10% off all of the brick & mortar wines at brickandmortarwines.com too! I’m stoked, I hope you are! And I hope that you’ll enjoy this Chenin cause it is yummy!
A few days ago I had the idea to get a handful of amazing wine professionals together to discuss what’s actually going on in the wine industry right now during this COVID_19 quarantine time. I wanted to get a pulse on how everyone is feeling, what sales are looking like in various markets, how this immediate transition to everyone pushing sales online is both working and not working out for folks. I wanted to understand what people are doing to authentically connect with their audiences while offering support and where these professionals think the industry and market as a whole will be when we come out of this thing. I sat down with 9 incredible professionals from Sonoma and Napa Counties to enjoy a quarantini, but more importantly to have a real conversation of the trials and tribulations we’re going through. These amazing folks provide a lot of insight and new perspective along with actionable tactics, strategies, tools to apply to any kind of wine business you’re running or working in. We also discuss the programs that have been setup to help those who have now been rendered unemployed, are homeless, or have shut their businesses all together.
PANEL INCLUDES
Blair Guthrie, owner/winemaker of Guthrie Family Wines and Stewart Cellars in Sonoma and Napa
Amanda McCrossin, former wine director of Press restaurant in St. Helena and long-time YouTuber, Instagramer, and marketer
Dan Petroski, owner/winemaker of Massican and winemaker at Larkmead Vineyards in Calistoga
Josh Phelps, owner/winemaker of Grounded Wine Co. in St. Helena
Sara Morgenstern, former Sonoma County beverage director and director of operations for multiple small brands such as Ruth Lewandowski Wines
Michelle Lipa, owner of Trig Collective a marketing and branding agency based in Napa
Chelsea Boss, a marketing and management consultant based in Napa
Woody Hambrecht, co-founder & co-CEO of Haus, a venture backed low-alcohol aperitif
All of the questions that we discussed will be in the show notes along with the links to all of the recourses we mention throughout our chat.
RESOURCES
Ship Ohi: Ohi enables same-day delivery for e-commerce brands by building the ‘Amazon Prime Now’ experience with next-generation technology.
Kevin Kelly's One Thousand True Fans: If you could get 1000 True Fans to support you by buying $100 worth of what you create every year, you would earn an income of $100,000 a year. That sounds a bit like a get-rich-quick scheme. 1000 True Fans is not that. It's a get-a-good-income-slowly income model. It requires hard work, but once you’ve built up 1000 True Fans, you are free forever to live as an independent creator earning good money making what you love.
A Theatre Guide to Technology (or How I Learned to Live with Corona): Dear wonderful humans, artists, entrepreneurs and educators, you are heroes. Fuck this shit. Let’s make things, shall we? Deep breaths, follow the bullet points, and when you feel confident enough… Get creative. It’s what we do best. Right? You got this.
Compline Wine Bar: Buy our health care workers and first responders a meal!
The Independent Restaurant Coalition: formed to the save local restaurants affected by COVID-19. IRC is founded on the simple belief that there is power to affect legislative change if we unite our voice. This national movement is quickly growing and EVERYONE is welcome to join. Together, as small businesses across this country, we represent up to 4% of the nation's GDP.
Dining Bonds Initiative: Due to the impact that the coronavirus COVID-19 has had on the restaurant community, a collective of restaurant industry professionals have set a global initiative in motion to get funds into the hands of restaurants NOW, even if they are temporarily closed. A Dining Bond works like a savings bond, where you can purchase a "bond" at a value rate to be redeemed for face value at a future date.
ROAR (Relief Opportunities for All Restaurants): ROAR stands united to act immediately. We know that decisions are being made right now. These decisions will shape the future in ways both known and unknowable. We must act swiftly to give our community the best possible chance for a positive outcome. Here’s is our 8 point plan to be in a position to reopen, rehire, and eventually help our community:
QUESTIONS
-At the end of the first week of shelter-in-place here in Northern California, Carlo what is the general feeling from the consensus of people in your peer groups? How about for you Sara?
-Michelle and Chelsea, on the communication front how are you and clients communicating with client’s current customer base offering them reassurance and how are you asking for support? What’s the language you’re using?
-As we all know, tasting rooms are closed which make up roughly 28% of sales for many companies and in-person tastings are obviously no longer occurring as with restaurants, which make up roughly 20% of sales for businesses, have essentially halted. In an effort to pivot and keep driving sales and cash flow, Blair, what are you all implementing in your businesses and seeing other companies doing?
-Josh, how are retail sales currently factoring into your sales mix and are those sales holding on?
-Dan and Josh, at the higher-end price point of the market, are we seeing a shift in sales of bottle prices say over $50?
-Many people are bottling this week and last week which means that many people will be sending out their spring releases soon. Woody, Haus launched a brand new product last week. First, what was the response like from your customers and secondly, is there anything that you learned in launching during this time that has differed from previous launches? Is there anything that brands should be aware of when sending out new releases and launching new SKUs over the next six months or so?
-Amanda, currently the cost of paid advertising has gone down. Facebook Ads for example are very affordable currently for the . How are we seeing more companies utilizing these cheaper resources right now for both paid and organic marketing?
-How does a brand balance retaining a level of exclusivity while still getting it's name out there in a bigger way through virtual tastings, etc?
-If we look at China and their timeframe of the economy coming back online, we’re looking at a 4-5 month runway. With those projections we’d be looking at June 1st coming back up for air. Michelle, how are you in your businesses planning for the next 4-5 months and what are some of your predictions of what the market could look like come June 1st?
-What are some benefit and/or aid programs that are starting that people who have been laid off can take advantage of?
When you discuss wine, context is everything. Whether the topic of conversation is a specific region, grape varietal, producer, the context in which that topic is discussed leads the participants and audience to understand what the story and purpose is. In order to tell a story, how do you create that context?
Insert Matt Morris. For over a decade Matt has been working with some of the top wine and food producers and brands in northern California such as Abreu, Bond, Cornell, Heitz Cellars, Herb Lamb, Lorenza, Realm Cellars, The Restaurant at Meadowood, Charter Oak, Press Restaurant, Quince, Noma in Copenhagen, Goop, Skywalker Sound, and many many more. His work has focused on telling stories visually in a not-so-obvious manner by providing audiences the context of a deeper meaning. In recent years, Matt made the leap into winemaking originally with winemaker Benoit from Realm Cellars and now Francoise Peschon of Arujo, Vine Hill Ranch, and Cornell. Matt & Francoise are focusing on the revival of Charbono, a grape originally from north western Italy, but now only 70 acres remain and they all happen to be planted in Napa Valley.
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Maître de Chai translates to cellar master, or the person responsible for the development and aging of wine. By extension, the humble cellar master is the person responsible for the management of the winery.
Established in 2012, Maître de Chai is the personal project of Marty Winters and Alex Pitts, two friends who met in the kitchen of the famed two Michelin star Cyrus in Healdsburg, California. Their focus is on showcasing old-vine, organically farmed classic varietal vineyards. With experiences on the floor of The French Laundry and The Restaurant at Meadowood and in the cellar of Abe Schoener’s Scholium Project, Marty and Alex had a tri-fold education with focus on classic cooking and wine producers while experimenting in the cellar with varietals and winemaking techniques.
Together they look to make wines of high quality in a way that best showcases the sense of place where the grapes are grown and the personality of the vineyard. From the ground to the bottle, the character of the wine is the focus of their endeavor. They source grapes from unique and distinct single vineyards that are impeccably farmed here in California.
Are you ready to more deeply connect with the people and stories on Cru? Browse the show notes with the link below and while you're at it, join the Cru by popping your email into the subscription box under the Cru Mail tab.
BROWSE THE SHOW NOTES: https://crupodcast.com/show/showcasing-the-character-of-organic-old-vine-vineyards-with-alex-pitts-and-marty-winters
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Since 2012 he has travelled to McLaren Vale numerous times per year to oversee the winemaking for the Bordeaux varieties at Hickinbotham Clarendon Vineyard, covers a steep cut of country from the ridgetops above the village of Clarendon to the Onkaparinga River in the gorge below. Since its establishment in 1971, the Hickinbotham vineyard has become a part of Australia’s wine heritage, supplying fruit to produce many of Australia’s greatest wines.
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Chris holds a degree in biology from the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana, and an MBA from the University of Illinois, Chicago. While there, he played big-ten football and worked at the local bars. His friends were Chicago artists and musicians; he packs his trombone when he comes to Australia.
During a visit to Napa Valley, Chris discovered a lifestyle that combined his love of the sciences with his growing passion for culinary and wine pursuits. Soon after, he began studying at UC Davis where he earned a master’s degree in both viticulture and oenology. He further studied in Italy at Tenute Antinori, Santa Cristina Estate before returning to Napa Valley to join the winemaking team at Cardinale in 1998. In 2000, Chris was appointed winemaker for Lokoya and he went on to assume that role for Cardinale, La Jota, and Mt Brave.
In this episode we mention…
UC Davis Viticulture Program
Tre Vigne Restaurant
Tenute Antinori Solaia
Renzo Cotarella, CEO of Marchesi Antinori
Thomas Duroux, winemaker of Chateau Palmer
Pete Fraser, Yangarra winemaker
Rob Mann, winemaker
Australian Wine Research Institute (AWRI)
The story of Hickinbotham
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I was first introduced to the powerhouse that is Helena Price Hambrecht a few years back when I was living in England and listening to the podcast Design Details on which she was a guest. Intrigued by her eloquence, her candor, and the sheer number of projects that she was working on at the time, I needed to learn more. From there, I started following her work as a photographer and creative in Silicon Valley. Fast forward several years, I’m living here in Healdbsurg, California and am introduced to a line of vermouths and wines, courtesy of the one and only Sara Morgenstern, made by Woody Hambrecht. Sara introduced them to me as we recorded a podcast episode in what is now Haus’s Healdsburg production facility. At the same time, I met Helena, IRL. The connections came full circle.
At the time, I didn’t know Woody’s background, but was stunned by the quality of his products at an incredible value. At Barndiva, where I’m the wine director, I’ve been pouring Woody’s Alysian Sauvignon Blanc from their estate Grist Vineyard for the better part of a year as it is so beautiful and balanced for domestic Sauvignon Blanc. When I heard that Woody & Helena were starting a low-alcohol, direct-to-consumer apéritif to take on the likes of Campari and Aperol providing a product for a more conscious consumer, I knew we had to sit down and record a podcast episode.
In their own words Haus began, “…. with alcohol, an industry that hasn’t evolved since prohibition. It’s still ruled by huge liquor companies who spend big to get their products on store shelves and in bars — and you’re stuck with their choices. Sketchy ingredients. Too much alcohol. Too many hangovers. We wanted something better, so we made our own apéritif.
This is where our story begins. We’re excited to continue making products for how today’s generation gathers. Forget the polished silver and the perfect plating. We’re about getting together and just hanging out. And if it gets a little bit messy, even better.”
I have to say as an alcohol professional, I am not a cocktail person. I drink Champagne and beer with the occasional whiskey. However, Haus has become my go to drink when I get home from a long day to simply unwind with a refreshing spritz of their Citrus Flower with a splash of Topo Chico sparkling water.
Follow Haus on Instagram @drinkhaus and buy Haus at drink.haus
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In this episode we mention…
Haus
Dagmar Studios, Helena’s Creative Studio
Gin Lane
Red Antler
Gucci Mane Autobiography
Y Combinator
Great Oaks VC
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This is a brief discussion that occurred between Steve Matthiasson and myself before we started recording for the podcast episode published previous to this publishing.
In this conversation, Steve and I discuss the human element in wine in regards to terroir. This subject came up after myself speaking to comparative tastings of white Burgundy and California Chardonnay, the differences between the two in terms of minerality and richness, followed by the stylistic differences. Steve argues that the primary difference is the human element and style, which more often that not is left out of the conversation of terroir.
Steve dreamt of farming his entire life. He became an obsessed gardener and cook while studying philosophy in college. In 1994, while back in grad school for horticulture after three years as a bike messenger/wannabe farmer, he found a job in vineyards and orchards working for a small sustainable agriculture consulting firm. In 1999 he co-authored the California manual on sustainable vineyard practices. In 2002 he started consulting on vineyard practices in Napa. He still loves the challenge of solving vineyard problems for others, but since 2003 the primary focus has been on his own family farming and winemaking with his wife Jill. Steve is a life-long student of the craft of viticulture.
Eric Asimov has said of Steve’s wines, “Matthiasson wines bear an agricultural stamp, as fresh, lively and alive as the best produce from a farmers’ market.” Steve is a James Beard Award Finalist in 2018 & 2019, and has been named Winemaker of the Year by both the San Francisco Chronicle and Food & Wine Magazine.
Learn more about Steve with the show notes here.
In this episode we mention…
Native Seeds Search Organization
Gary Nabhan, author on native foods
Anson Mills, heritage rices
Chef Frank Stitt of Highlands Bar
Chef Rodney Scott, James Beard Award
Brownen Percival & Steve Matthiasson Sustainability Talks in London on Wine & Cheese
Premier Viticulture, Steves Vineyard Company
Tenets of Integrated Pest Management
• Monitoring
• Establishing an Economic Threshold
• Cultural Controls
2012 Limerick Lane Pinot Noir
14 Inkas Vodka
High Wire Distillery in Charleston, South Carolina
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William Whelan is the Vice President of Wine for Winestyr, an online and physical retail space operating on a direct-to-consumer and wine club model.
Winestyr gives you unprecedented access to a curated collection of wines from the over 7,000 wineries in the United States. Most of these producers are actually too small to warrant the attention of retailers so they are genuinely hard to find. Until now. They’ve combed the country for the best producers, met with hundreds of winemakers, and tasted thousands of wines. Producers that they work with include Matthiasson, Drake Whitcraft, Katie Wilson, Blair Guthrie, Sandhi, Halcyon, Martha Stoumen, and Julien Fayard.
As the Vice President of Wine, Will is responsible for the continual growth of the Winestyr portfolio of incredible producers from around the country, educating staff weekly on wine, and curating the educational materials for each wine that go out Winestyr members.
Learn more about Will and WInestyr with the show notes here.
Mike and Cory Waller are brothers raised running around the hills of Hollister, California. After years of work, travel, and discovery, they find themselves crafting wines a mile away from each other in the Cienega Valley with Mike the winemaker of Calera Wines and Cory the winemaker for Eden Rift Vineyards.
Cory grew up exploring the forests, canyons and river beds of the Cienega Valley. To this day, he knows the back roads of this remote appellation like few others. He counts local farmers, ranchers and fisherman in nearby Monterey Bay among his cadre of friends and colleagues. To describe him as non-interventionist winemaker would be an overstatement, for Cory possesses a strong point-of-view. While vine health is crucial, Cory favors the fruit of vines that struggle profoundly to produce smaller, yet clearly delineated yields. In the cellar, neutral vessels, native yeasts and varying degrees of stem inclusion, play a strong role in a wine’s elévage, as he prefers to transmit the voice of a site, over a heavily stylized approach. His mentors in wine include Tony Soter, Josh Bergstrom and Jim Prosser, of Oregon. He performed stages at New Zealand’s Neudorf and Martinborough Vineyards, and was Assistant Winemaker at the neighboring, iconic estate, Calera.
A master of Pinot Noir, known for his terroir-driven approach to winemaking, Mike Waller has worked alongside legendary vintner Josh Jensen for more than a decade, helping to guide winemaking at Calera. Mike’s winemaking style honors the character and complexity of Calera’s six renowned sites on Mt. Harlan, which are the source for some of the New World’s most revered wines. In the winery, Mike captures the nuance of these grand cru-caliber vineyards to create sophisticated wines renowned for their layered elegance and aging potential. Mike cut his teeth at Saintsbury in Napa, Chalone in the Central Coast as the assistant winemaker, finally coming to Calera to work with Josh.
Learn more with the show notes here.
Bertus and Alli are the owners and winemakers of Belong Wine Co. based in Napa Valley making Rhône and fringe varietals from the El Dorado Foothills.
With 1 ton of fruit and a whole lot of gumption, started Belong Wine Co. in 2017 to celebrate everything they hold dear: love, adventure, and a sense of exploration. They grew up on opposite ends of the globe - Bertus in Cape Town, South Africa and Alli in the Bay Area sugar hamlet of Crockett.
Bertus knew he wanted to be a winemaker at the age of 15. He went on to study Viticulture and Enology at the University of Stellenbosch. He has worked in the cellar at Deetlefs Estate, Rupert & Rothschild Vignerons, Glen Carlou, Hess Collection, Chappellet, and Regusci and has been in his current position as the winemaker for James Cole, Tank Garage, and T-Vine wineries since 2012. His happy place has always been out in the vineyards, where he can be found in short shorts.
Alli still doesn’t know what she wants to be when she grows up. She has always found great joy in the creative process and is a Jill of many trades. She went to the Harvard of the west, Chico State, where she studied Sociology and learned the beauty of work/life balance. Alli moved to Napa in 2010 with her sister, Holly, who was already working in the wine industry. After managing a wine bar downtown for four years she transitioned to her current role at Whetstone Wine Cellars where she gets to wear many hats, including graphic design, hospitality, events, and marketing.
She writes primarily about California wine, though her beat also includes beer, spirits, drinking culture, cults and, occasionally, doughnuts. In her regular Drink Up column, she reviews Bay Area bars. She leads the editorial team for The Press, the Chronicle’s digital guide to visiting wine country. Her weekly email newsletter, Drinking with Esther, includes a reading digest, product reviews and a behind-the-scenes look into the world of wine.
In 2018, the California Newspaper Publishers Association awarded Esther first place in Feature Writing for her story on a winery born from a California cult, and first place in Agricultural Reporting for her examination of Napa Valley's future. The Association of Food Journalists recognized Esther's work as the Best Writing on Beer, Wine or Spirits in 2017 for her profile of farmer Chuy Ordaz. Her work on the 2017 wine country wildfires was vital to the Chronicle earning the Scripps Howard award. She has twice been a finalist in the Louis Roederer International Wine Writers' Awards.
When she’s not writing about wine, Esther is often speaking about it. She gives seminars, presentations and classes to consumer groups and corporate clients.
In this episode we mention…
San Francisco Chronicle
Helen Keplinger, winemaker
Paolo Lucchesi, former food editor at The SF Chronicle
Federal Wines in Boston run by Len Rothenberg
L’Espalier
Round Pond Estate
Bodega Rolland
Smith College
Jon Bonné, wine writer and former wine editor at the SF Chronicle
Esther’s interview with Randall Grahm on selling Bonny Doon
The lost civilization of California Wine by Esther Mobely
Seavey Vineyards & Jim Duane Interview on Cru
Champagne Pierre Peters
Josh Phelps Interview on Cru
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Josh Phelps is the founder and winemaker of Grounded Wine Co. making delicious, all-American, and approachable wines across the west coast while based in St. Helena, California.
Josh’s roots run deep in Napa, raised in a winemaking family, he was exposed to the industry from a young age, starting his very first endeavor in the wine world, “Napa Valet”, at age 15. He continued to build his knowledge of the business through college, selling wine, working the harvest and creating wine for friends with his father, Chris Phelps (of Dominus Estate). As a Napa local, his philosophies on winemaking and business are advised from luminaries of the wine world he calls his mentors and friends like Joel Gott, Kimberly Jones and Leslie Rudd, and of course, his own father. With Grounded Wine Co., Josh hopes to build on this legacy and make his own splash in the wine world while exposing wine drinkers of his own generation to his hometown in wine country.
As a part of his incredible résumé, Josh has been named to Forbes’s 30 under 30 list, Zagat’s 30 under 30 and Wine Enthusiast’s 40 under 40 – though one of his proudest accomplishments is still the Eagle Scout badge he earned at the age of 18.
Grounded Wine Co. is being built to reflect his experience growing up in wine country, and his relationships in the wine community. A grassroots, all-American, wine label, the wines feature grapes from trusted, sustainable vineyards in California and Washington and showcase what it means to be a winemaker today. Working with trusted farmers and childhood friends, his company respects his deep understanding of wine, one that can only be developed growing up around the vines.
In this episode we mention…
Chris Phelps, Josh’s father
Dominus Estate
Caymus Winery
Taken Wine Co.
Chambers & Chambers Distributors
Trinchero Family Estates
Grounded Wine Co.
Ad Vivum Cellars, Chris’ wine label
Landform Pinot Noir Willamette Valley, newest label from Grounded
Work by Gospel, Josh’s design team
Terry Wheatly, Vintage Wine Estates
the late Leslie Rudd
Authentique Wine Cellars, Oregon
Dan Petroski (interview 1) / (interview 2)
Space Age Rosé of Grenache, Grounded
La Gravette de Certan
Massican
Champagne Vilmart
Champagne Pierre Peters
Champagne Doyard
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Valley Bar & Bottle is a neighborhood restaurant, wine bar, and wine retail establishment that simultaneously reveres and revitalizes Sonoma cuisine and hospitality. Launching as a dinnertime restaurant, Valley will gradually incorporate daytime services.
Valley aims for a sustainable approach to all aspects of its business, from waste-reducing and eliminating practices to radical intentionality behind the economy and environment they will create for their employees. As Sonoma locals, they’re looking for creative ways to support and promote the community. They are dedicated to making sure those that work alongside them are able to live fully in the place they serve.
Lauren Feldman and Tanner Walle, two of the co-founders, manage the small front-of-house team, while co-founders Emma Lipp and Stephanie Reagor helm the back-of-house. The beverage program includes local producers as well as imports, with an emphasis paid to organic & biodynamic agriculture practices. The menu is driven by the availability of seasonal produce and the offerings of local purveyors, and influenced by the team’s travels and personal history.
Lauren was born and raised between Sonoma and Santa Rosa in Sonoma Valley. Her studies took her to Indiana, Italy, and then New York, where she became immersed in the food and wine world. Her professional background is in wine sales and branding with an emphasis on restaurant beverage direction + management, winery hospitality + management, brand development and event production. With over a decade of hospitality and beverage management experience, Lauren has managed restaurants & wine lists from New York (L’Artusi, Anfora, west~bourne), to Nashville (Husk), and back to her native California (Molina, CALA).
In 2010, Lauren returned to Sonoma County to develop a closer connection to wine production, starting with launching the hospitality program at Scribe Winery, where she managed the tasting room and events for 4 years. As a harvest intern at Foradori Winery in 2014, Lauren affirmed her passion for biodynamic practices and natural winemaking. In 2015 she started SurPointe, where—with a focus on like-minded producers—she has launched wine brands, grown restaurant beverage programs, and overseen creative collaborations bridging the divide between wine and hospitality communities nationwide. In 2016 she oversaw the creative development and implementation at Napa newcomer Ashes & Diamonds as Director of Sales and Marketing. That same year she received her WSET Diploma certification.
After juggling many roles and tasks at once, Lauren is eager to bring her varied skills together to build a program and community in Sonoma, the town where she was raised and has again called her home for the past 9 years.
Tanner Walle’s career in hospitality spans over a decade, with rolls as both GM and beverage manager for some of New York City’s most well-known wine establishments. Most notably, under the guide and mentorship of James Beard Award-winning sommelier Paul Grieco, Tanner oversaw operations and hospitality at Terroir wine bars, a quintessential helm for both aspiring and veteran wine professionals alike. There, Tanner would help to craft and pioneer a wine and hospitality program many restaurants and wine bars still model today.
In 2015 he orchestrated the opening of The Riddling Widow, a discrete Champagne bar frequented primarily by winemakers and other industry pros.
Beyond restaurant work, Tanner spent much of his tenure in NYC as a consultant for many large-scale wine and hospitality events, including with NBC, Bon Appetit, Food & Wine, PBS and LinkedIn. Tanner would also contribute on panels for NY Champagne Week, Social Media Week and New York Cider Week.
Tanner is excited to bring his New York City expertise and love for hospitality and beverage education to the community of Sonoma.
Jeff Meisel is the Vice President of Brand Development for Long Meadow Ranch based in St. Helena, California. Jeff oversees all things marketing and development across Long Meadow Ranch, Farmstead Restaurant, Hunt & Harvest, and Stony Hill. We chat about Jeff’s story and career in the wine industry thus far, his learnings, and dig into how the Long Meadow Ranch umbrella brand works to engage with customers across marketing channels, platforms, and in real life, along with the specific strategies and tools that they implement do grow the brand across its many product offerings.
Learn more about Jeff and Long Meadow Ranch with the show notes at https://crupodcast.com/show
As online wine sales continue to increase in the U.S., the wine purchasing experience inevitably changes. How do you convey the texture, length, intensity, aromas, and balance of a wine through the internet? How do you sell a visceral product like wine with words and pictures? If the consumer cannot taste the wine themselves before purchase, they need to trust that a team of experts has. Wine Access, one of the original online retailers in wine, began as a web hosting service for wine shops and other wine businesses in 1997. Over time, the company has evolved into the robust direct to consumer wine retailer that it is today, with a carefully vetted selection of both ephemeral daily offers and a more permanent inventory of wines from the industry’s top regions and producers. They sell their wines by telling the stories around each of the producers and wineries they work with. They are a leader in direct to consumer wine sales; an area of tremendous growth in the wine industry.
Wine Access has an unprecedented level of wine expertise, and each bottle sold must first pass through a rigorous tasting panel to get in the portfolio; indeed, only 1% of the wines in the panel tastes end up making it to the online store.
Vanessa was head of sales and marketing for several of Napa’s most prestigious estates including Arietta Wines, Dana Estates, and Realm Cellars. Previously, she was a retail buyer and wine bar wine director in New York. She’s President of the Board for the Jameson Animal Rescue Ranch, holds the WSET Diploma, and was the recipient of the Niki Singer Memorial Scholarship from the International Wine Center. Vanessa has passed the Theory and Practical portions of the Master of Wine exam and is writing a research paper as the final stage.
Eduardo served as Corporate Beverage Director for the Global Morimoto Group and has worked at some of Napa Valley’s most iconic restaurants including Tra Vigne and Bistro Don Giovanni. He is a professional Wine, Sake and Spirits Judge for many competitions in the US and Japan and writes for both the Napa Valley Register and Decanter Magazine. He is an Advanced Sommelier Candidate and is also a Certified Sake Professional.
For $100 off your first Wine Access purchase of $250 or more, please visit wineaccess.com/crupodcast and discount will be applied at checkout.
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For wine industry leaders and entrepreneurs alike the Sonoma Executive MBA programs in wine business is a game-changer. The first of their kind in the United States and developed in response to the needs of the wine industry, Sonoma State University's AACSB accredited Executive MBA programs combine globally-recognized excellence in business education with wine industry expertise.
Their alumni are leaders at elite wine brands around the world. Students have access to an unparalleled network of wine industry scholars, practitioners, and classmates. The programs offer experiential learning through an immersive 4-day leadership sailing weekend in San Diego Bay and in-country consulting projects during a 12-day international business trip. Market-responsive courses are held in the Wine Spectator Learning Center, an innovative learning space gilded with advanced technology and flexible learning classrooms. Applications for the 2020 Sonoma Executive MBA in Wine Business cohort are accepted through February 28th. Visit http://sbe.sonoma.edu/podcast for more information, to speak with an admissions counselor, or to RSVP for an information session. Follow us on social media @sonomasbe.
Dan Petroski is the winemaker of Larkmead Vineyards and the founder & winemaker of Massican. Recently, Dan spoke on a panel regarding climate change and sustainability in relation to the global wine industry. Leaving me with more questions, we sat down to chat about the effects of climate change on Napa Valley specifically, with a focus on the benchmarking and data gathering that Larkmead has been doing to assess things like growing degree days in detail, and how Napa Valley is evolving into Zone 5 climatic conditions. We also discuss the affects of alternative packing and how that crosses over in the marketing & customer perception. Then we dig into how Dan is preparing for the potential major effects of climate change with a 21 year plan for testing other grape varietals that might possibly be more viable in the long-term.
For those who do not know Dan, I encourage you to go back and list to my original interview with him where we discussed being the winemaker of Larkmead Vineyards in Calistoga, California and the founder & winemaker of Massican, Dan’s all white wine label making beautiful expressions of Italian based white wines like a Pinot Grigio & Greco blend called Gemina.
In this episode we mention…
Larkmead Vineyards Sustainability
Winkler Index for wine growing climatic Zones
The Definition of Zone 5 on the Winkler Index
Torres & Jackson Family Climate Change Action Group
Napa Valley Grape Growers (Dan is on the Board)
Napa Valley Vintners Association
Brief history of Larkmead grape growing
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Our podcast today is sponsored by the Executive MBA in Wine Business programs at Sonoma State University.
For wine industry leaders and entrepreneurs alike the Sonoma Executive MBA programs in wine business is a game-changer. The first of their kind in the United States and developed in response to the needs of the wine industry, Sonoma State University's AACSB accredited Executive MBA programs combine globally-recognized excellence in business education with wine industry expertise.
Their alumni are leaders at elite wine brands around the world. Students have access to an unparalleled network of wine industry scholars, practitioners, and classmates. The programs offer experiential learning through an immersive 4-day leadership sailing weekend in San Diego Bay and in-country consulting projects during a 12-day international business trip. Market-responsive courses are held in the Wine Spectator Learning Center, an innovative learning space gilded with advanced technology and flexible learning classrooms. Applications for the 2020 Sonoma Executive MBA in Wine Business cohort are accepted through February 28th. Visit http://sbe.sonoma.edu/podcast for more information, to speak with an admissions counselor, or to RSVP for an information session. Follow us on social media @sonomasbe.
Founders, Jake Stover and Gina Schober, met in 2013 and started Sans Wine Co. in late 2015. Their preference for fresh, vibrant and approachable “wines of place” paved the way for what is now Sans Wine Co. The philosophy behind Sans Wine Co. is sourcing premium wine grapes from organically farmed vineyards and environmentally conscience growers in order to craft natural wines.
Jake Stover, originally from Kansas and University of Kansas alum, on the advice of his older brother, postponed applying to law school in order to intern at a Napa winery for the 2008 harvest. After working in winemaking and production for 8 years, Jake shifted his focus to the farming side of wine growing, and started his own farming company in 2014, Stover Vineyard Management, which specializes in “beyond organic” wine growing.
Gina Schober is a Bay Area, California native and UC Davis alum. You could say that wine is in her blood - her maternal Grandfather was a grape grower in Lake County for 30 years and her paternal Grandfather was a Gallo Wines sales rep in the 1960s. Gina’s passion for wine truly started while working for Bacchus Management Group’s Pizza Antica and Cafe des Amis, where she worked as a beverage manager and sommelier. She became a Certified Sommelier through the Court of Master Sommeliers in 2010 and eventually moved to the Napa Valley to work as a sommelier for Thomas Keller’s Bouchon Bistro. These days, she is an independent contractor, selling wine for a premium California wine broker.
In this episode we mention…
Sans Wine Co.
Ehren Jordan & Failla Wines
Francoise Peschon Interview
Seven Stones Winery
Northern California Distribution for Sans, Vinifera Wine Marketing
Sans Rutherford Riesling
Poor Ranch Zinfandel
The Restaurant at 1900
Follow Jake & Gina on
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In 2012, Sonoma State University launched the first Executive MBA Programs in Wine Business in the United States. This program was developed in response to the needs of wine industry leaders, and remains North America's only program that combines globally recognized excellence in business education with a highly focused wine industry focus. The program is accredited by AACSB, an achievement that fewer than 10% of eligible business programs are able to earn. So far the program has produced nearly 200 alumni who are going on to provide the next generation of wine industry leaders and entrepreneurs. Students have access to an unparalleled network of wine industry scholars, practitioners, and classmates from day one of the program. Courses are held in the Wine Spectator Learning Center, an innovative learning space gilded with advanced technology and flexible learning classrooms. Applications for the 2020 Sonoma Executive MBA in Wine Business cohort are being accepted now through February 28th. Visit SBE.Sonoma.edu/MBA for more information, to speak with an admissions counselor, or to RSVP for an information session. SBE.Sonoma.edu/MBA or call 664-3501.
Both being artists, Scott a musician and Allison a photographer & textile based visual artist, this husband and wife duo have an approach to making wine that is greater than the sum of its parts. With constraints of knowing the farmer by name and them living on their vineyard, organically farming, and obviously the varietal having to be Petite Sirah, the couple is crafting a new style of wine that appeals to both a higher-acid palette and a richer & riper style.
In their own words, “The Mountain Tides wines, each made from the Petite Sirah grape, embody specific nooks and tucked-back places throughout California. With a gentle hands-off approach and an emphasis on aromatic complexity and fresh energy, our wines almost work as a travel diary of sorts; monuments made to our favorite vineyards and the people who farm them.”
In this episode we mention…
Mountain Tides
Allison’s artwork
Rye Restaurant in Louisville, Kentucky
Forlorn Hope & Matthew Rorick’s vineyard
Eleven Eleven Winery
Bay Grape wine shop in Oakland
Self distribution in California
The process of starting a wine label
How to live and work with intention
Mountain Tides Fall Wine Release & Mailing List Sign Up
Follow Mountain Tides on…
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In 2012, Sonoma State University launched the first Executive MBA Programs in Wine Business in the United States. This program was developed in response to the needs of wine industry leaders, and remains North America's only program that combines globally recognized excellence in business education with a highly focused wine industry focus. The program is accredited by AACSB, an achievement that fewer than 10% of eligible business programs are able to earn. So far the program has produced nearly 200 alumni who are going on to provide the next generation of wine industry leaders and entrepreneurs. Students have access to an unparalleled network of wine industry scholars, practitioners, and classmates from day one of the program. Courses are held in the Wine Spectator Learning Center, an innovative learning space gilded with advanced technology and flexible learning classrooms. Applications for the 2020 Sonoma Executive MBA in Wine Business cohort are being accepted now through February 28th. Visit SBE.Sonoma.edu/MBA for more information, to speak with an admissions counselor, or to RSVP for an information session. SBE.Sonoma.edu/MBA or call 664-3501.
Santa Barbara-bred Tyler and Napa Valley-native Kim launched Halcyon Wines in 2013 after Tyler discovered an intriguing Cabernet Franc vineyard along the Central Coast—a varietal he always dreamed of working with. In his 15 years of winemaking experience, Tyler has produced some of the most critically acclaimed wine as Assistant Winemaker at world-renowned Tablas Creek Vineyard and Provenance in Napa Valley. Tyler recently graduated with an Executive MBA in Wine Business through Sonoma State and is helping to develop new brands and reinvigorate legacy brands.
Kim Elwell is a PR and marketing expert with nearly a decade of experience serving celebrity, hospitality, and food/wine clients throughout the Bay Area and beyond—most notably managing Bob Weir's (Grateful Dead) recording studio, TRI Studios in Marin, California. Kim works full-time as Account Director for The James Collective, a boutique PR and marketing agency based in wine country and New York City.
Together the Elwells combine their deep-rooted love of wine and California, bringing you a nouveau take on California Cabernet Franc.
In this episode we mention…
Halcyon Wines
Tyler graduating with his Executive MBA in Wine Business from Sonoma State University
Nom de Guerre, Tyler’s new label
Boojee, Kim’s new label
Follow Halcyon on…
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In 2012, Sonoma State University launched the first Executive MBA Programs in Wine Business in the United States. This program was developed in response to the needs of wine industry leaders, and remains North America's only program that combines globally recognized excellence in business education with a highly focused wine industry focus. The program is accredited by AACSB, an achievement that fewer than 10% of eligible business programs are able to earn. So far the program has produced nearly 200 alumni who are going on to provide the next generation of wine industry leaders and entrepreneurs. Students have access to an unparalleled network of wine industry scholars, practitioners, and classmates from day one of the program. Courses are held in the Wine Spectator Learning Center, an innovative learning space gilded with advanced technology and flexible learning classrooms. Applications for the 2020 Sonoma Executive MBA in Wine Business cohort are being accepted now through February 28th. Visit SBE.Sonoma.edu/MBA for more information, to speak with an admissions counselor, or to RSVP for an information session. SBE.Sonoma.edu/MBA or call 664-3501.
Contributing Editor Virginie Boone has been with Wine Enthusiast since 2010, and reviews the wines of Napa and Sonoma. Boone began her writing career with Lonely Planet travel guides, which eventually led to California-focused wine coverage. In this episode with Virginie, she and I dig into the life of a wine reviewer and how Wine Enthusiast works to be as non-biased and democratic with scores. We chat about the future role of the wine reviewer within the market and how the wine experience could use some adjusting and what millennials expect when they go wine tasting. Then we discuss some of the biggest global challenges that the industry is facing.
In this episode we mention…
Wine Enthusiast Magazine
Wine Enthusiast Podcast
The Press Democrat
Dan Petroski, Massican
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PODCAST PARTNER In 2012, Sonoma State University launched the first Executive MBA Programs in Wine Business in the United States. This program was developed in response to the needs of wine industry leaders, and remains North America's only program that combines globally recognized excellence in business education with a highly focused wine industry focus. The program is accredited by AACSB, an achievement that fewer than 10% of eligible business programs are able to earn. So far the program has produced nearly 200 alumni who are going on to provide the next generation of wine industry leaders and entrepreneurs. Students have access to an unparalleled network of wine industry scholars, practitioners, and classmates from day one of the program. Courses are held in the Wine Spectator Learning Center, an innovative learning space gilded with advanced technology and flexible learning classrooms. Applications for the 2020 Sonoma Executive MBA in Wine Business cohort are being accepted now through February 28th. Visit SBE.Sonoma.edu/MBA for more information, to speak with an admissions counselor, or to RSVP for an information session. SBE.Sonoma.edu/MBA or call 664-3501.
After 17 years of doing literally everything in the wine industry from farming coastal vineyards and washing barrels to running national sales and curating wine lists, Matt & Audra have ventured on to a delicious new journey called Newfound.
Find the full show notes here.
Having a proclivity for the tactile and tangible work of farming a vineyard, the couple purchased property in the Sierra Foothills of El Dorado County near the town of Placerville to plant their 40-acre ranch to vines. Matt fell in love with farming after Ehren Jordan, of Failla Wines, presented him with the opportunity to take over the farming of his Cazadero vineyard on the extreme Sonoma Coast. Ever since, Matt has been yearning to get back to that sort of lifestyle on his own terms.
Matt’s winemaking approach is minimalistic. He’s moved by wines that contain a naturally rugged edge and is in a constant pursuit of pushing his winemaking limits. As it relates to his own wines, he’s firmly guided by the belief that less is always more. With a focus on “fringe” varietals such as Semillon from Yountville, Carignan from Redwood Valley, and Counoise, Grenache, and Mourvedre from Mt. Veeder, the Naumanns are in pursuit of a dream to become first generation grape growers and wine producers in California.
In this episode we mention…
Newfound Wines
Ehren Jordan
Failla Wines
Hourglass
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Having found fermentation at an early age, starting with brewing beer in a fuel can under the stairs, Jim Duane has not ceased in the pursuit of learning more and more. He’s worked in New Zealand, Washington, and finally settled down in Napa Valley in 2004 having worked at Robert Mondavi and Stags Leap Cellars. Today, he grows the wines on the steep slopes that the Seavey Vineyards are planted on overlooking the northern part of Lake Hennessey.
As a part of of his unrelenting thirst for knowing all he can about wine, he no longer brews beer in fuel cans (that we know of), Jim hosts the Inside Winemaking Podcast on which he digs into the nitty gritty details with wine industry professionals. They chat about the technical details and specifics of enology, viticulture, chemistry, biology, essentially how to be a winemaker. If you love to geek on the science and practicality of winemaking, give Jim’s long-form interviews a listen. It’s one of may favorite wine podcasts.
In this episode we mention…
Inside Winemaking Podcast
Seavey Vineyard
Deep Winemaking Immersion Experience
David Ramey quote from a paper Jim found on Ramey’s website Proceedings of the Ninth Australian Wine Industry Technical Conference from 1995. Dave's final sentence changed the path of Jim’s career. "Finally, I would encourage winemakers to focus on making wine 'right', and on making wine that is sensually appealing and pleasing, rather than focusing excessive energy on that may which go wrong."
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In 2012, Sonoma State University launched the first Executive MBA Programs in Wine Business in the United States. This program was developed in response to the needs of wine industry leaders, and remains North America's only program that combines globally recognized excellence in business education with a highly focused wine industry focus. The program is accredited by AACSB, an achievement that fewer than 10% of eligible business programs are able to earn. So far the program has produced nearly 200 alumni who are going on to provide the next generation of wine industry leaders and entrepreneurs. Students have access to an unparalleled network of wine industry scholars, practitioners, and classmates from day one of the program. Courses are held in the Wine Spectator Learning Center, an innovative learning space gilded with advanced technology and flexible learning classrooms. Applications for the 2020 Sonoma Executive MBA in Wine Business cohort are being accepted now through February 28th. Visit SBE.Sonoma.edu/MBA for more information, to speak with an admissions counselor, or to RSVP for an information session. SBE.Sonoma.edu/MBA or call 664-3501.
Having made a career out of producing wines for companies across California, Bob decided a few years ago to make wines for himself with a focus on experimentation and having fun. For those who don’t know Bob, he cut his teeth working on his family’s vineyards in the Central Valley, graduated with an enology degree from Fresno State, worked for Bronco Wine Company, DeLoach, Kunde, Alderbrook, Hartford Court, led the charge at Williams-Selyem as winemaker for 17 years after Burt Williams stepped down, and now is the Director of Winemaking for Three Sticks in Sonoma and makes Bob Cabral Wines on the side.
In this episode, Bob takes us through is long history in the industry working with some great folks, business dealings with John Dyson (owner of Williams-Selyem) and Howard Schultz (CEO of Starbucks), his passion for music like Petty & Zeppelin, his friendship with Sammy Hagar, and we taste through the wines that he’s crafting right now.
In this episode we mention…
Williams-Selyem
John Dyson
Rochioli Vineyards
Platt Vineyard
Three Sticks Interview
2016 Cuvée Troubadour Pinot Noir RRV
2016 Anne Rose Chardonnay Sonoma Coast
2016 American Girl Rosé of Pinot Noir RRV
2016 Zallah Ranch American Riesling
Bob Cabral Wines
Follow Bob on
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WEBSITE
With a dream to buy a ranch in order to reconnect with nature, work with their hands, and raise a family, Sophie & James Gray started searching for the perfect piece of land in Northern California. Wine wasn’t even a forethought. They eventually settled on a little slice of heaven perched atop the volcanic ash rich, Sonoma Mountain with 360 views high above the fog line.
Spending a decade fixing up the home, grooming the land, getting married, having two girls, they found an opportunity sticking out of the earth. One that combined their passion for the community together with the yearning to share the magic of their mountain-top home—and Sophie James Wine Co. was born.
In this episode we mention…
Sophie James Wine Co.
Sophie James Instagram
Sophie James House
Joining the Tribe
The Vineyard
Scribe Winery
Phil Coturri, Viticultralist
Eric Neil, Viticultralist
Dr. Kristen Lowe, Viticultralist
Flowers Winery
Adam & Andrew Mariani
Viticultralist, Jason Ruppert
Scott Schulz, winemaker
Follow Sophie James Wine Co. on
INSTAGRAM
WEBSITE
Having previously worked as a sommelier in New York City, Amanda moved to the west coast in July 2015 where she joined the wine team at PRESS restaurant in St. Helena. Known as the "sommvivant" to her Instagram followers and YouTube subscribers for being a "Sommelier" with a "Bon Vivant" lifestyle, Amanda documents her life as a somm in the Napa Valley on a daily basis. By showcasing events like excursions around northern California in her splashy red Mini Cooper convertible, tastings at Napa Valley wineries, rare bottles of vintage Napa Cab at PRESS and daily adventures around the Valley, Amanda has become "an advocate for indulgence and the wine lifestyle."
In this episode Amanda and I dig into her story of being a sommelier, how to hone one’s voice and story telling ability, strategies for being a successful sommelier, and define how to be authentic to one’s self when it comes to building a personal brand with a purpose.
In this episode we mention…
PRESS Restaurant Napa
Amanda’s YouTube Channel
Amanada’s Instagram Profile
Dan Petroski Interview
Massican Winery
Follow Amanda on
YOUTUBE
TWITTER
INSTAGRAM
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LISTEN ON
Under the guidance of philosophies like, “Great winemaking is doing the right thing when no one is looking,” and “if it tastes perfect, you’ve missed it,” Bob, Ryan, and the Three Sticks team are crafting elegant wines with a focus on Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. They source fruit from some of the top vineyards in Sonoma County including Gaps Crown, Durell, Walala, One Sky, and various other Price Family Estates.
Subsribe at CruPodcast.com
In this episode, Bob, Ryan, and I sat down to taste through a large portion of the Three Sticks lineup. We delve into the details of each wine, the soils, farming, ecology, everything. Mixed in between we chat about Bob & Ryan’s histories in the wine industry, life & work philosophies, and the practical & technical sides of winemaking in Sonoma County.
In this episode we mention…
Three Sticks
The Adobe
Tonnellerie Ô
Rudolf Steiner, Biodynamics
Bronco Wine Company
Lutum Wines
Russian River Brewery
Barndiva
Domaine Marcel Deiss
Wines we tasted…
2017 Russian River Pinot Noir
2017 Price Family Estates Pinot Noir
2016 Cuvée Eva Marie Pinot Noir
2016 Walala Pinot Noir
2017 Origin Durell Vineyard Chardonnay
2017 Gaps Crown Chardonnay
2016 One Sky Chardonnay Sonoma Mountain
2016 Alana Vineyard Chardonnay
2016 Durell Vineyard Chardonnay
2016 Durell Vineyard Pinot Blanc
2017 Casteñada White
2017 Casteñda Rosé
Follow Three Sticks on
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Francoise Peschon is the head winemaker for Cornell Vineyards. She has always had an affinity for estate properties – for those places that are “about the land and the wines, not necessarily the winemaker.”
In her thirty-year career, she’s worked at some of the best—including Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars, Araujo Estate Wines, Viader Vineyards and Vine Hill Ranch—quietly crafting some of Napa Valley’s most acclaimed Cabernet Sauvignons of the last three decades. She is quick to credit her mentors, wine industry luminaries like Michel Roland, Warren Winiarski and Tony Soter, whose sensitivity, intellect and sense of aesthetics have clearly inspired her.
Early in her winemaking career, Francoise spent a year in Bordeaux working at Chateau Haut Brion. The first job always makes the greatest impression, and It was there that she knew she wanted to work with Bordeaux varieties at an estate property. Two concepts that have resonated with Francoise for more than 30 years.
She holds a degree in Enology from the University of California—Davis, and participated in the DUAD program at the University of Bordeaux.
Francoise continues to work with Bart and Daphne Araujo on their new venture, Accendo, as well as Vine Hill Ranch and Kelly Fleming Wines. She is also invested in Drinkward Peschon, a small brand she shares with her good friend and neighbor, Lisa Drinkward, since 2000.
Elizabeth Tangney has been making wine in Napa and Sonoma Valleys for several years. She recently began working with Cornell Vineyard where she is the winemaker and works with the vineyard team to grow and care for 20 acres of red Bordeaux varietals.
Before joining the Cornell Vineyards team, Elizabeth worked with Aaron Pott at Saint Helena Winery as winemaker and the vineyard and estate manager. She has also worked at Bryant Family Vineyards, Booker, L’Aventure, and harvest in Bordeaux.
In this episode we mention…
Cornell Vineyards
Chateau Haut-Brion
Arajuo / Eisele Vineyard
Aaron Pott
Henry & Venassa Cornell
Follow Cornell Vineyards on
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Born in Spain, Laura grew up sharing sips of wine with her father while watching the fishing boats during their family vacations in the North of Spain. Her first sip of Albariño solidified her love of wines and her first winemaking internship solidified her future as a winemaker. After completing her post graduate degree in enology at the Polytechnic University of Madrid Laura started her career in La Mancha and worked in different wine regions in Spain. A few years later, Laura left Spain and traveled to New Zealand and Chile learning as much as she could about winemaking and the influence of terroir in different wine regions. Finally, Laura took a job in the Napa Valley. For over a decade Laura has been making wine in the Napa Valley as the Associate Winemaker for Cardinale, Lokoya, Mt Brave, La Jota and Galerie. She joined Ehlers Estate in July of 2018 and is excited to continue the legacy of this special property.
Learn more about Laura with the show notes here.
In this episode we mention…
Ehlers Estate
Daniel Ramos
Fabio Bartolomei Interview
Galerie Wines
Raul Perez Wines
Follow Laura & Ehlers Estate on
FACEBOOK
INSTAGRAM
WEBSITE
With the 2016 harvest, Mike, Steve, and their sister Mia, decided to take the family business to a new level by hiring winemaker James Macphail to bring their vision of estate Pinot Noir & Chardonnay under the Sangiacomo Wines label to life. The goal? Create legacy for past, present, and future generations of Sangiacomos.
Fast forward two years, the newly released Sangiacomo Wines are available via allocation through their mailing list, which you can signup on their website, SangiacomoWines.com
In this episode, Mike, Steve, and I sat down to share the stories of the past, the difficult decisions made to strive toward the future, and taste through the inaugural 2016 vintage.
Learn more with the show notes at CruPodcast.com
Before opening their doors in the Cow Hollow neighborhood of San Francisco, Chris spent 15 years in wine and spirits sales in the Bay Area, working mostly with wineries in California, Oregon or Washington. He met a number of winemakers and proprietors who shared his passion for wine and for being good stewards of the land. These relationships reinforced Chris’ belief that wines from the West Coast are just as good, if not better, than wines from anywhere else in the world.
Back at home in San Francisco, Chris noticed the lack of support for West Coast wineries on many wine lists. Despite the high quality wines produced in the area, most local places were (and still are) pouring imported wines. So, along with wife Lindsey, he decided to do something about it.
Four years, and four Wine Spectator 'Award of Excellence' honors later, West Coast Wine • Cheese continues to showcase regional wines by serving up premium experiences in a relaxed, unpretentious atmosphere, now in two locations; their original San Francisco spot & the new lounge in Mill Valley.
Buy tickets here to the Champagne Billecart-Salmon dinner on Saturday, December 8th at 6pm at Barndiva in Healdsburg.
In this episode we mention...
West Coast Wine + Cheese
David Bruce Winery
Ian Brand
Martha Stoumen
Wine Spectator Top 100 2018
Bedrock The Bedrock Heritage Sonoma Valley
Booker Oublié Paso Robles 2014
Zotovich Vineyards
Follow Chris & West Coast Wine + Cheese on Instagram @westcoastwinesf and at westcoastsf.com
Remi directs the winemaking process from vineyard to bottle and is responsible for top quality, small-lot winemaking expressive of appellation and vineyard site. In addition, she oversees the sale of all wines through the hospitality experience and the wine club programs direct to consumer, and throughout the domestic and international markets.
Learn more about Remi with the show notes here.
West + Wilder is redefining the look and taste of canned wine and setting a new benchmark for quality within a growing category. Dedicated to sustainability and taste, this small wine company with big world values recently added a Sparkling White and a Sparkling Rosé to their portfolio of West Coast inspired wines.
With varied backgrounds in marketing and the wine industry, co-founders Matt and Kenny launched West + Wilder in May 2018 with the vision of making wine more accessible, approachable and fun. An opportunity for them to support causes they value, like protecting our National Parks, and making customers smile, they are excited about what they do and how they can share it. For them, West + Wilder is a celebration of the dreamers, the seekers and the thinkers. It’s for those who appreciate good things in life with care, humor, mindfulness and beauty. They scoured the West Coast to discover and uncover the best of each state's wine regions, from Washington, Oregon, and California. Being labeled non-vintage with a broad appellation allows them to focus, without restriction, on quality while offering great value. And cans deliver immediate gratification; these wines are made to be enjoyed at release. No guessing.
Generating a buzz (and selling out of the Sparkling Rosé) at Outside Lands Festival in San Francisco this year, cans of West + Wilder are readily available at hotspots up and down the Cali coast, such as the San Francisco’s Ritz Carlton, the Pebble Beach Resort, Yosemite’s Rush Creek Lodge, and the famous Hollywood Bowl. The wines can also be found in Oklahoma, Minnesota and as far East as New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut.
They use aluminum cans—one of the world's most recycled materials and the lightest way to package wine. It's one of the ways they’ve committed to sustainability. They’re also dedicated to giving back and have reinforced their commitment by partnering with 1% for the Planet. Their 1% goes to support the preservation of wild spaces for us all to enjoy—now and tomorrow. The illustrations that adorn the cans celebrate these places and the native plants that live there.
A 750mL bottle of great wine that happens to come in three 8.4oz cans, designed to pay homage to the special places where the wine is sourced from - an ode to the spirit of the West, West + Wilder’s curated line-up includes a White Wine, a Rosé and now a Sparkling White and a Sparkling Rosé.
Not afraid of the unconventional, the brand breaks the perception of the can and makes good wine choices easy and rewarding; both for those who appreciate an active and outdoor lifestyle as well as those who enjoy high-quality, well made wines. West + Wilder drinks well anywhere and anytime.
West + Wilder’s line of products are available at retail wine and liquor stores, markets, and restaurants. For more information and a full list of retailers visit West + Wilder’s website (https://westandwilder.com/) and follow them on Facebook and Instagram.
In this episode we mention...
West + Wilder
Medlock Ames
Three Sticks
Wine Lands at Outside Lands
Wines we drank…
Rosé
White Blend
Sparkling Rosé
Sparkling White
FOLLOW WEST + WILDER ON INSTAGRAM
Dan O'Brien has worked throughout the wine industry, first starting in high-end restaurants in the North East, eventually moving out west to San Francisco to start the Grand Award winning wine program at Cavallo Point. From there he started the Cultivar wine label, was the estate director for Long Meadow Ranch & Larkmead Vineyards, started the Hunt & Harvest wine label, and now is dedicating all of his time and efforts into Gail.
Learn more about Dan with the show notes here.
Brian McClintic is a Master Sommelier and documentary film star of the feature length SOMM, the follow up SOMM: Into the Bottle, and now Somm 3, coming out later in 2018. After 15 years in hospitality, spanning wine destinations such as the Little Nell in Aspen, Brian co-founded Les Marchands Wine Bar & Merchant in Santa Barbara, where he was named “The Wine Guy to Hire” by Departures magazine and among the “40 Under 40 Tastemakers” by Wine Enthusiast.
Learn more about Brian at CruPodcast.com
Bitten by the travel bug in recent years, McClintic launched Viticole in 2016--an online wine club and travel blog, focusing on organically-farmed domestic and import selections.
The Viticole Wine Clubs are the only way to access Master Sommelier Brian McClintic's monthly wine selections. Every winemaker Brian collaborates with farms organically. All the wines offered will be exclusive to Viticole – special bottlings, both red and white, that Brian personally curates from around the world.
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Bottle Barn has been serving the Santa Rosa community since 1990 and is one of the best places *around to find unique local and international wines. With an extensive selection, everyday low prices, expert staff and this year’s Sonoma County Harvest Fair award-winning wines, there’s no better place to stock up for fall than where wine country buys wine. Mention this podcast at checkout and receive a free, limited edition wine glass, while supplies last.*
http://www.bottlebarn.com
As consumer advocates, Cameron Hughes Wines is passionate about bringing extreme wine value to wine drinkers at an affordable price. Cameron founded Cameron Hughes Wine with his partner Jessica Kogan in 2001. In 2004, they launched the “Lot Series” with Lot 1, a Lodi Syrah. More than a decade later, they've produced over 600 unique Lot wines and the company has become the #1 selling online wine brand.
As CMO, Jessica oversees integrated marketing for Cameron Hughes Wine which includes the Direct to Consumer business, brand partnerships and collaborations, corporate and brand design, digital and print advertising, and public relations.
Learn more about Cam & Jess with the show notes here.
THIS EPISODE IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY
Located in the heart of Sonoma County, Bottle Barn has been serving the Santa Rosa community since 1990 and is one of the best places
around to find unique local and international wines. With an extensive selection, everyday low prices, expert staff and this year’s Sonoma County Harvest Fair award-winning wines, there’s no better place to stock up for fall than where wine country buys wine. Mention this podcast at checkout and receive a free, limited edition wine glass, while supplies last.
Frank Family's current success would not exist without his leadership. Todd joined in 2003 and has provided consistency of winemaking, vineyard sources, and leadership in Frank Family’s estate vineyard acquisitions, which are not more than 250 acres in Rutherford, Capell and Carneros. He also has culled relationships with several great growers—Beckstoffer, Sangiacomo, etc. I think Todd has defied the old adage “jack of all trades and master of none.” Todd makes everything from Cabernet/Chardonnay to Pinot, Sangiovese, Zinfandel, Zinfandel Port, Late Harvest Chardonnay and 4 different sparkling wines, and he does all of these quite well. Frank Family is the only winery to have twice received “Winery of the Year” from the Connoisseur’s Guide to CA Wine—in 2012 and 2017
Learn more about Todd here.
Our guest this week did not set out to make the beautiful wines he does. He, and is incredible team, discovered great vineyards at the edge of sensible farming and decided to bring them to light.
Learn more about Ian Brand here.
The farther they looked, the more they found – remote, challenging vineyards, with hard depleted soils, and intense sunlight tempered only by the coastal breeze. Vineyards capable of producing only the most idiosyncratic wines. Their goal as winemakers is to lightly polish the roughest edges and leave the idiosyncrasy intact. It is here in the back country, filled with individual character, where wines like I. Brand & Family, La Marea, and Le P’tit Paysan comes to life.
They are not in "wine country." They have no trophy wineries, nor posh tasting salons. Quite on the contrary. Their ideal is farm land, desolate hills, and solitude. What they do is simple, without artifice, and most of all, they enjoy it.
Winemaker Ian Brand puts a lot of miles on his car searching out and spending time in vineyards while dreaming of a new flatbed truck. He likes dirt roads, 12" vinyl, point breaks and hiding in the barrel room.
After a decade long career in advertising for Time Warner, Dan Petroski got a harvest internship in Italy, booked a flight and didn’t look back. For the next year, he would live as a local in his adopted home of Italy, working in vineyards. From that point onward, Dan knew that wine would take the center focus of not only his career, but his life.
Learn more about Dan here.
Coming to California with just over a year’s experience, Dan had a challenging time getting a job, until Andy Smith gave him an opportunity. Fast forward to today and Dan has had incredible success including being named “Winemaker of the Year” in 2017 by the SF Chronicle.
In this episode, Dan and I dig into his journey thus far in wine, we philosophize on the topics of loyalty and freedom as a winemaker, and then explore the terroir of Larkmead’s vineyards and the concept behind his white wine only label, Massican.
As one of the 4% of female winemakers in California who are also owners of their own winery, Sonoma-based LaRue Wines winemaker and owner, Katy Wilson is also making waves within the 10% minority of California wineries whose lead winemaker also happens to be female. Because, not only does she manage every harvest decision, punch down and barrel regimen under her own label, she also the winemaker for Anaba Wines, Claypool Cellars, Reeve Wines and Smith Story Wine Cellars – all Sonoma-based wineries who have sought out Katy’s knack for letting the wines speak for themselves.
Learn more about Katy here.
With barely a dime to her name at age 26 when the idea of LaRue crossed-over from conversation to conception, Katy’s passion for winemaking has evolved into not only an in-demand wine label, but also an in-demand consulting business. Today, at only 35-years old, Katy is proving to herself and to young, up and coming women in wine that persistence and hard work really do go a long way.
While Katy will tell you her story is just beginning, she’s already journeyed a colorful path to get to where she is now, highlighted by stints at Joseph Phelps, Flowers and Kamen, just to name a few; not to mention a few international harvests in New Zealand and Australia.
Today, nearly a decade after launching, LaRue is an ultra-premium, 500-case brand featuring elegant and restrained single-vineyard Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from some of the top vineyard sites on the Sonoma Coast (Rice-Spivak Vineyard, Charles Heintz Vineyard, Emmaline Ann Vineyard, Thorn Ridge Vineyard and Coastlands Vineyard).
It all started with converting potato fields into rows of vineyards in a sleepy field in the heart of California. It was during the late 1960s when a bad potato crop pushed the Bogle family to plant those first grapes -- and now, five decades later -- Bogle Vineyards has become one of the world’s most popular wine brands on the market.
Learn more about Jody here.
An award-winning winery for its sustainability efforts, Bogle Vineyards is setting the industry standard when it comes to responsible growing and wine production. In addition to the Green Medal Leadership Award, Bogle was also honored by the California State Fair for the family’s contribution to the wine industry.
Jody Bogle is of the third-generation winemakers & Director of Public Relations for Bogle Vineyards in Clarksburg, California.
Jody grew up playing and working in the fields with younger brother Warren, but didn’t see a future for herself due to the size of the fledgling winery. She graduated from Linfield College with a BA in English and Secondary Education. While teaching middle school, she worked in the tasting room on weekends until it became clear the winery would be her full time profession. Committing to the family business in 1999, Jody created the Bandwagon wine club and took over management of international sales. Today, Jody enjoys the connection she is able to make with consumers far and wide.
Michael Evans is the co-founder of The Vines of Mendoza, a winery in the Uco Valley of Argentina that crafts nearly 300 custom wines each year with 130 private vineyard owners.
Fifteen years ago Michael came to Argentina from Los Angeles for what he thought would be a three-week vacation. Michael fell in love with the people and the place that is Mendoza and decided to embark on this adventure of creating Argentina’s greatest wines.
After a chance introduction to Pablo Gimenez Riili during that visit to Mendoza, Michael and Pablo began an endeavor together to provide the highest quality wine experience to Mendoza travelers and help those who love wine to make their own. The result was The Vines of Mendoza. With Pablo, Michael raised money from friends and family and purchased 650 acres of land in the Uco Valley, and created The Vines of Mendoza’s one-of-a-kind Private Vineyards. They've since sold vines to more than 185 owners from around the globe, and the property has expanded to 1,500 acres.
Prior to The Vines, Evans worked on every Presidential campaign between Clinton and Kerry, and served as Executive Director of CTIA Foundation, the International association for the wireless telecommunications industry Michael is an avid photographer and traveler who enjoys helping vineyard owners document their journeys and sharing stories tales of the best spot to visit next.
David Wilson is the co-founder of Wilson Foriegner & Director of Vineyards & Grower Relations at Pahlmeyer.
Learn more about David with the show notes here.
David grew up on the family ranch, Rancho Chimiles, where he resides now with his wife, Christine, and their two children. David studied fruit science with an emphasis on wine and viticulture at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. From working harvest in South Africa to learning directly from Warren Winiarski at Stags Leap Winery, David has cut his teeth around the world.
In this episode, David & I dig into his story and background, he tells us the history behind his family’s ranch, Rancho Chimiles in Wooden Valley, and we discuss the concept of a California terroir. We then chat about his new wine label, Wilson Foreigner, which makes Valdigué from the same vineyard as Michael Cruse, Albarino from the Rorick Vineyard, and Zinfandel from the Del Barba Vineyard.
Noah Dorrance is the co-founder & chief winemaker of Reeve Wines based in Dry Creek Valley, California.
In this episode, Noah shares his story of how he first got into wine. How going from college to Europe changed his life and how seizing opportunities in down times created a launch pad for other ventures. We dig into the founding of Banshee Wines, Noah’s first wine label. He shares with us how Banshee was able to grow quickly over short period of time with a focus on creating high quality products that have great value.
Then, Noah shares with us the conception and birth of Reeve Wines, his current business, based in Dry Creek Valley. Why a focus on sourcing from Anderson Valley was a new step and how putting in the time to create a deep, experiential encounter with the wines and the brand is not only great for business, but creates a true connection and wine experience for guests.
Leave a review on iTunes here,https://goo.gl/MRJyBQ, it would mean the world!
In this episode we mention...
Reeve Wines
Brown Derby Wine Cellars
Cherry Street Wine Cellars, Paul Vernon
Crushpad
Banshee Wines
Rickshaw
Kiser Vineyards
2008 Copain Kiser “En Haut”
Reeve Pinot Noir
Reeve, Sangiovese
Ross Cobb
Katy Wilson
The Reeve Villa
Adrien Valenzuela, @adrien_v11
Noah Dorrance, @noahdorrance on Instagram
Reeve Wines, @reevewines on Instagram
ReeveWines.com
Rootdown Pinot Blanc, Mike Lucia
Krater Gamay, Barsotti Vineyard, El Dorado
Originally from Provence, Julien Fayard is one of Napa Valley’s most respected consulting winemakers producing California varietals with French finesse. Formerly of Chateau Lafite Rothschild and Philippe Melka’s team, he lends two decades of winemaking expertise to more than a dozen different brands, including the highly-rated Le Pich and Purlieu wines, as well as his own labels — Azur, Covert Estate and Empreinte. You can learn more at FayardWines.com
In this episode, Julien and I dig into how he approaches making wine while sharing practical tips for how to achieve balance in a final wine by utilizing certain techniques in the vineyard & cellar. He shares with us his story, how he came into wine originally and learned at some of the top chateaux in Bordeaux and what it looks like to be a consulting winemaker in the Napa Valley today.
As with every guest that comes on this podcast, I learned a lot from Julien and I hope you will as well. So, without further adieu, please enjoy my conversation with Julien Fayard.
Norman Hardie, @normanhardiewinery, is the owner & winemaker of Norman Hardie Winery in Prince Edward County, Ontario, making some of the best Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and other Burgundian varietals in North America.
Learn more about Norman with the show notes here.
Norman is an incredibly well traveled winemaker with a highly trained palate. Having started his career as a sommelier with Four Seasons Hotels his intrigue of making the wines he loved so much, particularly Pinot Noir & Chardonnay, grew so much that he decided to go on a journey of working twelve harvests in six years in both hemispheres.
When the search for a vineyard site came to a close in 2003, he found himself in Prince Edward County, Ontario, Canada where the Norman Hardie Winery resides today. Making what chefs like David McMillin of the famed Joe Beef in Montreal call the, “finest white wines in all of North America,” Norman has an approach to winemaking that is not only classical in style but unusual at the same time.
We’ll get into some of the extreme tactics that Norman and his team have to employ simply to keep their vineyards alive, but one of my favorites he mentions is having helicopters hover over the vineyard to ward off frost. We chat about Norm’s story, planting a vineyard, keeping it alive, winemaking, and many other things in this conversation, which I thoroughly enjoyed and I highly recommend you grab a few bottles of his wine on their website, NormanHardie.com
Jennifer Reichardt is the founder and winemaker of Raft Wines, a small production wine label based in Santa Rosa, California with a heavy focus on Rhone Varietals.
Learn more about Jen with the show notes here.
You may wonder where the name Raft comes from, as you’ll find out in the episode, Jen’s background is based in the duck business and a raft is a dense flock of swimming birds.
In this episode, we dig into Jen’s story, how she got into wine when being raised in a household that was all about ducks, why and how she makes the types of wines she does, and the exciting and rewarding work that she is doing with Rebuild Wine Country, and a new project with the help of Liberty Duck and Tonnellerie Radoux, to help those who have been horrendously affected by the recent wildfires.
We also dig into all of the fundraising and work that she and Rebuild Wine Country are doing to help those in Northern California that were so devastatingly affected by these fires.
If you feel so inclined to donate and/or volunteer with Rebuild Wine Country, you can go to RebuildWineCountry.org
Chelsea Boss, @seaboss on Instagram, is the general manager of Senses Wines who make fantastic small production pinot noir and chardonnay based in Occidental, California and one of the founders of Rebuild Wine Country, an organization that is working with Habitat for Humanity of Sonoma County to raise $5 million dollars in order to rebuild owned & rented homes lost in the Sonoma, Napa, Solano, Mendocino, and Lake County wildfires.
You can learn more about Chelsea with the show notes here.
The name Senses may sound familiar as we had one of the founders, Chris Strieter, on in a previous episode.
But in this episode, I wanted to dig into the operations, marketing, sales side of running a wine business and Chelsea’s experience and perspective on doing just that as a GM. We also dig into all of the fundraising and work that she and Rebuild Wine Country are doing to help those in Northern California that were so devastatingly affected by these fires.
If you feel so inclined to donate and/or volunteer with Rebuild Wine Country, you can go to RebuildWineCountry.org for more information.
Sara Morgenstern is one of those people that if you try to introduce her to someone, she’s already good friends with them and if you ask her to join in on a project, she’ll dive in head first even though her calendar is already fully booked.
She’s some what of a local celebrity here in Sonoma County, particularly in Healdsburg for those in the wine industry, most notably for her work at the imported wine shop/bar and grilled cheese joint, Bergamot Alley, but also for her work with 7% Solution, which you’ll learn about in this episode, Banshee Wines, Raft Wines, and now the soon to be 501c3 Winemakers & Sommeliers for California Wildfire Relief and the annual Burgundy festival, Le Paulée de San Francisco coming up from February 27 to March 3, 2018.
I really enjoyed chatting with Sara as we not only cover everything that I already mentioned, but we dig into her story, how the recent wildfires have personally affected her, and we try wines from winemakers who she considers her brothers.
Learn more about Sara and get the list of every wine we try in this episode here.
I also want to say thank you to Heather Hawkins & Woody Hambrick of Alysian Wines & Vermouth for letting Sara and I occupy their space in Healdsburg for a couple hours to record.
Blair Guthrie is a kiwi transplant to the Napa Valley and winemaker for Stewart Cellars, Hollis Wines, Slingshot Wines, and his personal passion project, Guthrie Family Wines all based in Napa Valley.
I met up with Blair at the Stewart Cellars tasting room in Yountville, which I highly recommend you visit, especially if you are able to do a library tasting in what they call their Nomad Room. It is a gorgeously designed space with art on the walls, dark leather furniture, books galore that range from coffee table books about the designer Tom Ford to old copies of Hemingway. It is a room that has so much life, so many stories. A place where you can go to relax and enjoy some beautiful Napa wines. If you can’t stop by, take a look at the space at StewartCellars.com
In this episode, Blair and I chat about his story and how he got into wine as a kiwi in New Zealand to coming to Napa, working with the amazing winemaker, Paul Hobbs, and how he approaches making wines at price points ranging from $16 to $175 per bottle. We also dig into the artistry of winemaking, some of the science behind it all, and most importantly, throughout the episode Blair and I taste through eleven plus wines, which he gives insight as to how he made them, the tasting notes on them, and all of the little details that go into making fantastic Napa wines.
It was a really great conversation in which I learned a lot and thoroughly enjoyed spending time with Blair, who was introduced to me by another podcast guest from a few episodes back, Shannon Westfall of Vinfluence Wines. Which if you haven’t heard that episode, listen to it after my conversation with Blair.
With that, there are two organizations I want to introduce you to, that are working to support, rebuild, and make thrive wine country in the wake of the devastating fires that destroyed the lives of many recently in Northern California.
The first is Rebuild Wine Country, founded by the team behind Senses Wines, Rebuild Wine Country is a group of volunteer wine industry professionals working with Habitat for Humanity of Sonoma County to raise $5 million to rebuild owned and rented homes lost in the Sonoma, Napa, Solano, Mendocino, and Lake County wildfires. 100% of your donations go to rebuilding homes and rentals damaged or destroyed by the North Bay wildfires. You can donate by going to RebuildWineCountry.com
The second organization is Winemakers and Sommeliers for California Wildfire Relief set up by Patrick Capiello, Pax Mahle, and Sara Morgenstern to rally wine professionals and wine lovers everywhere to support those affected by these terrible fires. They are raising funds through events at amazing venues such as Corkbuzz NYC and Bluxome St. Winery with food and wine from incredible local producers while rare and cellar-worthy bottles donated by sommeliers and collectors from across the country will be available for purchase. 100% of all proceeds will benefit wildfire victims in partnership with CA Wine Strong, Redwood Credit Union North Bay Fire Relief, and Napa Valley Community Foundation. You can donate and learn more about events at WSCWR.com
As a wine lover and fan of podcasts I took the opportunity to record a bonus episode with Jim Duane, who produces the Inside Winemaking podcast.
Our conversation ranges from my background, my goals in building a wine podcast, and what I've have learned from the wine professionals that have shared their experience during my interviews.
We also speak about how I recently moved to Healdsburg, California to work the 2017 harvest and am beginning a new position as a sommelier and assistant wine buyer at the esteemed restaurant and resort that is Cavallo Point, The Lodge at the Golden Gate.
LINKS AND RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
•Cru Podcast
•Recommended Cru Podcast Episodes
◦David Ramey - Ramey Wine Cellars
◦Marissa Ross
◦Andre Hueston Mack - Mouton Noir Wines
◦Brian McClintic - Master Sommelier
•Mila Family Vineyards - Sonoma
•Cavallo Point - Lodge at the Golden Gate
•Chef's Table - available on Netflix
Listen to Jim's podcast, Inside Winemaking, at InsideWinemaking.com
In this episode, Raj and I dig into his story of being both a sommelier and winemaker, we chat about the fascinating topic of the terroir of California, and Raj tell us about his new book The Atlas of Taste along with his new, 500 person wine club he’s opening soon.
Learn more about Rajat with the show notes here.
With that, there are two organizations I want to introduce you to, that are working to support, rebuild, and make thrive wine country in the wake of the devastating fires that destroyed the lives of many recently in Northern California.
The first is Rebuild Wine Country, founded by the team behind Senses Wines, Rebuild Wine Country is a group of volunteer wine industry professionals working with Habitat for Humanity of Sonoma County to raise $5 million to rebuild owned and rented homes lost in the Sonoma, Napa, Solano, Mendocino, and Lake County wildfires. 100% of your donations go to rebuilding homes and rentals damaged or destroyed by the North Bay wildfires. You can donate by going to RebuildWineCountry.org
The second organization is Winemakers and Sommeliers for California Wildfire Relief set up by Patrick Capiello, Pax Mahle, and Sara Morgenstern to rally wine professionals and wine lovers everywhere to support those affected by these terrible fires. They are raising funds through events at amazing venues such as Corkbuzz NYC and Bluxome St. Winery with food and wine from incredible local producers while rare and cellar-worthy bottles donated by sommeliers and collectors from across the country will be available for purchase. 100% of all proceeds will benefit wildfire victims in partnership with CA Wine Strong, Redwood Credit Union North Bay Fire Relief, and Napa Valley Community Foundation. You can donate and learn more about events at WSCWR.com
David Ramey is the owner and winemakers of Ramey Wine Cellars based in my new home of Healdsburg, California. You may have heard of Ramey, or even purchased a few bottles, as it is distributed in almost every market. David has been making wine for 40 odd years in France, Napa, Sonoma, most notably at Chateau Petrus, you’ve probably never heard of that though, Chalk Hill, Matanzas Creek, Rudd Estate, and Dominus in Napa and Sonoma.
Learn more about David with the Show Notes here
In this episode we chat geeky winemaking stuff like total S02 (sulfur dioxide) in wine and native fermentations then we get into how David has grown a family run wine business for decades with production at 40,000 cases from a side project making chardonnay to a multi-million dollar company. We get into the numbers of running a boutique winery, how you should sell your wines, whether direct to consumer or distribution, and what he hopes his legacy looks like.
With that, there are two organizations I want to introduce you to, that are working to support, rebuild, and make thrive wine country in the wake of the devastating fires that destroyed the lives of many recently in Northern California.
The first is Rebuild Wine Country, founded by the team behind Senses Wines, Rebuild Wine Country is a group of volunteer wine industry professionals working with Habitat for Humanity of Sonoma County to raise $5 million to rebuild owned and rented homes lost in the Sonoma, Napa, Solano, Mendocino, and Lake County wildfires. 100% of your donations go to rebuilding homes and rentals damaged or destroyed by the North Bay wildfires. You can donate by going to RebuildWineCountry.org
The second organization is Winemakers and Sommeliers for California Wildfire Relief set up by Patrick Capiello, Pax Mahle, and Sara Morgenstern to rally wine professionals and wine lovers everywhere to support those affected by these terrible fires. They are raising funds through events at amazing venues such as Corkbuzz NYC and Bluxome St. Winery with food and wine from incredible local producers while rare and cellar-worthy bottles donated by sommeliers and collectors from across the country will be available for purchase. 100% of all proceeds will benefit wildfire victims in partnership with CA Wine Strong, Redwood Credit Union North Bay Fire Relief, and Napa Valley Community Foundation. You can donate and learn more about events at WSCWR.com
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Melinda Kearny and Michèle Ouellet, the mother-daughter duo behind Lorenza Rosé based in Napa.
Learn more about Lorenza with the show notes here.
In this episode we dig into the story behind Lorenza, what it was like starting to make rosé eight years ago when the main things on the market were Charles Bieler and his pink Cadillac paving the way, and the dreaded white zin hangover that everyone has experienced at least once in their life!
We also chat about making wine with intentionality from old vines, the rosé trend, what it is like for Melinda to work with wine brands such as Frogs Leap winery and how she applied that experience to Lorenza, and what growing up in Napa was like for Michèle.
I really enjoyed chatting with Melinda and Michèle and look forward to see how Lorenza continues to grow as more people embrace rosé as a wine to drink for any occasion year round.
Chad Stock is the winemaker and owner of Craft Wine Co, which produces the labels Minimus Wines, Origin Wines, and Omero Cellars in Carlton, Oregon.
Learn more about chat with the show notes at
https://crupodcast.com/show/chadstock
Chad is known for experimenting with many varietals and styles to produce truly unique wines that not only he loves and is proud of, but that push the boundaries of traditional and low intervention winemaking. From Gruner to Grenache and wines with high VA to wines with Brett, Chad embraces change and experimentation across wines.
In this episode, we dig into a lot! We chat about how Chad got into wine initially from a pleasure standpoint, his experience during apprenticeships that brought to light for him the concept on constantly experimenting with wines, how there aren’t any American grape varietals that are uniquely American, and his loathing of mimicking old world styles to make wine that taste just like them.
We then get into one of his favorite subjects being Syrah developing brett and experimenting with brett to make his wine, fittingly named, I Have Brett. Then Chad leaves us with what he wants his legacy for the wine world to be when all is said and done.
He also shares with us an Austrian winemaker that he’s been loving lately and their approach to winemaking.
This episode is jam-packed, it is long, and if you are a winemaker or aspire to be one, you’ll thoroughly enjoy it.
This episode is a little different.
It is a bonus episode you could say. Here's the deal! Recently, I was asked to take part in the Road to Wine Expert Summit, which is a virtual wine summit that shares interviews with 30+ wine experts sharing their stories, tips, and secrets to get you on the fast track to wine expertise and help you build a foundation for your dream career in wine.
Some of the speakers include folks who have been on Cru before, like Hillary Zio, Brian McClintic, and Shannon Westfall. It also includes people such as George M. Taber, Bianca Bosker, Mark Andrew, James Cluer, the Yes Way Rosé ladies, Master of Wine Richard Hemming, and Esquire writer-at-large, Cal Fussman.
It is an honor to be apart of this amazing group of wine professionals and to flip the script and share my story with you.
You can find all of the interviews at RoadtoWineExpert.com.
I want to say thank you to the host of this wine summit, Brian McCann, who runs WineBluePrint.com
Enjoy!
Martha Stoumen is a winemaker and viticultralist behind Martha Stoumen wines out of Napa Valley.
Learn more about Martha with the show notes here.
In this episode we dig deep into the thinking behind wine as an agricultural product, the work that Martha does in the vineyard, and how she approaches making the best wines she possibly can with inspiration from her love of Italian culture and having worked on a farm in Tuscany.
We then dig into a very enlightening conversation around the ideas of how to learn about wine. Where does it stem from, how do we learn, and how Martha has approached learning about wine from both the experiential and the academic sides.
Then we chat about a topic that Michael Cruse and I had a great conversation around, that being the idea of the terroir of California. What does that mean to Martha, is there even such a thing, and how both history and societal norms play a role in how we define and describe California wine.
I really loved chatting with Martha and will certainly have to have her on the show again to keep exploring her vast amounts of knowledge of wine.
Nick Ramkowsky and Ed Lehrman are co-founders of Vine Connections, a wine import company that was the first company to import Argentine wines to the US.
Learn more about Vine Connections with the show notes here.
In this episode with Nick and Ed, we dig into the story of Vine Connections, how it got started with a trip to Argentina, and they paint a picture of what they found down there in the early '90's. We then get into the business side of things, like what is their process of selecting wineries to work with in their portfolio, which is very small consisting of wines and sake from Argentina, Chile, Japan, and California. Then how do they approach marketing a new wine or sake to the market, what the pillars are that set the standard of how they do business, and how they work with producers like Chad Melville, who is relatively well known in the industry, but outside of the industry, many people have never heard of him and the Santa Rita Hills.
I really enjoyed chatting with Nick & Ed. I learned so much about importing wine, marketing a new product, and gained insight to the culture of a great wine company.
Sofian Himeur is the assistant winemaker at Gruet Winery, the champagne method sparkling wine producer in New Mexico.
Learn more about Sofian with the show notes here at CruPodcast.com
In this episode, Sofian and I dig into the story behind Gruet and how he and his family came to start making sparkling wine in New Mexico of all places. He then takes us into his story, what it was like growing up in a winemaking family, working side-by-side with his grandfather at their Champagne house, and the trials and tribulations of making delicious, value sparkling in the New Mexico desert.
I really enjoyed this episode and you can really hear how passionate Sofian is not only about the wines and winery, but the legacy that his grandfather established and that he continues to shepherd along each and every day with his uncle and mother.
Clémence Lelarge-Pugeot is the marketing and export manager for her family’s grower Champagne house, Champagne Lelarge-Pugeot.
Learn more about Clémence here
In this episode, Clémence and I dig into her and her family’s story, how she is working to grow the company while living in Petaluma, California, one particular popular wine that they make called Les Meuniers de Clémence, and her dream of helping more grower producers in Champagne to grow their businesses by exporting to the US & Canada, which is much more difficult than you may think.
SPONSOR
The Grand Tour is a fresh new take on a wine club. It was created by master somm, Dustin Wilson and the team at Verve Wine.
They believe that part of the fun of wine is learning about and exploring the many regions from around the world. They also know that it can be difficult to navigate through the vast number of wineries out there. Who makes the best wines from a particular place? How do I get my hands on them? These are the reasons that they started The Grand Tour.
Every month they will highlight a new wine region of the world. They spend that month tasting through hundreds of wines to find what they think best represents the region. They want to take you on a journey through and showcase the different types of wines that help tell the story of that place, while featuring producers that they feel are some of the best; the insiders, the ones who really know what's up.
A subscription to The Grand Tour will get you four different bottles of truly special, sommelier-approved wine for $95 each month (plus shipping), along with expert insight into the stories behind the wines, from the people and places who produce them to how they’re made, tasting notes, pairings and more. So you can go on with your life, leave the research to the geeks, and look forward to enjoying unique, remarkable, trustworthy wines in the comfort of your home.
Sign up for The Grand Tour at GrandTourWine.com
At 24-years old, Caleb Forlong is the Director of Marketing & Business Development for the only single estate winery in Upper Wairau Valley in Marlborough, Hillersden and spearheading the winery’s growth in the United States.
Caleb originally began his studies in theatre, but after observing the creative, sustainable methods being implemented by his father in the vineyard, he decided to plant himself in the family business and sought to learn as much as he could about wine. Caleb now splits his time between a set a farm clothes at the Hillersden winery in Marlborough and a sports coat in Los Angeles where he is spearheading the brand’s U.S. operations.
Learn more about Caleb at CruPodcast.com
SPONSOR
The Grand Tour is a fresh new take on a wine club. It was created by master somm, Dustin Wilson and the team at Verve Wine.
They believe that part of the fun of wine is learning about and exploring the many regions from around the world. They also know that it can be difficult to navigate through the vast number of wineries out there. Who makes the best wines from a particular place? How do I get my hands on them? These are the reasons that they started The Grand Tour.
Every month they will highlight a new wine region of the world. They spend that month tasting through hundreds of wines to find what they think best represents the region. They want to take you on a journey through and showcase the different types of wines that help tell the story of that place, while featuring producers that they feel are some of the best; the insiders, the ones who really know what's up.
A subscription to The Grand Tour will get you four different bottles of truly special, sommelier-approved wine for $95 each month (plus shipping), along with expert insight into the stories behind the wines, from the people and places who produce them to how they’re made, tasting notes, pairings and more. So you can go on with your life, leave the research to the geeks, and look forward to enjoying unique, remarkable, trustworthy wines in the comfort of your home.
Signup for The Grand Tour at GrandTourWine.com
Alan Viader, second generation winemaker and Director of Operations for Viader Vineyards & Winery in Napa.
Learn more about Alan at CruPodcast.com
In this episode, Alan shares with us the story behind his family’s estate on Howell Mountain, how his mother used dynamite to move rock in order to plant the vineyard all while raising three kids, and how working with winemakers in Argentina, Alan realized that he wanted to become a winemaker.
We then get into the viticultural and winemaking practices used at Viader. From trellising to blending, Alan gives us some insight into the science and art into how Viader wines are made.
But before we get into the episode, I want to tell you about our sponsor.
The Grand Tour is a fresh new take on a wine club. It was created by master somm, Dustin Wilson and the team at Verve Wine.
They believe that part of the fun of wine is learning about and exploring the many regions from around the world. They also know that it can be difficult to navigate through the vast number of wineries out there. Who makes the best wines from a particular place? How do I get my hands on them? These are the reasons that they started The Grand Tour.
Every month they will highlight a new wine region of the world. They spend that month tasting through hundreds of wines to find what they think best represents the region. They want to take you on a journey through and showcase the different types of wines that help tell the story of that place, while featuring producers that they feel are some of the best; the insiders, the ones who really know what's up.
A subscription to The Grand Tour will get you four different bottles of truly special, sommelier-approved wine for $95 each month (plus shipping), along with expert insight into the stories behind the wines, from the people and places who produce them to how they’re made, tasting notes, pairings and more. So you can go on with your life, leave the research to the geeks, and look forward to enjoying unique, remarkable, trustworthy wines in the comfort of your home.
Go to GrandTourWine.com or click the Wine Club tab on the Verve Wine website to sign up
Rachel Silkowski is the assistant winemaker for Loring Wine Company & the founder/winemaker of Rasi Wine Company, both based in Lompoc, California.
Learn more about Rachel here.
pronounced rac·y
1. full of zest or vigor; having a strongly marked quality; piquant; risqué, suggestive
2. having the distinctive quality of something in its original or most characteristic form
Rachel and I dig into how she initially got into wine, her curiosity of the winemaking process, and the feeling of holding a tangible finished product. She then shares with us the story of how she started Rasi Wine Company, where the name comes from, and how she intuitively approaches each aspect of how she makes her wines & markets them from place of authenticity. I can’t wait for you to hear how she came up with the labels for her first wine called One.
Then, if that wasn’t enough, Rachel shares with us her plans for the future of Rasi, how her wines have been rated 93 – 95 points with only has three vintages out, we chat about urban wineries, and how she is giving back to the community in Los Angeles through an event that you can attend called Women, Wine, Makers.
I absolutely loved chatting with Rachel; she has really inspired me to take a more authentic approach to life and my work. I hope you enjoy hearing her story.
SPONSOR The Grand Tour is a fresh new take on a wine club. It was created by master somm, Dustin Wilson and the team at Verve Wine.
They believe that part of the fun of wine is learning about and exploring the many regions from around the world. They also know that it can be difficult to navigate through the vast number of wineries out there. Who makes the best wines from a particular place? How do I get my hands on them? These are the reasons that they started The Grand Tour.
Every month they will highlight a new wine region of the world. They spend that month tasting through hundreds of wines to find what they think best represents the region. They want to take you on a journey through and showcase the different types of wines that help tell the story of that place, while featuring producers that they feel are some of the best; the insiders, the ones who really know what's up.
A subscription to The Grand Tour will get you four different bottles of truly special, sommelier-approved wine for $95 each month (plus shipping), along with expert insight into the stories behind the wines, from the people and places who produce them to how they’re made, tasting notes, pairings and more. So you can go on with your life, leave the research to the geeks, and look forward to enjoying unique, remarkable, trustworthy wines in the comfort of your home.
Sign up for The Grand Tour here.
In this episode we mention…
Loring Wine Company
Rasi Wine Company
Oregon State University
Loring Pinot Noirs
Close Pepe Vineyard
Santa Rita Hills AVA
One, Pinot Noir (Rasi’s first wine)
Three Barrels, Santa Rita Pinot Noir (Rasi’s second wine)
Paso Robles Mouvedre (Rasi’s third wine)
Wine Advocate 93-95 Points for Rasi
Wine Enthusiast 93 Points for Rasi
Rasi One Labels (first wine)
Women, Wine, Makers Monthly Event
Space 15 Twenty
Vinley Market
Sine Qua Non Winery
Andremily Wine 2013 Syrah
Levo Wine
Flying Colors Grenache
Follow Rachel & Rasi on… Rasi’s Website
Rasi’s Instagram
Rasi’s Facebook
Rachel’s Instagram
Shannon Westfall (@vinfluence) is the founder of Vinfluence, the wine club that is helping you drink better by sending you handpicked wines from boutique wineries every month while supporting nonprofits that are making a difference.
Learn more about Shannon & get a transcript of the episode here.
In this episode, Shannon share with us how Vinfluence was born out of her love of helping people and sharing wine. She tells us her story of how she broke into the wine industry with no experience from a career in wealth management. We then dig into how Vinfluence works from a business side, how it’s helping small producers reach a wider audience, and how Shannon is working to educate more people about wine through this company.
And, Shannon was kind enough to offer you as a Cru Podcast listener the opportunity to get $20 off your first order from Vinfluence! I wish I were living in the US so I could take advantage of this opportunity, but alas, I live in the UK, so I can’t. But, I hope you will in my absence! Go to Vinfluencewine.com to join the club and get $20 off your first order with the code CRUPODCAST.
By the way, while you’re signing up for Vinfluence, why don’t you kill two birds with one stone and subscribe to this podcast on iTunes? It’s quick and easy to do, all you have to do is go to iTunes, either online, or on the podcasting app on your phone, search Cru, and click subscribe. That’s it. Now you’ll get the latest episodes of Cru as soon as they come out. Can’t beat that.
In this episode we mention…
Vinfluence Wine
Vincent Arroyo Winery
Retro Cellars
Brian McClintic MS
Randy Dunn
Mike Dunn
Calitals, Italian varietals grown in California
Nero d’Avola
Palmer Emmitt (@palmnut) is the co-owner and co-winemaker behind Emmitt-Scorsone Wines, which make the labels, Judge Palmer and Domenica Amato, in Healdsburg, California.
Learn more about Palmer with the show notes at crupodcast.com/show/palmeremmitt
In this episode, Palmer and I dig into how he went from working in the film industry in Hollywood to owning a winery that makes Cabernet harvested from the famous To Kalon Vineyard, and that’s just one of the wines he and his partner, Michael Scorsone. We also talk about the challenges of running a small winery that produces fewer than 2,000 cases per year across 10+ different wines. Not only is that a lot to keep up with, but also selling to distribution at quantities that small has proved difficult. Palmer then shares with us the winemaking approach that they take in the winery and how it helps to express the each wine’s terroir.
Before we get into the show, have you subscribed to the podcast yet and left us a review? If not, please do so. It helps other passionate wine lovers like yourself find it! It’s also super simple to do. Just go on to your podcasting app on your phone, find the podcast and click subscribe. There will be another button to leave a review as well. Or you can do it all on iTunes here.
In this episode we mention…
Judge Palmer Wine Label
Domenica Amato Wine Label
Michael Scorsone
Failla Winery
WSET Courses
Wine Business MBA at Sonoma State University
Adobe Road Winery
Beckstoffer Georges III
Beckstoffer To Kalon
Stagecoach Vineyard
Fred Schrader Boar’s View Vineyard
Wine Theory
Wine Theory on Instagram
Vermentino from Devero Winery in Dry Creek Valley
Follow Palmer on… Emmitt-Scorsone Website
Judge Palmer Website
Judge Palmer Instagram
Judge Palmer Facebook
Domenica Amato Instagram
Domenica Amato Facebook
Dustin Wilson (@dustinwilsonms) is a partner and owner the wine shop in Tribeca, New York City called Verve Wine. Dustin came on the podcast when the show first started and he was working at Eleven Madison Park, but in this episode he tells us about how he transitioned from being a somm on the floor of restaurants for so many years to starting and being on the floor of a retail store and what the challenges of starting a new wine shop in New York City has been like.
We then dig into the story behind Verve, why Dustin wanted to start something new, and how Verve is challenging the norm of wine retail by integrating an amazing website that helps people find and learn about wine in an easier, more natural way and utilizing social media to do the same with things like visual tasting notes.
Full show notes & and transcript of the interview at https://crupodcast.com/show/dustinwilson37
Dustin then shares with us one of his favorite wines he’s been excited about lately called 4 Monos, a Garnacha made just outside of Madrid, and you can get it at Verve for only $20. To top it all off, Dustin and the team at Verve are giving you as a Cru Podcast listener, 10% off all discountable wines when you check out with the code CRUPOD10. It only applies to those of you who can receive shipments in the USA. So, go get some wine from some great people who want to share more wine with the world.
But before we get into the show, many of you know that I had the opportunity of traveling to Madrid a couple weeks ago and meet a great winemaker by the name of Fabio Bartolomei (his podcast episode here), and experience the only natural wine shop in Madrid, called Wine Attack.
So, I knew that I was going to be buying a ton of wine, and my last experience with bringing a case of wine back in my regular suitcase was not only sketchy caused it looked like I was smuggling wine bottles out of Germany all wrapped up in t-shirts, but I didn’t know if all of my bottles were going to break. You know how TSA can be with our bags. So, I had to find a solution to my wine bottle traveling debacle. I found this company called Lazenne.
Essentially, they make suitcases for your wine bottles. It was perfect! I got one and they even offered to ship it to my hotel in Madrid so that when I got there, all I had to do was fill it with a case of amazing wines. I didn’t have to worry about making sure that I got it in time to fly out and then check a bag going out. I just gave them my address and it was sitting on my bed when I walked into my hotel room. It only cost me €35 to check the bag on the way back and it got to my destination in perfect condition!
Guys, I’m telling you. If you ever travel with more than a couple wine bottles on the plan, or even just driving long distances, you need to get one of Lazenne’s bags. Go to Lazenne.com and check out which bag is best for you. I got the 12-Bottle Wine Check Luggage, but maybe something a bit sturdier would be best for you, like the Vingardevalise Hardshell Wine Suitcase. Either way, take a look and protect your wine with a Lazenne bag.
Fabio Bartolomei is the winemaker behind Vinos Ambiz in the Gredos region of Spain, just outside of Madrid. I’m super excited for this episode because it was my first in-person interview. Fabio and I met up while I was in Madrid last weekend and he took me to the only natural wine shop in the city called Wine Attack, then the next day we drove out to his winery about an hour northwest of Madrid in a small town called El Tiemblo.
Learn more about Fabio with the show notes here.
He took me around two of his vineyards, which are both planted with 40-year-old Garnacha bush vines. Then we went to the winery in the center of the town, which is an old co-op winery that he and another winemaker, Daniel Ramos, took over about four years ago. Fabio let me taste a bunch of his wines, both in bottle and out of the barrel, tank, and amphorae. It was a wonderful experience and I encourage you to go visit Fabio at his winery the next time you are in Madrid.
In this episode, Fabio and I talk about his story, how we started making wine, and the journey of how he got to where he is now. We also talk about the development of natural wine, not only the winemaking aspects of it, but also the culture around it, how consumers perceive it, and if there will ever be a clear definition and the affects that could have on producers like himself.
Before we get into the show, have you subscribed to the podcast yet and left us a review? If not, please do so. It helps other passionate wine lovers like you find it! It’s also super simple to do. Just go on to your podcasting app on your phone, find the podcast and click subscribe. There will be another button to leave a review as well. Thanks for doing that! I really appreciate it!
Jordane Andrieu (@heritagefinewines) is the owner of Heritage Fine Wines wine store and bar located in Beverley Hills & proprietor of Domain Clos du Moulins aux Moins in Burgundy.
Subscribe to our newsletter, Cru Mail, here to learn more about Jordane.
In this episode, Jordane and I dig into his story, how he went from working for an engineering company in Paris to running an estate in Burgundy while studying viticulture & oenology and converting the vineyard to organic. He shares with us the trials and tribulations that goes into making world class wine in Burgundy and how Pablo Picasso’s godson designed wine labels for him.
We then get into the story behind him moving from Burgundy to Los Angeles without speaking any English. Then on top of that figuring out how to start Heritage, his wine shop and bar in Beverley Hills, jumping through all of the regulatory hoops, and probably the greatest challenge of educating consumers on the wines, how he markets the business, and overcoming the cultural differences of business in general.
Jordane has an incredible story and one that continues to evolve each day. He has big plans for the next few years which he tells us about as well.
Before we get into the show, have you subscribed to the podcast yet and left us a review? If not, please do so. It helps other passionate wine lovers like yourself find it! It’s also super simple to do. Just go on to your podcasting app on your phone, find the podcast and click subscribe. There will be another button to leave a review as well. Thanks for doing that! I really appreciate it!
In this episode we mention...
Clos du Moulins aux Moins
Heritage Fine Wines
Auxey-Duresses
Meursault
Cote de Beaune
Baltasar Dürrbach, Pablo Picasso’s godson
Jordane’s Pinot Noir Vin Nature Wine Label
Languedoc-Roussillon
Cotes Catalanes
Tom Lubbe, Domaine Matassa
Real Wine Fair
Domaine Olivier Pithon
Dominique of Domaine Hauvette
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Clos du Moulin Website
DLynn Proctor (@WineauxDLynnP) is the winemaking ambassador for Penfolds Americas. You may remember DLynn from the movies Somm and Somm: Into the Bottle on Netflix, but in this episode we don’t talk about the movies, but DLynn’s story, who inspired him to become a sommelier in the first place, how he was able to travel the world to learn about wine on other people’s dime as a young somm.
Learn more about DLynn with the show notes here.
We also dig into the day to day of what being the winemaking ambassador for Penfolds Americas means and how DLynn travels over 300 days per year. He also shares with us stories from working with the legendary Fred Dame and Peter Gago.
Before we get into the show, I want to invite you to subscribe to the podcast on iTunes and leave us a review. Doing so helps other folks who are just as passionate about wine as you are find the show and to grow this community. You can subscribe and review the show with the podcast player on your phone, or on iTunes here.
Michael Drapkin is the proprietor, wine educator, and Instagram model behind Kingston Wine Company in the town of Kingston, New York in the Hudson Valley. You can find him wordsmithing wine descriptions on Instagram @kingstonwineco and buy all of his delicious, natural and esoteric wines at KingstonWine.com
Learn more about Michael with the show notes here.
In this episode Michael and I dig into where his passion for wine comes from, both the books and the people who influenced him, and the art of wine retail, something that Michael feels is as important, if not more important, than the wines themselves.
We also chat about great resources for learning about and finding natural wines, one of those being the natural wine app, Raisin.
Before we get into the show, I want to invite you to subscribe to the podcast on iTunes and leave a review. Doing so helps other amazing wine lovers, like yourself, find the show and grow this community of folks who are passionate about wine. You can do so on the podcast player on your phone, or on iTunes itself here. Also, if you’re up for it, follow us on Instagram @crupodcast. We’re sharing bottles and experiences over there.
Michael Cruse (@crusewine) is the winemaker and owner of Ultramarine Wines and Cruse Wine Co. based in Petaluma, California.
Learn more about Michael with the show notes here.
In this episode, Michael and I dig into his background and how he got into the wine world, the terroir of California and how Michael is working to share that through his wines, and where his love of sparkling wines come from.
Before we get into the show, I want to invite you to subscribe to the podcast on iTunes and leave us a review. You can do so on iTunes itself, or with the podcast player on your phone. By subscribing and reviewing the show, you’re helping others discover the show and working to grow this community of people who are also passionate about wine.
And if you’re interested, subscribe to our weekly email newsletter, Cru Mail. We send you one email every Monday with the latest podcast episode, so you’ll be the first to hear it, and we send another email on Friday with anything from other podcasts we’re enjoying, wine videos, articles, books, events, and even offers from great wine companies that give you a discount when buying their wines online and in their shops.
You can subscribe to Cru Mail here.
Jack Mason (@jamasoniii) is one of the youngest Master Sommelier, and is the MS & Wine Director at Pappas Bros. Steakhouse in Houston, Texas.
Learn more about Jack with the show notes here.
Jack achieved MS status at the very young age of 27 and he’s one of the youngest to do so. He is one of only 9 esteemed Master Sommeliers currently in the state of Texas and one of 144 Master Sommeliers in the U.S.
He’s been featured in Forbes’ annual 30 Under 30 list of outstanding young professionals nationwide, Zagat’s 30 Under 30 list in New York City as was named Wine & Spirits Best New Sommelier 2015. He was also featured in the series Uncorked on the Esquire Network that followed his journey to receiving his MS certification.
With all of that, I have to say that Jack is one of the most fun and humble people I’ve ever met.
Before we get into the show, I want to invite you to subscribe to the podcast on iTunes and leave us a review. You can do so on iTunes itself, or with the podcast player on your phone. Doing so helps more and more people find the show, which helps to grow this community of people passionate about wine.
Amanda Brackett (@soconnwineco) is a winemaker and owner of Southern Connecticut Wine Co. in Wallingford, Connecticut. So Conn Wine Co. is the first urban winery in the entire state.
Learn more about Amanda with the show notes here.
In this episode Amanda and I converse about her passion for winemaking and how she became a winemaker in Connecticut to how she is working to teach more and more people about wine. She also shares the challenges she has had to overcome not only with government regulation, but the simple fact of her being a female business owner and winemaker.
Before we get into the episode, I want to let you know that there is some background noise that you’ll hear. From ringing phones to the sound of glasses clinking and bottles being moved, they all come with owning a small winery. I wanted to let you know so you aren’t taken by surprise.
Jeannie Cho Lee (@jeanniecholee) is a Master of Wine, a wine writer, critic, professor at the Polytechnic University’s School of Hotel and Tourism Management in Hong Kong, television host, speaker, wine consultant, and designer!
Learn more about Jeannie in the show notes here.
She was so gracious in speaking with me for over an hour about everything from her upbringing and how she got into wine to how to become a hedonist and experience what she calls palate orgasms. We also dig into how she takes wine notes and the value of the 100-point system to her personally to words of advice from Jancis Robinson herself.
Before we get into the show, I want to thank you for listening. You are the reason why I’m able to continue to have influential people like Jeannie come on the show. I’m glad that I’m able to continue to provide you value through this podcast.
If you are enjoying the show, but haven’t yet subscribed and left us a review, please do so with the podcast layer on your phone, or on iTunes here. Doing so helps other people who are passionate about wine find the show.
Christina Pickard (@winewchristina) is a wine writer, educator, and social media consultant. She has lived and worked from London to Perth, Australia, and now in the Hudson Valley of New York writing about wine and educating people about wine on places like the BBC and her own wine school.
Learn more about Christina with the show notes here.
In this episode, we dig into her story and how she got into wine while working as an actress. We then talk about how she learned more and more while tasting with some formative mentors. Christina also tells us about writing for publications like Wine Enthusiast, Food & Wine, and James Halliday.
Before we get into the show, I want to invite you to subscribe to the show on iTunes. You can do so with the podcast player on your phone, or on iTunes itself here. Doing so helps others find the show and you will always be the first to hear each episode.
Hillary Zio (@hillaryzio) is a certified sommelier, wine industry consultant, wine writer, educator, and author of The Unfiltered Guide to Working in Wine, her book that works as a career guide for those who have questions about being anything in the wine world from a sommelier to a distributor. You can buy it here on Amazon.
You can learn more about Hillary with the show notes here.
In this episode we dig into a lot from Hillary’s story and how her career progressed to now being able to have learned from mentors like Laura Maniec and Dustin Wilson and being able to create content for wine companies in order to help them grow. We also dig into using Instagram to help grow your business and her tips for doing so.
Before we get into the show, I have a question for you. Would you like to save money on wine? Pretty sure that answer is, YES! Well, if you do love to get more bang for your buck, try world-class wines without paying a premium, I invite you to signup for Cru Mail here.
Every Friday I send you a shot email with great content. Everything from new wine videos to killer Instagram profiles, and you guessed it, amazing wine deals from some great online wine retailers. So, if you’re down to get all of that for free every Friday, signup here.
Marissa A. Ross (@marissaaross) is a leisure enthusiast, writer, and wine drinker. She’s also the author of the new book, Wine. All The Time.: The Casual Guide to Confident Drinking, writer of the wine blog WINE. All The Time, and is the wine editor for Bon Appétit.
Learn more about Marissa here with the show notes.
In this episode, Marissa and I dig into a lot from her story and background and how she got into wine to becoming Bon Appétit’s wine editor. We also talk a lot about wine descriptions and how her’s work to describe an experience that the wine fits into rather than simply what she tastes. We get into the coverage of wine in Bon Appétit, her love and passion for the magazine, and the wise words that Adam Rapoport continuously bestows upon her.
Before we get into the episode, I want to invite you to subscribe to the podcast on iTunes here, and leave a review. Our goal is to grow a community of people passionate about wine in which we all can share and learn more. You subscribing and leaving a review on iTunes here, or your podcast player, helps more people just like yourself find the show.
Pre-Order Marissa's new book here on Amazon!
Dalia Ceja (@daliaceja), a Latina in love with sharing lifestyle tips and trends focused on fashion, travel, food, drinks, and fiestas. She’s also the sales and marketing director for her family’s vineyard and winery, Ceja Vineyards. Dalia also has her own wine label called La Tapatia, which she created as a consulting winemaker with Naked Wines.
You can learn more about Dalia here.
Dalia and I dig into a lot in this episode from how her grandparents and parents worked in the vineyards with Robert Mondavi and tended the vineyard of the famous To Kalon vineyard to the challenges that she and her mother, the matriarch of the business, have overcome as two Latina women in an industry that is traditionally dominated by European and American males. We also chat about some of the best wine and Mexican food parings, which I made her stop talking about because she was making me too hungry!
Before we get into the show, I invite you to subscribe to the podcast on iTunes and leave a review. Doing so helps to further grow this community of wine lovers that continues to grow. You can subscribe and review the show from the podcast player you’re using on your phone, or you can do so on iTunes here.
Whitney Adams (The Whitney A. Channel) is a sommelier turned YouTuber, on-camera host, and writer living in LA. We had a great conversation about everything from her background and how she got into the wine industry to her decision to start a YouTube channel which now has over 30,000 subscribers. Then reflecting on how she got to where she is by creating her own path in the industry and her goals for the future. Whitney also gives practical tips and strategies for growing a personal brand, like she has done.
Learn more about Whitney in the show notes here.
Before we get into the episode, I have one ask of you. I'm sure that you are on Instagram. I'm always posting gorgeous pictures from our guests, pictures I take myself, and beautiful shots from the people in this community like yourself. So, my ask is for you to follow us on Instagram here, and when you're posting wine pictures to your profile use #crupodcast and I'll repost your pictures on our feed! It's a win-win for everyone. And if you want, while you're on Instagram go and follow Whitney @heywhitneya.
Ryan Harms (@harmsryan) is the founder, owner, and winemaker of Union Wine Company based just outside ofPortland, Oregon. They can be considered pioneers in the canned wine space with their brand Underwood.
Learn more about Ryan here.
Ryan and I had a fantastic conversation talking about his story and how he started in the wine industry, how union first started as a virtual winery and now it can be considered an industrial chateau. We really dig into the mission and purpose behind Union, which can be summed up by saying that wine doesn’t have to be this hard. We then get into Union’s marketing, how it has been so successful and what Ryan attributes that to.
Before we get into the show, I want to invite you to subscribe to the podcast on iTunes here and leave a review. Doing so helps other wine lovers like yourself find the show. You can subscribe and review the show with your podcast player app on your phone, or here on iTunes.
Chad Melville (@melville_winery) is the head winegrower at his family’s winery, Melville Winery in the Santa Rita Hills of California producing Pinot Noir, Syrah, and Chardonnay.
In this episode, Chad tells us his story of growing up in a grape growing family and eventually starting Melville from its first plantings of their vineyard. We get into the viticulture behind the wines he grows, why he considers their wines to be made once the grapes are harvested, and how having control from vine to bottle helps to create an amazing product.
Before we get into the show, I want to invite you to subscribe to the podcast on iTunes here, or whatever podcast player you are using to listen to the show. Doing so helps more people find the show while growing this community around our common passion of wine.
Learn more about Chad here.
André Hueston Mack (@youknowmouton) is a Sommelier-at-Large, maker of Mouton Noir Wines, designer behind Get Fraiche Cru, and author of Small Thyme Cooks: coloring & activity book.
The over arching theme in this episode is how to be successful in the wine world. For André, it comes down to two things; showing up and working hard.
André has an amazing story of growing up as an Army brat, moving from place to place every few years to being inspired by the show Frazer to start exploring wine. Yes, the pompousness of Frazer and Niles describing wine lit a curiosity about wine in André’s mind He tells us the stories behind working in restaurants since he was sixteen to being hired on at The French Laundry and helping to open Per Se in New York while being a minority in the high-end NYC restaurant scene.
Learn more about André here and buy his wines here.
Christina Musto (@threadsandvino) is the 4th generation of a family wine business, Musto Wine Grape Company, based in Connecticut where she works with commercial and home winemakers to provide them with the tools and grapes they need to make great wine.
She is a long-time member of the American Wine Society, has studied at UC Davis, and has her Wine Business MBA from Sonoma State University, and on top of all of that is a founding member of Women Winemakers of Connecticut.
Learn more about Christina here!
We invite you to subscribe and review the podcast on iTunes here!
Julian Lewis (@julianlewis4) is the co-founder of Bybo Wines, an online wine shop and wine club that sells “Wines with Soul.” They believe that some wines have soul and others don’t. They also believe that value and price are distinctly different things. If you feel this too, then join them at bybo.co.uk.
Julian is the buyer for Bybo, but he’s also a surfer, father, husband, veteran of two Master of Wine exams, and an IWC judge. He lives in Bristol, England with his wife and children.
Julian was gracious enough to chat at 6pm on a Friday night, under the stipulation that wines was involved! We get into a lot in the conversation from his formative years working in vineyards in France to the ethos that he lives by which are reflected in the wines that Bybo offers.
Learn more about Julian here!
Want to get wine videos, articles, podcasts, and other ways to learn more about wine every Friday? Subcribe to Cru Mail here!
Deirdre Heekin is the co-founder, winegrower, organizer, writer, photographer, flower farmer, and designer behind La Garagista Farm + Winery in Barnard, Vermont. In this episode we get into a lot from where the idea came from to start growing and making wine in Vermont to its challenges as she successful makes amazing natural wines in this environment. We also talk about her love of travel, the biodynamic practices that have been instilled in her, and her new book, An Unlikely Vineyard.
We invite you to subscribe to the podcast on iTunes here and leave us a review. Our goal is to grow a community of people who are passionate about wine so we can all learn more and connect with each other. If that appeals to you at all, then subscribe. It helps others find the show, which continues to expand this community you’re apart of.
Learn more about Deirdre at CruPodcast.com
Brian McClintic (@brianmcclinticms) is a Master Sommelier and founder of the wine company and travel blog, Viticole Wine (@viticolewine). In this episode we get into a lot from why and how he first got into wine to how Viticole is becoming a lifestyle business for him that combines his passions of wine, travel, and writing.
Learn more about Brian at https://crupodcast.com/show/brianmcclintic
We invite you to subscribe to the podcast on iTunes here and leave us a review. Our goal is to grow a community of people who are passionate about wine so we can all learn more and connect with each other. If that appeals to you at all, then subscribe. It helps others find the show, which continues to expand this community you’re apart of.
Robin and Andrea McBride are the sisters, owners, and winemakers behind McBride Sisters Wines. They make fun, playful, and approachable wines in New Zealand and California. In this episode we dig into a lot starting with their incredible story that only God or fate could have made happen to diversity in the wine industry and their experiences as African-American women.
They also tell the story of how Oprah, Gayle King, and Common started repping their wines. Robin and Andrea are a powerhouse that taught me a thing or two throughout our conversation.
Before we get into the episode, I want to know if you are enjoying the podcast. If you are, I invite you to subscribe and leave a review on iTunes. Our goal is to help grow the community around wine by connecting others through this podcast. By subscribing to it on iTunes, you are helping others find the show and connect around a common passion.
Bill Bishop is the National Sales Manager for Steele Wines in Northern California. He has a lifetime of experience in the wine world from helping his father deliver wines as a boy in Connecticut and studying enology and viticulture at University of California Davis to working harvest at Far Niente Winery and nearly 20 years of his career at Carneros Creek Winery. Bill has a wealth of knowledge that we dig into in this episode. He has a story for everything about wine and it was an absolute pleasure to chat with him.
We invite you to subscribe to the podcast on iTunes and leave us a review. Our goal is to grow a community of people who are passionate about wine so we can all learn more and connect with each other. If that appeals to you at all, then subscribe. It helps others find the show, which continues to expand this community you’re apart of.
Learn more at crupodcast.com
Helen Johannesen (@helenswines) is a sommelier, entrepreneur, wine shop owner, lover of the hustle, and an incredibly thoughtful and kind person. We dive into a lot in this episode from growing up in NYC and moving to Madison, Wisconsin to the challenges she’s overcome in a male dominated industry and how her drive and lack of insecurity has pushed her to accomplish so much at a young age.
We also talk about being recognized for your hard work with awards and what effect they have; she’s a 2016 Food & Wine magazine Sommelier of the year.
We invite you to subscribe to the podcast on iTunes and leave us a review. Our goal is to grow a community of people who are passionate about wine so we can all learn more and connect with each other. If that appeals to you at all, then subscribe. It helps others find the show, which continues to expand this community you’re apart of.
You can learn more at Crupodcast.com
Chris Strieter (@cstrieter) is an entrepreneur and co founder of Senses Wines (@senseswines), a boutique winery in Sonoma making Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, and is the co-founder of Duchess in Oakland (@duchessoakland), a gastro pub serving up California pub fare. You can learn more about Chris at http://crupodcast.com/show/chrisstrieter
In this episode we dive into a lot of different topics, but the main one being how Chris and his co-founders have worked to build a boutique winery from the ground up and now have their wines in restaurants like The French Laundry. We also talk about starting a restaurant, his advice to entrepreneurs, technology, and his passion for space travel.
Would you like to get videos, articles, podcasts, Instagram profiles, photography, and books, that help you learn more about wine and connect with others who are passionate about it too? All for free, every Friday. If that sounds right up your alley subscribe at http://crupodcast.com/cru-mail
Michael Villas is an advanced sommelier and co-founder of the wine labels Penville and Maison d’Amis. Penville makes Rhone style Grenache from the Santa Barbara region in California and Maison d’Amis makes Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. You can connect with Michael on Instagram @mcvillas and learn more about him at crupodcast.com
Before we get into the episode, I want to invite you to subscribe to the podcast on iTunes. With your help we can achieve our goal of being on the New & Noteworthy for all of iTunes. It allows other people to find the show and to connect all of us around a common passion.
Giuseppe Cola (@pjritzsomm) is the first Perrier-Jouet sommelier at The Ritz London. He is also the award winner of the Annual Award of Excellence in Service 2016 from the Royal Academy of Culinary Arts London, the most prestigious award available to young professionals in the hospitality industry today.
You can learn more about Giuseppe at http://crupodcast.com/show/giuseppecola
We invite you to subscribe to the podcast on iTunes and leave a review. It helps other people find the show.
Follow us on Instagram and hashtag your wine pictures with #crupodcast to be featured on our feed. http://instagram.com/crupodcast
John Kapon (@JohnKapon) is the CEO of his family's wine store that was started in 1820, Acker Merrall & Condit. Acker Wines is now one of the largest auction houses in the world.
You can learn more about John at http://crupodcast.com/show/johnkapon
We invite you to subscribe to the podcast on iTunes and leave a review. It helps other people find the show.
Follow us on Instagram and hashtag your wine pictures with #crupodcast to be featured on our feed. http://instagram.com/crupodcast
David Baker (@dave301) a writer, filmmaker and interactive media producer living in the Pacific Northwest. He directed American Wine Story is a documentary about the passion and determination of those who pioneer wine in America.
You can learn more about David at http://crupodcast.com/show/davidbaker
We invite you to subscribe to the podcast on iTunes and leave a review. It helps other people find the show.
Follow us on Instagram and hashtag your wine pictures with #crupodcast to be featured on our feed. http://instagram.com/crupodcast
Philip Staveley (@StaveleyPhilip) is a director at Amphora Portfolio Management, a bespoke wine investment business advising private investors. Philip graduated from St. Andrews in 1980, has worked in Hong Kong and London as an Asian equities broker, and built the first ever composite Global Emerging Markets distribution platform for Deutsche Bank. He is a fine wine investor himself and loves sharing wine with others.
You can learn more about Philip at http://crupodcast.com/show/philipstaveley
We invite you to subscribe to the podcast on iTunes and leave a review. It helps other people find the show.
Follow us on Instagram and hashtag your wine pictures with #crupodcast to be featured on our feed. http://instagram.com/crupodcast
Peter Shakeshaft (@PRShakeshaft) is the founder and CEO of Vin-X. A qualified corporate financier, Peter’s career spans twenty years in the Financial Services industry where he founded and led a group which grew sales to over £100 million.
You can learn more about Peter at http://crupodcast.com/show/petershakeshaft
We invite you to subscribe to the podcast on iTunes and leave a review. It helps other people find the show.
Follow us on Instagram and hashtag your wine pictures with #crupodcast to be featured on our feed. http://instagram.com/crupodcast
Miles Davis (@wamllp) is a partner at the London based Wine Asset Managers, who are responsible for managing The Fine Wine Fund and The Fine Wine Investment Fund. Think of Wine Asset Managers as a hedge fund for wine. You can connect with Miles on Twitter and learn more about him here.
You can learn more about Miles at http://crupodcast.com/show/milesdavis
We invite you to subscribe to the podcast on iTunes and leave a review. It helps other people find the show.
Follow us on Instagram and hashtag your wine pictures with #crupodcast to be featured on our feed. http://instagram.com/crupodcast
Constantin Press (@WineContor) Founder of The Wine Contor, an importer of high-end German and Italian wines based in Shanghai. He’s lived and worked in New Zealand, Chile, worked for Vinitaly, and was born in the Mosel in Germany. Constantin is working to bring great wine to the people of Shanghai.
You can learn more about Constantin at http://crupodcast.com/show/constantinpress
We invite you to subscribe to the podcast on iTunes and leave a review. It helps other people find the show.
Follow us on Instagram and hashtag your wine pictures with #crupodcast to be featured on our feed. http://instagram.com/crupodcast
Rob McMillan (@SVBWine) is the founder and Executive Vice President of Silicon Valley Bank's Wine Division based in St. Helena, California. Starting in 1992 he developed the division from the idea and start-up phase to the point where it is today, now regarded by many as the leading provider of financial services to the fine wine business on the west coast of the United States.
You can learn more about Rob at http://crupodcast.com/show/robmcmillan
We invite you to subscribe to the podcast on iTunes and leave a review. It helps other people find the show.
Follow us on Instagram and hashtag your wine pictures with #crupodcast to be featured on our feed. http://instagram.com/crupodcast
Scott McWilliam (@scottmcwilliam) is a 6th generation senior winemaker with McWilliam’s Wines, his family’s wine company that was started in 1877 when the first vines were planted. We talk about everything from the art of winemaking to the history of his family’s company that played a large part in the formation of the Australian wine industry.
You can learn more about Scott at http://crupodcast.com/show/scottmcwilliam
We invite you to subscribe to the podcast on iTunes and leave a review. It helps other people find the show.
Follow us on Instagram and hashtag your wine pictures with #crupodcast to be featured on our feed. http://instagram.com/crupodcast
David Baeza (@DavidBaeza) is a Harvard Business School educated entrepreneur and marketer. He's worked with companies like Citrix to develop Go To Meeting and Go To Webinar. He's been the Senior Vice President of Marketing at Lynda.com, is an advisor to Treehouse the online education platform, and is now the CEO & Co-Founder of a company called Vine Rangers. His mission with Vine Rangers is to utilize the latest in drone, mobile, cloud, and imaging technology to work with winemakers to help them grow the best possible quality grapes, help them understand why, and do it again the next year.
You can learn more about David at http://crupodcast.com/show/davidbaeza
We invite you to subscribe to the podcast on iTunes and leave a review. It helps other people find the show.
Follow us on Instagram and hashtag your wine pictures with #crupodcast to be featured on our feed. http://instagram.com/crupodcast
Dustin Wilson (@dustinwilsonms) is a Master Sommelier. At the time of this recording he was the Wine Director at Eleven Madison Park. Currently, he is the Co-founder of Vallin Wine & Anvil Wine and an advisor the PerUs and Mason Pacific. You may know him from the wine documentary, Somm and Somm: Into The Bottle, where we witnessed part of his journey to becoming a Master Sommelier.
You can learn more about Dustin at http://crupodcast.com/show/dustinwilson
We invite you to subscribe to the podcast on iTunes and leave a review. It helps other people find the show.
Follow us on Instagram and hashtag your wine pictures with #crupodcast to be featured on our feed. http://instagram.com/crupodcast