Golden West Podcast: Recent Episodes
Ryan
This episode is a replay that originally aired on Aug 29, 2020
Andy Erickson is the winemaker for Highest Beauty, a wine from the To Kalon Vineyard Company.
Although he’s originally from the Midwest, a summer in France convinced Andy Erickson that his calling was wine. Beginning his journey in Napa Valley and Sonoma, he soon moved to Mendoza in Argentina. Returning to Napa, he honed his craft, working under a number of renowned winemakers, including John Kongsgaard, and Michel Rolland. After earning a master’s degree in enology, Andy worked as a winemaker at Harlan Estate and Staglin Family Vineyards, eventually establishing a consulting firm with his wife, viticulturalist Annie Favia, where he made such highly coveted wines as Screaming Eagle. Andy and Annie have recently established their own winery, Leviathan.
https://tokalonvineyardcompany.com/
We Talk About:
His background getting into wine
The Favia Brand with his wife
The interesting history with To Kalon Vineyard, Robert Mondavi and Andy Beckstoffer
Andy's winemaking style including blending, aging, and picking decisions
The Highest Beauty wine and what is coming next for the To Kalon Vineyard Company brand
This episode is a replay which originally aired on July 17, 2020
Rebekah Wineburg is the winemaker at Quintessa. She previously worked as the assistant winemaker at Rudd, among other roles in Oregon, New Zealand, and more. She co-owns a label Post & Vine, with a focus on small historical vineyards, featuring unique varietals like carignane and old vine zinfandel. She graduated with a Masters in viticulture and enology from UC Davis.
https://www.quintessa.com/the-wine
https://www.postandvine.com/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jdw-eyue1XY
We Talk About:
-Her background in Oregon, New Zealand, and more
Working at Rudd and Edge Hill
-History of Quintessa: founded in 1989
-The micro-terroirs of Rutherford AVA
-Biodynamics and Organic farming
-Carmenere in the Bordeaux Blend
-The Illumination Sav Blanc
-Winemaking as both science and art
-Her label: Post & Vine and the unique and amazing wines she's producing
-What does "Rutherford" mean to you? Rutherford Dust?
-Biodynamics
-What she’s been eating and drinking lately
This episode is a replay which originally aired on June 18, 2020
Rex Pickett is the author of the novel Sideways, which was adapted into the now iconic wine movie of the same name. Two other books followed to complete the trilogy.
As a writer and director with countless credits, his love of wine began back in the ‘90s when he was researching "Sideways." He grew up in southern California, and attended the University of California at San Diego, graduating with honors.
http://rexpickett.com/
https://twitter.com/rexpickett
http://sideways-wine.com/
https://www.amazon.com/Sideways-Novel-Rex-Pickett/dp/0312342519
We Talk About:
The wine shop in Santa Monica, CA where Rex got interested in wine
How a conversation at Pinot Days led to Sideways: The Play
Why the movie featured a 1961 Château Cheval Blanc instead of a 1982 Chateau Latour
Impact the movie had on wine: both pinot and merlot
A surprising fact Rex has never mentioned on any other interview
The Sidways Pinot from Chile and what wine Rex is doing next
Why there was no sequel to the movie
Will there be a Sideways 4 book?
This episode of a replay that originally aired on June 18, 2020
Amanda McCrossin is a sommelier, media personality, wine educator, and creator and host of the Instagram and YouTube channel "SOMMVIVANT."
She was formerly the Wine Director at PRESS Restaurant in Napa Valley and today, she focuses her efforts on producing wine "Edutainment" - a mix between education and entertainment, and digital media content for both consumers and professionals alike.
She's been featured in many media outlets and publications including Food Network, Wine Enthusiast, Food & Wine, and Wine Spectator to name a few.
https://www.instagram.com/sommvivant/
https://www.youtube.com/c/amandamccrossinsommvivant
http://sommvivant.me/
We talk about:
-Amanda's journey into wine
-Inside scoop on all things Somm related: Decanting and that first "small pour"
-The rare bottle Robert Parker opened with Amanda at PRESS in Napa
-The Million Dollar Nose article in The Atlantic
-The 1972 BV Georges de Latour, 1991 Dominus, and Calder Charbono
-Why you won't see an ABV% on certain bottles
-What happened when a famous critic tried the same wine in a different glass
-What Amanda will be doing next (Hint: a podcast!)
This episode is a replay which originally aired on July 2, 2020
Ren Harris is the owner and operator of Paradigm Winery along with his wife Marilyn. He and his family have a long and storied history in the Napa Valley, starting long before the first vintage in 1991.
https://paradigmwinery.com/
https://paradigmwinery.com/collection/wine
We Talk About:
-His family and the long history in growing grapes in Napa Valley
-The first vintage of Paradigm in 1991 and winemaker Heidi Barrett
-What makes the Oakville AVA so special
-Some details on the Paradigm Cab Sav: 11 blocks; the rootstocks and clones vary to give complexity
-The grape you may be surprised to know was planted on the property in Oakville in 1976
-Story of how he held a contest to choose the name for the winery
-A sign off Hwy 29 that says: “No Wineries This Road”
-A horse that was named after the winery, which is still alive to this day
-The inside story on his "business card wine" produced with Jean Phillips in 1992 that's half Screaming Eagle and half Paradigm
-Why they extended the length of the cork
Jenna Davis is the Assistant Winemaker at DuMOL.
We Talk About:
-How she got into the wine business
-Her experience berry tasting and doing her first couple of harvests
-The history of DuMol going back many years
-How DuMol thinks about farming, winemaking, and more
-The Sonoma Coast and Russian River Valley
-The Estate Pinot Noir and Chardonnay
-And much more!
https://dumol.com/
We get an update from our sponsor First Bottle Wines!
Use our code GOLDENWESTPOD to save on your first order at firstbottlewines.com
Mari Jones is the President at Emeritus Vineyards.
We Talk About:
-Her family's history in the Russian River Valley
-The Hallberg Ranch and Pinot Hill Vineyards
-The Pinot Noir program and a special white wine they make
-Thoughts on vineyard management and cellar practices such as oak and more
-The "Wine Life" area of the website and how people can purchase wine
https://www.emeritusvineyards.com/
Sarah Wuethrich is the winemaker at Maggy Hawk Winery.
We Talk About:
-How she got into the wine business
-Her stops long the way at Copain and more
-The Maggy Hawk wines, vineyards they are sourced from, and style in which they are made
-A white Pinot Noir?!
-And much more
https://www.maggyhawk.com/
https://webpages.scu.edu/womenwinemakers/view.php?id=488
John and Katianna Hong are owners and chefs at Yangban Society in Los Angeles.
We Talk About their Upcoming Restaurant Launch:
-This September, Katianna & John Hong open Yangban Society, a Korean-American Deli and Super in the heart of Downtown L.A.’s Arts District. With Yangban Society, Katianna & John showcase an autobiographical experience that celebrates the varied dimensions of their respective backgrounds while providing standout to-go offerings and a dynamic space for locals to gather.
-The Yangban Deli menu draws inspiration from Korean flavors and influences, regional California ingredients, as well as aspects of deli culture informed by Katianna's childhood memories frequenting New York delis. Together, Katianna & John craft dishes that reveal their distinct perspectives and upbringings as Korean Americans, as well as their nuanced culinary approach, refined from their shared time at The Restaurant at Meadowood, The Charter Oak and Mélisse.
-While celebrated within the fine dining space, at Yangban Society, Katianna & John offer an experience intended for the everyday. An expansive deli counter displays hot and cold plates that can be plated or packaged for guests on-the-go including soy and garlic-brined rotisserie chicken, pea shoots & chive salad, Doenjang-roasted mushrooms & bracken fern, and avocado with Asian pear & furikake. Comforting dishes such as kimchee & pork belly posole, a Bolognese rice bowl and soy-braised oxtails invite guests to linger around the table, sipping canned cocktails, Hite beer or half bottles of Krug.
https://yangbanla.com/
https://la.eater.com/2020/12/2/22054973/bon-temps-arts-district-opening-katianna-hong-yangban-society-new-restaurant
https://www.wsj.com/articles/yangban-society-la-11626351679
Faith Armstrong is the winemaker and owner at Onward Wines.
We Talk About:
-How Faith got her start in the wine business
-A chance encounter at Brewer-Clifton Winery in Santa Barbara County
-Making her first Pinot Noir
-Her new Art Label series wines and current Zinfandel
-All things Pet Nat and much more!
https://onwardwines.com/
Katie Bundschu is the Vintner and Proprietor at Abbots Passage
We Talk About:
-Katie's journey into the wine business
-The history of 150 years making with in her family
-What makes Glen Ellen so special
-Her vision for Abbot's Passage
-The mercantile shop and winery
-We talk through some of the unique wine offerings
-How to visit, buy wine, and experience the property, and much more!
https://www.abbotspassage.com/
Michael Browne is the proprietor of Browne Family Wines with labels Cirq and Chev.
We Talk About:
-Life before wine and how HE ended up in the business
-Working in the restaurant business, leading up to co-founding Kosta Browne
-Starting in winemaking at Deerfield Ranch in Kenwood as a volunteer for a year
-Launching Kosta Browne with 1 barrel of Pinot Noir in 1997
-The Cirq and Chev brands, label art, and more
-Writing a book about his life and Pinot Noir
-And much more!
https://brownefamilywines.com/
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/55850967-pinot-rocks
This episode is a replay which originally aired on June 26, 2020
Steve Matthiasson is the owner and winemaker at Matthiasson Wines, along with his wife Jill. He's a is a life-long student of the craft of viticulture and a proponent of sustainable agriculture.
https://www.matthiasson.com/
https://www.matthiasson.com/wines
https://ashesdiamonds.com/
We Talk About:
-His background, gardening, brewing beer, and living in San Francisco
-How punk rock was a part of his life and a few bands he liked
-Some of his previous work experiences at wineries and what he learned
-IPOB and what came out of that group
-The launch of Matthiasson Wines in 2003 with 120 cases
-His style and how he looks at the picking decision
-The idea of balance in wine; comparing a balanced salad to a balanced wine
-The quote, "Matthiasson wines bear an agricultural stamp, as fresh, lively and alive as the best produce from a farmers' market" from Eric at the NYT
-His slogan: “wine is made in the vineyard"
-Some of the wines in the Mattiasson portfolio
-Tendu brand and the need for wines at a lower price point going forward
-His Vermouth made from 80% Flora, a cross between Semillon and Gewurztraminer.
Riley Roddick is the owner and winemaker at Hubba Wines in Paso Robles.
We Talk About:
How she ended up as a winemaker
-Getting a degree in Ag Business with a minor in Viticulture from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, and later a Masters in wine
-Starting out in Paso Robles at L’Aventure Winery
-Working in France, Italiy, and Australia
-Launching a brand, the really cool labels, and the story behind the names of each wine
-How she thinks about organics, use of oak, additives, and much more
https://www.hubbawines.com/
Olivia Eckerson is the Assistant Wine Manager for the Rosemont Wine Bar in Portland, Maine.
We Talk About:
-Her journey into the wine business after graduating from college
-What it was like working in Napa Valley during the fires
-Her Op-Ed in the LA Times
-Working harvest, in the vineyard, and in tasting rooms
-Natural wine, the food scene in Portland, Maine, and much more
https://www.latimes.com/opinion/story/2020-08-30/op-ed-wine-napa-burns-pandemic
https://rosemontmarket.com/location/rosemont-market-wine-bar
Christopher Miller, MS is the winemaker and owner at Seabold Cellars
We Talk About:
-How he started his wine journey tasting in Washington with his dad
-Spending most of his career in fine dining as a Master Sommelier
-Working at Spago in Beverly Hills during the Global Financial Crisis in 2008
-Doing harvests with Greg Brewer at Brewer-Clifton and Melville
-Launching his own brand, making wine in Marina, California, and much more
https://www.seaboldcellars.com/
https://www.instagram.com/seaboldcellars/
Gina Hennen is the winemaker at Adelsheim in Oregon
The Willamette Pinot Noir Auction will take place on August 5th, 2021
We Talk About:
-How Gina ended up in the wine business after working as a semiconductor engineer
-The history of Adelheim, Willamette Valley, and different Oregon AVAs
-The auction event that will take place on August 5th
-Co-chaired by Jessica Endsworth, a national sales manager of Northwest Wine Company, and Rob Alstrin, President and CEO of Adelsheim, the Auction will highlight the 2019 vintage, with 85 Pinot noir lots from top Willamette Valley producers, and seven Chardonnay lots from current and past Auction chairs
-The Willamette Valley Wineries Association (WVWA) has unveiled the full lineup of lots for its sixth annual Willamette: the Pinot Noir Auction, set to take place both online and in-person at WillaKenzie Estate in Yamhill, Ore. on August 5.
-Following a challenging year, this year’s Auction will feature a record-breaking number of lots as well as a record winery turnout, with 89 participating producers, all of whom have joined together to raise money to support the WVWA.
-Open exclusively to licensed wine sellers, including retailers, restaurateurs and wholesalers, the 2021 sale will feature 85 lots of Pinot noir and seven lots of Chardonnay from the 2019 vintage, available in quantities of just five, 10 and 20 cases Willamette: the Pinot Noir Auction will take place August 5, 2021 made specifically for the Auction
-Registered members of the trade will be invited to participate in the Auction’s virtual Preview Week July 26-30, 2021, where they will have the opportunity to explore the Auction lot wines through intimate winemaker panels. These events will culminate in the August 5 Auction conducted by esteemed Auctioneer Fritz Hatton. The full lineup of lots and descriptions is available online
https://www.willamettewines.auction/wineries
https://www.adelsheim.com/all-wines
Alex Pomerantz is the owner and winemaker at Subject to Change
We Talk About:
-How he got his start in the wine business
-What he thinks about natural wine and where to draw the line
-The type of style to expect from his wines
-We talk through some 2018's and 2020's
-Two wines made only for Whole Foods Market
-Why he doesn't add any sulfur
-His thoughts on winemaking in the cellar and much more!
https://www.subjecttochangewine.com/
Daniel Paterson specializes in structuring wine investment portfolios at Cult & Boutique Wine Management.
We Talk About:
-How Robert Parker Jr. influenced him
-How to think about building a wine portfolio
-What he looks for when thinking about value all over the world
-His views on New World vs. Old World
-A 1992 bottle that sold for $500,000 in the year 2000
-And much more!
Samra Morris is the winemaker at Alma Rosa Winery in Santa Barbara.
We Talk About:
-Her journey from Bosnia to the US
-How she ended up in Napa
-Her first few harvests and wine jobs
-Working alongside Thomas Rivers Brown at Mending Wall
-Becoming winemaker at Alma Rosa, the Santa Rita Hills area, and much more
-Thanks to our newest sponsor First Bottle Wines. Visit https://www.firstbottlewines.com/ and use code GOLDENWEST to get 10% off your first order
https://almarosawinery.com/about/our-people/
Will Camarda is the winemaker at Andrew Will Winery, where they focus on Bordeaux varietals in Washington state.
We Talk About:
-His Dad Chris founding the winery in 1989
-Vashon Island and where specifically it's located
-His thoughts on farming, picking decision, use of oak, and more
-How he first went into geology before winemaking
-The vineyards: Ciel du Cheval, Champoux, and May’s Discovery, and Two Blondes vineyards.
-His memes on Instagram, why you ARE drinking some F-ing merlot, and much more!
https://andrewwill.com/
https://involuntarycommitmentwines.com/
https://www.instagram.com/andrewwillwinery/
Christian Pillsbury is the proprietor of Eden Rift Vineyards.
We Talk About:
-Christian's background and he got into the wine business
-The road to establishing Eden Rift in 2016
-The history of the site, a 500 acre property, founded in 1849 and into World War II, it was one of California's great 5 estates
-The wines they produce: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Zinfandel, and more.
The old vine zin from 1906
-The style of wines they make, his views on IPOB, and balance
-How to visit, buy wine, and much more
https://www.edenrift.com/
https://www.sfchronicle.com/wine/article/Eden-Rift-in-Hollister-the-vineyard-that-13127968.php#photo-15941375
Torrin is family owned and operated winery in Paso Robles, California.
We Talk About:
-The story of how they met
-Working at Fetzer in Mendocino County
-Meeting James Berry "Pebble" Smith in the 2000's
-Launching the brand with 2 blocks of James Berry. Planted in 2002 and harvested in 2006
-How they came up with the name
-Farming, picking decision, and oak
-Torrin with Rhone varietals, Maven, Banshe and Lagom brand Pinot and Chardonnay
https://thewinemakersseries.com/blogs/profiles/scott-hawley
https://torrinwines.com/
Jim Fox is the co-founder of Patiné Cellars
We Talk About:
-How he first got into wine at The Bottle Inn, in Hermosa Beach
-Meeting his co-founder Dean Nucich, and winemaker Mike Smith
-The meaning behind the name as well as the unique hockey-related packaging
-Taking win courses at UC Davis/UCLA Ext as well as Wine LA
-The vineyards where they source fruit: Gap's Crown, Sun Chase, and Soberanes
-His ideas for food parings, decanting, and much more
https://patinecellars.com/
Blake Van Treese is the Senior Buyer for First Bottle Wines
We Talk About:
-First Bottle and Last Bottle Wines
-How did he get into wine and life in the Napa Valley
-His role at First Bottle and how the website works
-The great user-interface of the website and how to sort by price or points
-How they bring value from Napa and beyond
-Some of the winemakers featured on the website now
-The inside story of a wine that's half Paradigm and half Screaming Eagle
-Some great international values they have now and much more
https://www.firstbottlewines.com/
https://www.lastbottlewines.com/
Chad Melville is the Head Winegrower at Melville Winery
We Talk About:
-His Father Ron's vineyard in Calistoga
-The road to buying property that is now Melville today
-His winemaking style, including older oak and more
-Benefits of being 100% estate grown
-The 2019 Pinot Noir, 2018 Chardonnay and other Pinots from different blocks
https://melvillewinery.com/
Gavin Chanin is the owner and winemaker at Chanin Wines
We Talk About:
-Going to school at UCLA for art, biking to Wally's, and doing his first harvest
-His experience working at Au Bon Climat
-Working harvest abroad
-The vineyard sites he works with in Santa Barbara County
-Starting his own brand in 2007 with Chardonnay
-Pinot Noir, his wine making style, and much more
https://chaninwine.com/
Grant Coulter is the winemaker for Flâneur Wines and the winemaker and owner, along with his wife Renée, of 100 Suns Wine.
We Talk About:
-His background and how he got into wine
-Working at Beaux Freres, what he learned, and working with with Mike Etzel and Robert Parker, Jr.
-The Willamette Valley region and what makes it special
-Launching a brand with his wife
-The labels he designs, with some inspiration
-Picking decisions, farming, oak, and more
-Views on decanting, serving temperature, and cellaring
-Sign-up for the mailing list and buy at https://hundredsunswine.com/wines
Audrey Frick is a sommelier based out of New York City. She covers Italian wines for JebbDunnuck.com and is the Wine Director for soon to be opened restaurant, One White Street.
We Talk About:
-Growing up in NYC, playing the french horn, and Mannes School of Music
-School at University of Colorado and her first restaurant job
-Becoming a Somm, working at Oak & 14th, Tavernetta, and more
-Quick run-down of Italian wines and her thoughts on the region
-Advise to people getting into wine
-Writing for JebbDunnuck.com
-What's next, including the opening new restaurant in NYC
https://jebdunnuck.com/2021/03/montalcino-the-2016-brunello-2015-riservas/
https://www.instagram.com/onewhitestreet/
https://www.onewhitestreetnyc.com/
https://shows.acast.com/the-black-wine-guy-experience/episodes/things-to-do-in-denver-when-you-are-a-somm
https://vervewine.com/
Amanda Greenbaum is the Wine Proprietor at Aja Vineyards in Malibu, California.
We Talk About:
-The history of wine in Malibu, California and the AVA established in 2014
-The history of the vineyard, her family, the grapes, and more
-How she got into wine at a young age
-The Aja wine offerings
-What's next for the brand
-Her thoughts on food and wine pairings
-How to buy the wines
https://www.ajavineyards.com/
https://www.amazon.com/Rad-Cocktails-Amanda-Greenbaum/dp/1649904444
Andrew Jones is the winemaker and founder at Field Recordings
We Talk About:
-How Andrew got his start in wine
-Graduating from Cal Poly and going into farming
-The Field Recordings style, how he sources, what happens in the cellar, and more
-The three most important times for winemaking
-Why the root stock is so important
-His thoughts on decanting and temperature
-What's next for the brand
https://fieldrecordingswine.com/about
https://fieldrecordingswine.vinespring.site/purchase
Greg McBeth is the co-founder of Melier. Experience the best of wine country. Anywhere. Anytime.
We Talk About:
-Tech background and what he did before wine
-His first trip to Santa Barbara wine country
-The goal of Melier and value for consumers and wineries
-Upcoming opportunities to get involved
https://melier.com/
https://www.instagram.com/joinmelier/
Joe Nielsen is the winemaker at Rams Gate Winery.
We Talk About:
-His background, graduated from Michigan State with a Bachelor of Science in Horticulture.
-Reading books on French viticulture and planted his first vineyard in his family's backyard using French hybrid grapes.
-Moving to California for internship at Merryvale Vineyards, and later became assistant winemaker at Donelan in 2008.
-Earned his Executive Wine MBA from Sonoma State University.
-The site: perched upon the rolling hills that define the landscape of the Carneros AVA, where the San Francisco Bay meets the edges of Napa and Sonoma counties, lies Ram’s Gate Winery. As it nears the end of its first decade, Ram’s Gate is entering a heightened era of wine making excellence.
-How he views vineyard management and work in the cellar
-We talk through the 2018 Chardonnay and Pinot Noir wines
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uew7M4RE28U
https://ramsgatewinery.com/
Chris Boyd is the founder of Monday, a beverage startup starting with alcohol free gin as their first product.
We Talk About:
-How the company got started and launched on Kickstarter
-Raising money with Republic and how it works
-Link to invest: https://republic.co/drink-monday?utm_source=drink_monday&utm_campaign=issuer_ref
-What it's been like using Republic to get fans and brand ambassadors
-The cultural shift to a more healthy lifestyle
-The design, labeling, ingredients, and more
-What's next for Monday? Hint: There's a Whiskey in the works!
-And much more
https://drinkmonday.co/products/monday-gin
Scott Rich is the winemaker at Moraga Vineyards in Los Angeles.
We Talk About:
-His background and how he got into wine, Tony Soter, Etude, and more.
-How he came to Moraga.
-The history of the property, academy award winning director Victor Fleming and then Tom Jones, who planted vineyard in 1978.
The first wine, the Moraga Red Table Wine, a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, winemaker Bruno D'Alfonso and later Mia Klein.
-His wine making philosophy, vineyard management, and more.
-We taste through both the white and red wines.
https://www.moragabelair.com/
Seth O'Malley is the Founding Distiller at Wilderton, which makes non-alcoholic spirits from raw botanicals.
We Talk About:
-His background working with tea and kombucha
-How he came together with his co-founder
-The differentiation: "We weren’t interested in making an analog, something that was meant to taste like a bourbon or a gin. We wanted something completely different.”
-What exactly are raw botanicals?
-We get into the two offerings, Earthen and Lustre
-Some ideas for mixed drinks and much more
https://wildertonfree.com/
https://wildertonfree.com/collections/shop
Allison Wilson is the Director of Vineyard Operations at Cliff Lede Vineyards
We Talk About:
-Her introduction to grape growing was through harvest celebrations and weekend visits to her great uncle’s nearby Livermore Valley vineyard
-Cal Poly and majoring in Fruit Science major in 2012
-Working for Renteria Vineyard Management
-Napa Valley Grapegrowers
-Her role in farming and development of Cliff Lede’s three estate vineyards, working closely with the winemaking team
-Also acting as a liaison between grower partners and winemakers to insure best vineyard practices.
-Her views on farming, best practices, pest control, and more.
-The Lede Family Wines, including Cliff Lede Vineyards, FEL Wines, and their small luxury hotel, the Poetry Inn.
-We go through the , 2019 Sauvignon Blanc, 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon, Stags Leap District, and 2018 Rock Block Cabernet Sauvignon “Magic Nights”
https://cliffledevineyards.com/wines/
Erica Stancliff is the winemaker at Pfendler Vineyards
We Talk About:
-Growing up in Russian River Valley.
-Working with Paul Hobbs.
-Why she chose school at Fresno for the Enology program.
-Her internship at Viña Cobos, working with Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, and Cabernet Franc.
-Returning to Napa to work at Rudd
-Her role as President of the Petaluma Gap Winegrowers Alliance
-How she met Kimberly Pfendler and the history of the vineyard
-We taste through the Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, talking about her philosophy on oak and picking decisions
http://pfendlervineyards.com/
Brandon Sparks-Gillis is the winemaker and co-founder of Dragonette Cellars.
We Talk About:
-How Dragonette unofficially started in 2003 with 25 cases of Syrah
-How Brandon met John Dragonette at Wally's
-His background in Geology
-We talk about Santa Barbara County as a wine region
-The wines of Dragonette and style they're going for
-His experience in the Master of Wine program and much more
https://dragonettecellars.com/
https://store.dragonettecellars.com/store
VYBES is an organic beverage made with Hemp CBD.
We Talk About:
-Jonathan's life leading up to starting Vybes: MySpace, RadPad, and more
-His first experiences with CBD and learning about the beverage industry
-What actually is CBD and some of the history
-The branding and how he comes up with new flavors
https://idrinkvybes.com/
Sarah Hoffman co-founded Maker wine, along with her co-founder Kendra. Maker wine works with independent winemakers to bring you their premium wines in a can.
We Talk About:
-Her life before wine and her experience with craft beer
-Building the Maker brand and what it stands for
-How they source new wines, vineyards, and relationships
-Telling the stories of the site, place, and winemaker through the can
-A unique varietal they offer that only has 10 acres left planted!
-How you can get access to the Can Club and much more
https://makerwine.com/
https://makerwine.com/collection/wines
Kristie Tacey is the winemaker and founder of Tessier Winery. She's is a scientist turned winemaker; a former published research scientist who now makes small-production wine sourced vineyards all over California using a minimalist intervention style.
We talk about:
How she got into wine and her first job at Lost Canyon
What she believes when it comes to farming and vineyard practices
Protocols in the cellar and other insider information
How she differentiates her wines with music, to give people an experience
Lastly we talk through some of her amazing wines
https://tessierwinery.com/
https://tessierwinery.com/collections/wine
Matt Dees is winemaker for Jonata, The Hilt, and The Paring. Today, we'll be talking about The Hilt's Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from Santa Barbara County. Enjoy my conversation with Matt Dees.
Matt began as head winemaker at the award-winning Jonata vineyard in 2004. Since then, he's overseen the transformation of the estate's dry, rocky, sandy landscape into one of the most respected sites in Central California.
Rancho Salsipuedes, where The Hilt wines make their home, provides vineyards planted on land nearly 13 unobstructed miles from the ocean on the west. This unique, large and sprawling property offers a range of altitudes, aspects, soil types, and microclimates, giving winemaker Matt Dees a patchwork of vineyard parcels from which to select grapes and create wines with distinctive styles.
Over the years, his wines have gained widespread acclaim from critics such as Robert Parker, Antonio Galloni, and Stephen Tanzer.
https://www.thehiltestate.com/
Caitlin Lhommeau is the winemaker and owner of Resolution Wines, her personal label started in 2018, featuring Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. She joined the wine industry in 2016 after working a harvest just for fun, while applying for medical school. She has since been working for the Tench family in Oakville in the Napa Valley, under Russell Bevan’s wine making expertise. The first vintage of her label, Resolution Wines will be released in August 2020.
https://resolutionwines.com/
We Talk About:
How she got into the wine business
Working her first harvest at Brasswood and then later in New Zealand
Thoughts on wine making and learning from Russell Bevan
Asking for some advice from a certain female winemaker at PRESS Sunday School
All about the Resolution Wines brand and the first vintage she produced
All of this and much more from an exciting new winemaker crafting amazing Cabernet Sauvignon
Andy Erickson is the winemaker for Highest Beauty, a wine from the To Kalon Vineyard Company.
Although he’s originally from the Midwest, a summer in France convinced Andy Erickson that his calling was wine. Beginning his journey in Napa Valley and Sonoma, he soon moved to Mendoza in Argentina. Returning to Napa, he honed his craft, working under a number of renowned winemakers, including John Kongsgaard, and Michel Rolland. After earning a master’s degree in enology, Andy worked as a winemaker at Harlan Estate and Staglin Family Vineyards, eventually establishing a consulting firm with his wife, viticulturalist Annie Favia, where he made such highly coveted wines as Screaming Eagle. Andy and Annie have recently established their own winery, Leviathan.
https://tokalonvineyardcompany.com/
We Talk About:
His background getting into wine
The Favia Brand with his wife
The interesting history with To Kalon Vineyard, Robert Mondavi and Andy Beckstoffer
Andy's winemaking style including blending, aging, and picking decisions
The Highest Beauty wine and what is coming next for the To Kalon Vineyard Company brand
Kiana Estevez is the Founder of Aisle Mine, where she provides a virtual cooking experience for guests, while chefs share their story as a means to change the ratio in equalizing culture differences in food. She graduated from Boston University in 2018 as a first generation student.
https://www.instagram.com/aislemine/
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1jvJohWe7uQoX0xlt9iy2D0CdEhgdGmFn8haFSBHPtMQ/viewform?edit_requested=true
We Talk About:
Boston University and her first job out of college
Working at Toast and software in the hospitality space
What it's like coping with COVID, layoff, but also launching your business
Her startup Aisle Mine: all about it, the name, the idea, and what they offer
How she came up with the name Aisle Mine
What's next for Aisle Mine, the chefs, virtual cooking lessons, and more
Christine Soto is the owner and operator of Dead or Alive, a retail wine shop and bar in Palm Springs, California.
Dead or Alive is an independent, locally-owned shop in Palm Springs offering a highly curated selection of craft beer and wine. At this hidden gem, conversation is emphasized and there's always something new. It's a bar that feels like home, but with a better wine list.
https://deadoralivebar.com/
A Note From Christine: https://us12.campaign-archive.com/?u=2c3837085cec4bf2c33ac3ad5&id=a9e6903aec
Order online and pickup in-person in Palm Springs: https://www.deadoralivebarandshop.com/
We Talk About:
How Dead or Alive got started back in 2015
The transition from bar, to store, at least for now.
The new website where people can order wine and pickup at the store
Natural wines, winemakers and more
Chillable reds, Pet Nats, and all things cold
Some specific wine labels including Vinca Minor, Massican, Maison Noir, Ashes & Diamonds, Matthiasson, and more
The Palm Springs culture and how it's changed in the past decade
What she's been drinking lately and how to support the shop
Samantha Rudd and Philip Tessier are owner and Executive Chef at PRESS in the Napa Valley, respectively.
https://www.pressnapavalley.com/
https://www.pressnapavalley.com/about-us/
We Talk About:
Sam growing up in Napa Valley at Rudd Estate
Philip's journey working at so many amazing restaurants
Some of the kitchen and menu changes they went through
Their vision for Press both now and going forward
The amazing wine list featuring the best Napa Valley has to offer
How you can eat there right now and much more
Cathy Corison is the Winemaker and Founding Partner at Corison.
Cathy’s winemaking journey began nearly 45 years ago when she took a wine appreciation course at Pomona College on a complete whim. She fell in love with wine for all the usual reasons, but, as a Biology major, was also taken by the fact that wine is the result of a fascinating collaboration among a series of living systems. Two years later she graduated, and two days after that, arrived in the Napa Valley, bent on making wine. She holds a master’s degree in Enology at UC Davis.
https://www.corison.com/
https://www.corison.com/purchase/
We Talk About:
Her journey into winemaking over 45 years ago
The Corison Cabernet Sauvignon wines including Kronos Vineyard and Sunbasket Vineyard
Her thoughts on blending, aging, picking, and decanting
The replanting of Kronos and the history behind it
The other brands Helios and Corazon
What she's been drinking lately and much more
Marty Bent writes the email newsletter "Marty's Bent" and hosts "Tales from the Crypt" and co-hosts "Rabit Hole Recap." Both podcasts focus on themes of bitcoin, computer security, sound money, as well as Austrian and macro economics.
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/tales-from-the-crypt/id1292381204
https://tftc.io/martys-bent/
We Talk About:
Join us as we taste a Turley Zinfandel, a Scribe Pinot Noir, and talk a little about wine in general. Then we talk financial markets at the end, including the 10-year yield, DXY, the Fed, equity market valuations, and more.
Jim Greco is a wine collection enthusiast and works in financial services.
https://medium.com/liquid-assets/archive
https://twitter.com/jgreco
We Talk About:
We taste through some Ramey Wine Cellars Chardonnay wines and talk a little bit of financial markets at the end.
https://www.rameywine.com/
Lyn Alden is the founder of Lyn Alden Investment Strategy at LynAlden.com, where she provides market research to individual investors and financial professionals with both a free newsletter and a premium research platform.
She also writes for the financial sections of several publications, and has been cited on Business Insider, Marketwatch, Money Magazine, Kiplinger, Huffington Post, The Street, US News and World Report, and other financial media.
Her investment strategy focuses on value investing with a macro overlay, which means finding long-term opportunities in individual stocks and various asset classes while taking into account the broader macro picture. Lyn's background comes from a blend of engineering and finance, which she uses to apply systems analysis on various investments and macro themes. She has a bachelor's degree in electronics engineering and a master's degree in engineering management, with a focus on engineering economics and financial modeling.
https://www.lynalden.com/
https://www.lynalden.com/premium/
https://twitter.com/LynAldenContact
We Talk About:
Join us as we taste the 2016 Frog's Leap Estate Grown Cabernet Sauvignon. Then we talk financial markets at the end, including the 10-year yield, DXY, the Fed, equity market valuations, and more.
Greg D'alesandre is the co-owner and chief bean sourcerer at Dandelion Chocolate in San Francisco
https://www.dandelionchocolate.com/about/
https://store.dandelionchocolate.com/
We Talk About:
His background, and how he came to meet the co-founders of Dandelion Chocolate and became an owner
The first store in the Mission area of San Francisco and more
How has “craft” food changed in the past decade, from things like chocolate, but also coffee, beer, and more
The difference between the chocolate they make and something from the grocery store
The fourth annual(ish) Sourcing Report they published
How they work with small farms in countries all over the world, including Costa Rica, Columbia, Sierra Leone, Honduras, and Venezuela
We discuss some of the bars on your website, including the classic bars
The online “experiences” they now offer and how to sign up
Ryan MacDonnell joined Round Pond Estate in 2003 and manages direct-to-consumer sales, marketing and the hospitality program at Round Pond Estate. She also heads up the production of olive oil and other specialty gourmet foods.
We Talk About:
The rich history of Round Pond and what was it like growing up being around wine
How, in the 1980s, Bob and Jan MacDonnell bought the first parcel of land in the Napa Valley of what would one day become Round Pond Estate
How she joined Round Pond Estate officially in 2003 and manage direct-to-consumer sales, marketing and the hospitality program
The olive oil, red wine vinegars, and other specialty gourmet foods
What it's been like managing DTC/sales during COVID
The story of the Kith & Kin brand
Thoughts on “Rutherford dust” and what makes Round Pond unique
Do you have any thoughts on the future of Napa Valley?
Some of the food and wine pairings and things she's been drinking lately
https://shop.roundpond.com/Shop/Wine/Current-Releases
https://shop.roundpond.com/Wine-Membership/Membership-Options
Jon Felix-Lund is Vice President Of Operations at Coava Coffee Roasters.
Shop at the Coava online with our code GOLDENWEST: https://shop.coavacoffee.com/collections
We Talk About:
His experience working in the coffee industry
How Coava began with Matt Higgins in a North Portland garage in 2008
The model of using long term, sustainable partnerships with coffee producers
We get into a few of the individual farms and farmers
How to best grind, brew, and serve coffee at home
The one thing you need to start with to make a great cup of coffee
Different roast styles, all the way from 1970s coffee to Third-Wave and beyond
How coffee is similar to wine, but also different in one major aspect
The shrub where coffee beans come from
Jim Greco is a wine collection enthusiast and works in financial services.
https://medium.com/liquid-assets/archive
https://twitter.com/jgreco
We Talk About:
We taste through some Rhys wines and talk Robinhood and market structure at the end.
https://rhysvineyards.com/
Leslie Sbrocco is an award-winning author, speaker, consultant, and television host, known for her entertaining approach to wine and food, as well as inspiring others to live a life of passion. Voted as one of the Top 100 most influential people in the American wine business, her engaging personality, humor, and ability to connect with the audience – whether on screen or on stage – are her trademarks.
www.lesliesbrocco.com
https://www.kqed.org/checkplease/host-biography
https://www.100 days drinks dishes destinations.com/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=geRBMEnFE1w
https://www.instagram.com/lesliesbrocco/
https://web.archive.org/web/19990224160507/http://winetoday.com/story/0000262.html
We Talk About:
Growing up, leading to her professional career in food and wine
Her days as a hand model and making her own wine at home
Check Please Bay Area, starting in 2006, success of that show, and SF food scene
100 Days, Drinks, Dishes & Destinations. Stamp your passport to delicious!
Her journey into food and wine and travels all over the world
A story about when she met and took a photo with Julia Child
The time she did a blind tasting with Hoda and Cathy Lee
Her books including "Wine for Women: A Guide to Buying, Pairing and Sharing Wine"
What she's up to now, including Leslie Live on Instagram
Caitlin Cook works in the financial industry.
https://twitter.com/DeadCaitBounce
https://twitter.com/chicksoffintwit
We Talk About:
Gramercy Cellars
The Gramcery Cellars 2014 Syrah
How to think about buying and tasting wine
We cover financial markets, everything from Barstool Sports, to Robinhood and more
Adam Sabelli-Frisch is the owner and winemaker at Sabelli-Frisch Wines, where he crafts restrained old world wines, from low-impact vineyards, with focus on rare, forgotten, under-appreciated or historic grape varieties.
https://www.sabelli-frisch.com/
https://www.sabelli-frisch.com/wines-overview
Use this link to get the current deal on wines, which includes shipping!
www.linktr.ee/sabellifrisch
We Talk About:
His previous career as a cinematographer in London and then Los Angeles
What it means to make low intervention wines and why the word "natural" maybe isn't the best description
Night Market + Song and the "low intervention" wine list there
Like so many others, he started with home winemaking.
The Wine Berserkers online website
The shipping issues involved with wine
Different grapes including Zinfandel, Mission, and many more
His winemaking style: Naturally fermented, unfiltered, unfined. With No chemicals or additives. Minimal sulfites and maximum passion
Tony Biagi has worked for many labels in the Napa Valley as a winemaker and consultant, including Neal Family Vineyards, Duckhorn, PlumpJack, CADE, Paraduxx, and more. Today, works for Hourglass and Amici, and others, as well as Patria, his personal label he co-created in 2013. He holds a degree in Fermentation Sciences form U.C. Davis.
https://patriawines.com/
https://www.hourglasswines.com/
https://www.amicicellars.com/
We Talk About:
What it was like growing in the bay area of California up being a sixth-generation Californian
His Dad and my stepfather; making wine back in the 1970s
The famous bottle he sees in old photos
His experience at Duckhorn, working under the guidance of Dan Duckhorn and Tom Rinaldi
Launching the winemaking programs at wineries including Paraduxx, Cade, Odette, and Hourglass.
What it was like working 10 years working at Cade and Plumpjack.
His current projects and roles at Hourglass in St. Helena and Amici in Calistoga, including his own brand Patria
Advice for new winemakers and much more
Patrick Rue is the founder of Erosion Wine Company. Previously, he founded the craft beer company, The Bruery in 2008, as his first job out of law school. He’s on the short list of Master Cicerone’s —which for those who don’t know is like a Master Sommelier for beer.
https://erosion.wine/
https://erosion.wine/collections/the-wines
https://www.thebruery.com/
We Talk About
Law school at Chapman and home brewing
Life living in the OC and early beers he liked
The evolution of “craft” beer from Sierra Nevada to Sam Adams to and what came next
Why did San Diego and OC become ground zero for beer
The Bruery and the innovation there
Becoming the world's 8th Master Cicerone
2016, he was named a “Top 40 Under 40 Tastemaker” by Wine Enthusiast Magazine
Erosion: Idea is to make wine fun, no pretentious, casual atmosphere
The wines, names, labels, and packaging
Where the names come from
The need for innovation, creativity and experimentation in wine
Blending, sourcing grapes, and more
Paige Comrie is the creative mind behind Wine with Paige. She holds her WSET 3 and is a Certified American Wine Expert. Beyond wine, she also has an extensive background in Photography, Writing, and Digital Marketing.
https://www.winewithpaige.com/
We Talk About:
How Paige got into wine
Her slogan: “Elevate your everyday” when it comes to wine
Getting WSET level 3 and what it was like
Becoming a Certified American Wine Expert
Talk about how to taste wine
Discussion on old world vs. new world
How should people think about tasting / paring / shopping for wine?
The Business of Wine: marketing, curation, social media, photography, and more
Lables: Orin Swift comes up in the conversation, among a few other ones
What she's been drinking lately and much more
Jackie is a San Diego-based freelance writer focusing on cannabis, food, travel, spirits, wine, and design. Originally from New York, she is currently enjoying living and writing by the beach. She has written about the restaurant and bar scene in San Diego, wine in Mexico, mezcal bars in Guatemala, black market cheese in Spain, cannabis in California, life along the United States-Mexico border, the corn crisis in North America and many other delicious, concerning, fun and offbeat subjects.
http://www.jackiebryantwriting.com/portfolio
https://twitter.com/jacqbryant
https://cannabitch.substack.com/
We Talk About:
Natural wine and what that means
Some of her articles and writing
Jackie's email newsletter on SubStack: Cannabitch
Some wines she likes
The state of journalism today
How San Diego is holding up
And much more!
Rebekah Wineburg is the winemaker at Quintessa. She previously worked as the assistant winemaker at Rudd, among other roles in Oregon, New Zealand, and more. She co-owns a label Post & Vine, with a focus on small historical vineyards, featuring unique varietals like carignane and old vine zinfandel. She graduated with a Masters in viticulture and enology from UC Davis.
https://www.quintessa.com/the-wine
https://www.postandvine.com/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jdw-eyue1XY
We Talk About:
Her background in Oregon, New Zealand, and more
Working at Rudd and Edge Hill
History of Quintessa: founded in 1989 by well-known Chilean vintners Agustin Huneeus and his wife Valeria.
The micro-terroirs of Rutherford AVA
Biodynamics and Organic farming
Carmenere in the Bordeaux Blend
The Illumination Sav Blanc
Winemaking as both science and art
Her label: Post & Vine and the unique and amazing wines she's producing
What does "Rutherford" mean to you? Rutherford Dust?
Biodynamics
What she’s been eating and drinking lately
Justin, the youngest son of Austin Hills, has gained invaluable experience working diverse positions within the winery, including Vineyard Assistant and Sales Trade Ambassador. Most recently, Justin joined the cellar team to work the 2017 Harvest where he learned firsthand what goes into making wine after the grapes are picked and brought to the winery. The multitude of experiences that Justin has gained throughout the years, from vineyard to winemaking and sales, have provided him invaluable knowledge of Grgich Hills and prepared him to be a great Ambassador for the winery.
Justin’s passion for sustainability led him to the vineyard implementing the organic viticultural program, he worked in direct to consumer sales and wholesale as well as in the cellar, before becoming a Brand Ambassador.
His passion for cannabis soon landed him a seat on the Napa Valley Cannabis Association where he met with other cannabis friendly vintners and the founders of Atrium Cultivation and entered an industry fueled by passion From coffee to wine to cannabis. Justin wants the world to embrace and continue to investigate and explore the many healing benefits derived from this ancient medicine and culinary aphrodisiac.
https://www.grgich.com/our-story/
https://www.grgich.com/product-category/selections/napa-valley-selections/
We Talk About:
His background in wine and growing up around it
Experience working diverse positions within the winery, including Vineyard Assistant and Sales Trade Ambassador
Grgich Hills history, wines, and his role as Ambassador for the winery
His work and interest in organic farming, cannabis, and wellness
The future of wine in Napa and millennials
John Stanley is the owner of Stanley’s Wet Goods - a place for small production naturally made wine, craft beer and spirits, wine bar, and online store in Culver City, California.
https://stanleys.la/
https://shop.stanleys.la/wine-by-type/
https://www.instagram.com/stanleyswetgoods/
We Talk About:
His background before wine
Working in aerospace (Jeb Dunnuck worked as software dev in aerospace before wine too!)
Going to UCLA for an MBA
Natural wine, and what that means to him
Developing the concept for Stanley's Wet Goods in Culver City
The design of the store, curation of wine, and customer service
The website, current happenings with Instagram Live, and COVID-19
His thoughts on how to sell wine and being a "Somm" for the local community
Some wines I've tried from the store: Sahndi Pinot, Gramercy Cellars Cab and Syrah, Domaine Eden Cab, Martha Stoumen Red, Vinca Minor Red
The Stanley's Wine club
What he's been drinking lately
Steve Matthiasson is the owner and winemaker at Matthiasson Wines, along with his wife Jill. He's a is a life-long student of the craft of viticulture and a proponent of sustainable agriculture.
https://www.matthiasson.com/
https://www.matthiasson.com/wines
https://ashesdiamonds.com/
We Talk About:
His background, gardening, brewing beer, and living in San Francisco
How punk rock was a part of his life and a few bands he liked
Some of his previous work experiences at wineries and what he learned
IPOB and what came out of that group
The launch of Matthiasson Wines in 2003 with 120 cases
His style and how he looks at the picking decision
The idea of balance in wine; comparing a balanced salad to a balanced wine
The quote, "Matthiasson wines bear an agricultural stamp, as fresh, lively and alive as the best produce from a farmers' market" from Eric at the NYT
His slogan: “wine is made in the vineyard"
Some of the wines in the Mattiasson portfolio
Tendu brand and the need for wines at a lower price point going forward
His Vermouth made from 80% Flora, a cross between Semillon and Gewurztraminer.
Marcus Marquez is the Vineyard Winery Estate General Manager at Brasswood in the Napa Valley. He has years of experience working in food and wine, starting in Sacramento.
https://brasswood.com/
https://brasswood.com/brasswood-wine
https://www.amazon.com/100-Things-Napa-Valley-Before/dp/1681060981
We Talk About:
How he love with the food and wine scene of Napa Valley in the late 1990s when working at The Kitchen in Sacramento
Experience as the manager and wine buyer; winning a Wine Spectator award for the wine list he curated
His book; both the first edition and second edition of “100 Things to Do in Napa Before You Die”.
Launch downtown Napa’s new neighborhood restaurant AVOW with Joe Wagner
The story behind Goose & Gander in St. Helena
His role at Brasswood as Vineyard Winery Estate General Manager
The Vintner’s Vanguard and Custom Crush Facility with Philippe Melka, Angelina Mondavi, and more
The Wines including 2016 Coombsville Estate Cabernet Sauvignon and more
His involvement to give back to the local community
What he's been drinking lately!
Anthony Anselmi, MS is the Director of Wholesale for LOLA Wines, Lumen Wine and Villa Creek Wines. He has a vast amount of experience in the wine business, spending 5 years working under Bruce Neyers at Kermit Lynch and then 8 years as National Sales Manager for The Rare Wine Company. In 2011 he earned the nearly impossible title of Master Sommelier.
https://www.villacreek.com/
https://www.lumenwines.com/
http://www.lolawines.com/
We Talk About:
His background and how he get into wine
High acidity, alcohol levels, and how to think about body and balance
Working under Bruce Neyers at Kermit Lynch and also working at The Rare Wine Company.
How Anthony earned the nearly impossible title of Master Sommelier
His thoughts on making Chablis or Burgundy in California
The Los Angeles food scene in the late 90s and early 2000s
A special spot on Abbot Kinney, you may never have heard about
The analogy about the band Rush you won't want to miss!
How a Somm thinks about serving the customer
The types of wines he likes and what he's been drinking lately
Ren Harris is the owner and operator of Paradigm Winery along with his wife Marilyn. He and his family have a long and storied history in the Napa Valley, starting long before the first vintage in 1991.
https://paradigmwinery.com/
https://paradigmwinery.com/collection/wine
We Talk About:
His family and the long history in growing grapes in Napa Valley
The first vintage of Paradigm in 1991 and winemaker Heidi Barrett
What makes the Oakville AVA so special
Some details on the Paradigm Cab Sav: 11 blocks; the rootstocks and clones vary to give complexity
The grape you may be surprised to know was planted on the property in Oakville in 1976
Story of how he held a contest to choose the name for the winery
A sign off Hwy 29 that says: “No Wineries This Road”
A horse that was named after the winery, which is still alive to this day
The inside story on his "business card wine" produced with Jean Phillips in 1992 that's half Screaming Eagle and half Paradigm
Why they extended the length of the cork
Sarah Klearman is a reporter at the Napa Valley Register where she covers the business of wine in Napa, including vintners, growers, wineries and all things wine-related. She graduated from Santa Clara University and has lived in California for the last five years.
https://twitter.com/SarahKlearman
https://napawinetaste.com/wine/article_7849ee70-b033-11ea-8e7a-bf536dd28c51.html
https://napavalleyregister.com/news/local/meet-the-entrepreneur-making-tours-of-napa-valley-wineries-a-virtual-reality/article_30667668-2433-5242-8013-88308d3a9ec8.html
We Talk About:
Sarah's background and how she got into journalism
Thoughts on journalism, PR, and covering the wine space in particular
Her recent transition to the Napa Valley Register
Her previous reporting on beer
The impact of technology & social media in the wine industry
Millennials and wine: are more cans and screw caps in our future?
This year’s upcoming harvest and the past fire season
The future of tasting rooms in the wake of covid-19
State of the bulk wine and grape market: Two Buck Chuck and Cameron Hughes
Jim Duane is the winemaker at Seavy Vineyards. Before that, worked at Robert Mondavi and Stags Leap Wine Cellars. He’s the host of The Inside Winemaking Podcast and holds a Master’s Degree in Viticulture and Enology from UC Davis.
https://www.seaveyvineyard.com/about
https://www.insidewinemaking.com/
We Talk About:
Before wine, his love of plants and botany and his BS in Biology from Gonzaga.
Working in vineyards down-under in New Zealand
Getting his Masters in Viticulture and Oenology at UC Davis.
Alan Tenscher had been long gone from Franciscan by the time I met him
His internship at Robert Mondavi and then a lengthy apprenticeship at Stags Leap Cellars
All about Seavy, the winemaking style, wines, and much more
Why he doesn't like the phrase "natural wine"
Alcohol levels in wine, a discussion about "balance" and his strong views here
His podcast, Inside Winemaking and why he enjoys doing it
The most important decision when it comes to winemaking
The future of Napa Valley and some wines he's been drinking lately
Suphada Rom is a private chef and sommelier with a decade of food, wine, and hospitality experience. She received her MA in Nutrition + Food Studies from New York University and has a BS in Biology. She worked in the wine industry for over six years, and between working harvests in California and managing wine sales in New York City, she passed the Level-II Exam with the Court of Master Sommeliers, earning her Certified Sommelier credentials. Suphada is well-versed in meal planning, exploring flavors from global cuisines, sourcing quality produce and minimizing food waste, while seeking out wines from around the world.
https://suphadarom.com/about
https://www.instagram.com/suphada_rom/
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/live-cooking-class-in-your-kitchen-cambodian-cuisine-beef-stir-fry-tickets-111647017234
https://tablascreek.typepad.com/tablas/eat-drink-tablas-with-suphada-rom/
https://hyphenmagazine.com/blog/2020/01/cambodian-cuisine-and-elephant-walk-cookbook
We Talk About:
Growing up in Vermont and how she got into wine after a trip to Italy
Studying at NYU and the jump to become a Sommelier
One type of wine she really enjoys (Hint: it's not the same old Bordeaux blends!)
Her work at Tablas Creek and the connection to both Vermont and France
Her interest in dry farmed, organic and biodynamic vineyards
A job as a food runner, her love of cooking, and being an entrepreneur
The services she offers as a private chef
Some basic and surprising advice for pairing food and wine
Dr. Elina L. Niño is the Assistant Specialist in CE - Apiculture at the University of California Cooperative Extension
Department of Entomology and Nematology UC Davis.
Her research interests are fluid and designed to address immediate needs of various agriculture stakeholder groups. Her primary responsibilities are in providing professional support and education to California's beekeepers, growers, pesticide applicators, and other stakeholder groups. She teaches numerous beginner, intermediate and advanced beekeeping workshops, the culmination of which has resulted in the establishment of the first ever California Master Beekeeper Program serving beekeepers of California and neighboring states. She is also currently working on the development of apiculture education for veterinarians in collaboration with the Western Institute of Food Safety and Security (WIFFS). In addition to teaching formal workshops I serve on various commodity boards as a research liaison and adviser allowing me to directly impact California Agriculture.
We Talk About:
How there's more than 20,000 species of bees!
Workers, drones, queen and how the colony works
What are the misnomers about bees?
Beekeeping and how to get started
The other pollinators and what they do
Are bees disappearing? What does this mean for us?
Sage Honey, Buckweat Honey, and Meadowfoam Honey
https://elninobeelab.ucdavis.edu/people/elina-nino
https://www.projectapism.org/
https://elninobeelab.ucdavis.edu/extension
https://cambp.ucdavis.edu/
Diana Snowden Seysses is a Napa Valley native and the eldest of the four, third-generation of Snowdens active in the family’s vineyard and wine enterprise. She's currently the winemaker at Snowden, oenologist at Domain Dujac in Burgundy, and consulting winemaker at Ashes & Diamonds.
In the past, worked at various properties including Robert Mondavi Winery, Mumm Napa, the Araujo Estate, Château La Fleur de Boüard, Domaine Leflaive and Ramey Wine Cellars. She graduated from the Viticulture and Enology program at UC Davis in 2001.
https://www.winespectator.com/articles/snowden-napa-cabernet-with-a-burgundy-mindset
http://www.triennes.com/en/about/
http://www.dujac.com/en
https://www.snowdenvineyards.com/Our-Wines-and-Winemaking
https://ashesdiamonds.com/community/people/diana-snowden-seysses
https://ashesdiamonds.com/shop/grand-vin-2016-3-oak-knoll-district
https://ashesdiamonds.com/shop/cabernet-sauvignon-2016-2-oakville-No2
We Talk About:
Working as a sampler at Robert Mondavi and school at UC Davis
Advancing her way through the business at Mumm, Ramey, Araujo, and more
How to think about terroir, picking, organic farming, and more
The emotional state of people in the vineyards
How cheesemaking is like winemaking
The Brother's Vineyard Snowden Cab Sav wine an the label art
Her husband, Domaine Dujac, and her "commute" from France to the U.S.
How she came to work on Ashes & Diamonds wines
Climate change and what can be done to slow it down
Dr. Ben Hunt is the Chief Investment Officer at Second Foundation Partners, a consultant for large institutional investors. He’s the author of Epsilon Theory, a newsletter and website that examines markets through the lenses of game theory, history and nature. Over 100,000 professional investors and allocators across 200 countries read Epsilon Theory for its fresh perspective and novel insights into market dynamics. In prior positions, Ben has managed a billion dollar hedge fund and served as Chief Strategist for a $13 billion dollar asset manager. He has a Ph.D. from Harvard University, was a tenured Political Science professor, and has co-founded three technology companies.
https://twitter.com/EpsilonTheory
https://www.blm.gov/programs/wild-horse-and-burro/adoptions-and-sales
https://www.esquire.com/food-drink/drinks/a12798341/sotol-mexican-liquor-spirit/
https://www.epsilontheory.com/too-clever-by-half/
Join the Pack: https://www.epsilontheory.com/the-pack/
We Talk About:
Little River Farm, where Ben lives, and what brought him there
The BLM Mustang Rescue Program
How to find your pack while living in a small town, home schooling, and working from home
Industrialized food and why eggs shouldn't need to be cleaned or refrigerated
Comparing market cycles to seasons and how narratives shape markets
Ben's recommendation on something to drink
Anne Vawter is currently the winemaker at Hoopes Family Vineyard & Winery and co-founder and winemaker at Red Mare Wines, a brand she co-founded in 2010. She was formerly the consulting winemaker at Oakville Ranch Vineyards, Teaderman Vineyards, Ziata Wines, and Varozza Vineyards and spent four years with Paradigm Winery under Heidi Barrett. She graduated with a B.S. in Viticulture and Enology from UC Davis.
https://napavintners.com/vintners/Anne-Vawter.asp?qid=3622038
https://www.redmarewines.com/Who-We-Are/Our-People
Wine Club: https://www.redmarewines.com/Wine-Club
We Talk About:
Growing up in Walla Walla, Washington
Her journey into wine and eventually, UC Davis
Her experience working at Paradigm under Heidi Barrett
What a "consulting" winemaker actually does
Her label, Red Mare Wines and the style she's trying to produce
Her journey around the world at www.vawtersonthewater.com
Jamie Kutch left a Wall Street job for the chance to chase a dream out West. After apprenticing at Kosta Browne, he launched Kutch Wines in 2005. Kutch Wines strives to use well-positioned, cold climate sites with appropriate soils, producing balanced and restrained Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.
https://kutchwines.com/
https://kutchwines.com/store
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VAz6_8xNgc0
https://www.vinography.com/2020/05/evolving-from-strength-to-confidence-the-wines-of-jamie-kutch
https://www.sfchronicle.com/wine/thirst/article/Winemakers-to-Watch-2015-Meet-our-10-rising-star-6049791.php
We Talk About:
How Jamie got interested in wine
The journey from tasting a Kanzler Vineyard Kosta Brown to Kuch Wines
Trips to Burgundy and why he's not trying to make that, but rather, respect the style
His first couple vintages and how things changed going forward
Natural wine, balanced & restrained styles, and IPOB
The importance of fruit, vineyard selection, and dry farming for whole-cluster Pinot Noir
Decanting and serving temperature for his wines
Thoughts on the current state of financial markets
Ramey Wine Cellars was founded in 1996 by David Ramey and his wife Carla. After sixteen years making wine in Sonoma County, and firmly establishing Matanzas Creek and Chalk Hill wineries in the marketplace, David crossed the Mayacamas to spend six years in the Napa Valley–first as winemaker for Dominus Estate and project manager for the construction of their new winery; then helping Leslie Rudd reshape the Girard Winery into Rudd Oakville.
David’s groundbreaking work with indigenous yeasts, sur lies aging and malolactic and barrel fermentation yielded a new California style that was richer, more lush and silky smooth than previously known. As a result, he created a benchmark style now emulated by many.
David earned a graduate degree from the University of California at Davis, where his 1979 thesis on volatile ester hydrolysis (translation: how aromas evolve in wine) is still used today to understand how wine ages.
https://www.rameywine.com/story/david-ramey/
https://www.sidebarcellars.com/
https://twitter.com/ramey_david
We Talk About:
A random trip to Los Angeles with a future well-known winemaker from Santa Cruz
His involvement in many brands and projects including Simi, Dominus, Rudd, Matanzas Creek, and more.
How Ramey Wine Cellars started: 260 cases of Hyde Vineyard Chardonnay in 1996
Robert Parker Jr., IPOB, and how to look at "balance" in wine
His thoughts on the "natural wine" movement and sulphur dioxide
The Ramey Cab Sav from Oakville AVA that you'll want to taste!
One varietal that ripens late; could it be part of Napa's future?
Story behind the Sidebar brand: the Kerner grape, Lodi Zin, and more
Jennifer Brown is the Director of BACA Wines, a modern Zinfandel wine brand by the makers of HALL & WALT Wines. Jennifer leads brand development, marketing strategies, and operational plans, as well as spearheads Direct-to-Consumer and Wholesale channels for the newly launched luxury wine brand based in Napa Valley, California. Prior to working at HALL & WALT, Jennifer was the founder of Omghow / Girl Karma Inc., a social platform and positive destination for teen girls.
Jennifer grew up in the wine industry. Some of her fondest childhood memories are skipping through her family’s Zinfandel vineyards in Redwood Valley with her brother. Jennifer earned her Bachelor of Arts degree at Northwestern University and went on to receive both a Master’s Degree in Business Administration and a Law Degree from Stanford University. Jennifer is fluent in German, which she learned when her mother served as Ambassador to Austria. She is an avid hiking and yoga enthusiast, incorporating wellness and healthy living as a core part of her personal and professional regimen. In her free time, she loves to travel, explore new experiences, and spend time with family and friends. Jennifer resides in San Francisco with her husband, Energy Executive, Eric Brown.
https://twitter.com/BACAWines
https://www.bacawines.com/
https://www.hallwines.com/
We Talk About:
Jennifer's background and her journey into wine
The Hall story and brands: Hall, Walt, and BACA
What was it like launching a wine brand?
Millennials and wine
The Zinfandel varietal
The impact of Covid-19 on the wine business
Connecting with customers: social media and virtual happy hours on Instagram live
We sample the Double Dutch - Zinfandel, Pinch Hitter - Carignan, and Rose
The white wine which will be added to the BACA lineup soon!
Some interesting food/wine pairings and what Jennifer likes to drink when she's not having wine
Rex Pickett is the author of the novel Sideways, which was adapted into the now iconic wine movie of the same name. Two other books followed to complete the trilogy.
As a writer and director with countless credits, his love of wine began back in the ‘90s when he was researching "Sideways." He grew up in southern California, and attended the University of California at San Diego, graduating with honors.
http://rexpickett.com/
https://twitter.com/rexpickett
http://sideways-wine.com/
https://www.amazon.com/Sideways-Novel-Rex-Pickett/dp/0312342519
We Talk About:
The wine shop in Santa Monica, CA where Rex got interested in wine
How a conversation at Pinot Days led to Sideways: The Play
Why the movie featured a 1961 Château Cheval Blanc instead of a 1982 Chateau Latour
Impact the movie had on wine: both pinot and merlot
A surprising fact Rex has never mentioned on any other interview
The Sidways Pinot from Chile and what wine Rex is doing next
Why there was no sequel to the movie
Will there be a Sideways 4 book?
Jim Greco is a Wine collection enthusiast and works in financial services.
https://medium.com/liquid-assets/archive
https://twitter.com/jgreco
We Talk About:
Bedrock wines and taste the 2018 Bedrock Pagani Ranch Zinfandel
Jim's favorite zin producers: Carlisle, Ridge, and Turley
Wine serving temperatures
Alcohol levels in wine
Comparing Zin to Cabs: Rutherford dust and Bordeaux
What is natural wine?
Why Jim likes Dirty & Rowdy
Lastly, we talk financial markets and the Fed meeting
Jared Brandt, along with his wife Tracey, own and operate the Donkey & Goat Winery in Berkeley, California.
https://twitter.com/jared
https://www.donkeyandgoat.com/
We Talk About:
How Donkey & Goat got its name, What it’s like making wine in Berkeley
The high-profile public figure that once mistakenly Tweeted at him
The story of what a critic said about one of their early Chardonnay wines
The IPOB (In pursuit of balance) group
Natural winemaking and additives
Why their Cab Sav ain’t like your Dad's or Grandpa’s from the 90s
The one varietal they haven’t made and probably won’t
A couple varietals they may be making in the near future
Amanda McCrossin is a sommelier, media personality, wine educator, and creator and host of the Instagram and YouTube channel "SOMMVIVANT."
She was formerly the Wine Director at PRESS Restaurant in Napa Valley and today, she focuses her efforts on producing wine "Edutainment" - a mix between education and entertainment, and digital media content for both consumers and professionals alike.
She's been featured in many media outlets and publications including Food Network, Wine Enthusiast, Food & Wine, and Wine Spectator to name a few.
https://www.instagram.com/sommvivant/
https://www.youtube.com/c/amandamccrossinsommvivant
http://sommvivant.me/
We talk about:
Amanda's journey into wine
Inside scoop on all things Somm related: Decanting and that first "small pour"
The rare bottle Robert Parker opened with Amanda at PRESS in Napa
The Million Dollar Nose article in The Atlantic
The 1972 BV Georges de Latour, 1991 Dominus, and Calder Charbono
Why you won't see an ABV% on certain bottles
What happened when a famous critic tried the same wine in a different glass
What Amanda will be doing next (Hint: a podcast!)
Introducing the Golden West Podcast, a new show where we talk about the best in food and wine on the West Coast — including California, Oregon, and Washington.
I’m Ryan, your host — and we’re about to go on a journey — exploring the people and stories behind the vineyards, farms, and kitchens.
So to hit that subscribe button, grab a a drink, fire up your grill, pull a seat to the table and listen in — we’ll be talking about it, coming soon to wherever you get your podcasts.
https://twitter.com/goldenwestpod
www.goldenwestpodcast.com