The Wine Makers on Radio Misfits

This week we are joined by Fred & Jamie Pererson of Peterson Winery in Dry Creek Valley. Producing wines for the past 30 years and like most wineries in the Valley, they make Zinfandel but it’s the other wines and their unique part of Dry Creek that are an important part of the story. Fred is an iconoclast with an old-world winemaking philosophy and a reverence for sustainable farming. The Peterson approach is to capture the essence of vintage and vineyard—a philosophy they call Zero Manipulation—with low tech, yet high touch winemaking techniques to produce wines of a place, wines with soul. Jamie was named assistant winemaker in the summer of 2002 and in 2006, they moved their production to Timber Crest Farms on Dry Creek Road, Jamie was given the overall responsibilities as winemaker. Together Fred and Jamie assess the grapes each evaluating how the weather, soil and site are interacting for the particular vintage. [EP180] These are exceptional wines made with thought, care and have a lot of soul. We hope you enjoy the show. Cheers www.petersonwinery.com @petersonwinery

There are stories about people who leave their jobs in corporate America to pursue their dreams of working in the wine business. This week we have Sean McBride from Crosby Romann Wines on the show. Sean, his wife Juliana and their twin daughters did just that. Their first commercial release from 2007 was made at a custom crush facility and they have been moving forward ever since. They purchased an abandoned commercial building in Napa, completed its construction to be their production facility and tasting room. Just last year they purchased a 5 acre vineyard in Carneros planted to Sauvignon Blanc and a plan to replant part of it to some Bordeaux varieties for their own Estate Blend. Hope you enjoy hearing their story and that you will check out their wines. [EP179] We are excited to be back and have a whole list of exciting shows for 2021 and can’t wait to share them with all of you. Cheers Crosby Romann Wines www.crosbyroamann.com @crosbyromann

The guys gather this week on the day after… No not New Years Day, the day after what can only be described unbelievable. We touched on a number of subjects, everything from what’s going on in the vineyard to vineyard designated gummies. We are looking forward to 2021 and already have an entire list of guests we can’t wait to introduce you to. Stay safe everyone and we look forward to a great year. Cheers!!! [EP178]

Laura joined the conversation while sitting on her lanai on Kauai sipping a Pellegrino in the morning sun talking about wanting to distill some rum. Ahh, the life of a winemaker right ?? Not exactly… Dig deeper and you’ll find that she is extremely thoughtful in her approach to the wine business, almost like she has one eye on a barrel of Merlot and the other eye up in space looking down at the planet. She catches the attention of the critics, named Winemaker to watch in 2017 and recently having her Carneros Merlot selected as 1 of 12 wines that defined 2020 by Esther Mobley, but that is not her goal. Laura wants to make soulful wines made with intention for everybody to enjoy. Reacting to climate change, she has moved up to Washington to make more acid-driven white wines, in a cooler environment with lower overhead. She is not a fan of social media or even the process of selling, Laura simply wants to create beautiful wines. You can purchase some of these wines through Benchmark in Napa. Happy New Year, thanks for supporting us this year, it is truly appreciated. [EP177] 1614 Sixth Street Berkeley, CA 94710 (510) 883-3189 laura @ inconnuwine.com

Fine Disregard Wine Cowas founded by Mike Schieffer and Kara Maraden – both came to the Napa Valley drawn to wine from previous careers, Mike from Texas and Kara from Pennsylvania. Mike graduated from American University in Washington, DC – worked for the Discovery Channel – exploring a possible career in law – but then was bitten by the wine bug. His introduction to wine making came through a Rugby coach who connected him with several wineries in Bordeaux – Mike worked in Bordeaux in 2008 and later in the Hunter Valley in Australia where he was introduced to Sémillon – an introduction that would later influence his decision to work with Sémillon in the Napa Valley. Kara graduated from Penn State University with a Bachelor’s degree in Horticulture and Master’s in Plant Pathology. Trying to determine a career – she initially helped managed large estate gardens in Pennsylvania, sold beer for a stint before moving to California in 2010. Initially seeking a job in a tasting room, she soon discovered viticulture was a better match to her interests and background. She has been a viticulturist for Clos Du Val, Regusci and Foley Family of Wines. [EP176] https://www.finedisregardwine.com

This week on the show we discuss the wines on our favorite year ending lists, Wine Spectator Top 100, Wine Spectator top 100 wines under $20, Esther Mobley’s 12 California wines that defined 2020 and Jeb Dunnuck top 100. We also discuss automated tractors, future guests, supply chain inequities and our personal favorite wines of 2020. Happy Holidays. [EP175]

Ray has had a life full of adventures, from traveling around Asia after graduating college to signing up to help build a sailboat and the being on the crew sailing around the South Pacific. Ray’s wine-making career began on various Sonoma Valley bottling lines in the late 1970’s. From there he worked at Kenwood Vineyards in the cellar for about 5 years. Ray also picked-up some Pinot Noir knowledge, by working a couple of harvests at Bouchaine Vineyards. In 1987 he began working as co winemaker for Laurel Glen Vineyards. When Ray first started, the wine world was a different place. He watched and learned as stainless steel tanks began replacing redwood tanks and concrete fermenters. He saw refrigeration become commonplace, and work in the vineyards and the wineries become more specific. He saw this willingness to change lead California to produce unique world class wines. Similarly, Ray developed as a winemaker first by following traditional procedures, then by following the more technical approach suggested by the University of Davis. Ultimately, Ray’s wine making style utilizes traditional, natural methods supported by technical knowledge. Ray is uniquely familiar with the difference between working with multiple vineyards to make one wine and using a single vineyard. In Argentina, the single vineyard concept is still new. Before Ray’s first visit, he knew very little about Argentina. Once he arrived, he found great joy in the people, the culture, the food, and of course–the Malbec. The wine industry reminded him of California when he first started out. At that time, there was an influx of new people and new ideas. Change for the better was in the air, grounded by an appreciation and respect for tradition. [EP174] https://adelantewine.com/

The Wine Makers celebrate their favorite holiday of the year, Repeal Day, with Tom Wark, wine publicist, wine blogger and tireless advocate for wine consumers, producers and retailers. Perhaps best known for his Fermentation Wine Blog, where he never shies away from controversy and frequently takes on the archaic “Three-Tiered System” of wine sales that has allowed wholesalers to keep a stranglehold on the market since the repeal of prohibition. Listen in as Wark dispatches on 30 years in the wine business, the current state of wine shipping laws, neo-prohibitionists and much more! [EP173]

This week we gathered together on Zoom the day before Thanksgiving to answer some listeners’ questions. As a request from a couple of listeners we will be asking for suggestions and questions that we can attempt to answer each week. But to always be on brand we recommend that you “Question the Answers”. If nothing else we will eventually get the right answers to your questions. Brian, Sam, Bart and John are truly grateful for all your support for the podcast from you listeners. We love doing the podcast but it doesn’t mean anything if no one listens. [EP172]

Bertus grew up in Cape Town, South Africa, and 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, then working in the cellars at Deetlefs Estate, Rupert & Rothschild Vignerons, Glen Carlou. In 2010 he came to California to work harvest in Napa Valley where he met Alli. But it wouldn’t be until 2012 when they had their first date at Bouchon and shared a bottle of 2008 Domaine Tempier. Whether it was his South African charm or the Mourvedre that swept Alli off her feet only she knows. In 2017 wanting to celebrate everything they hold dear: love, adventure, a sense of exploration, and one ton of Mourvedre from El Dorado County Belong Wine Co. was on its way. Bertus is also the winemaker at Tank Garage and James Cole Wines in Napa Valley, we hope you enjoy this conversation as much as we enjoyed his wines. www.belongwines.com @belongwineco @bertusvz

Just the name makes you wonder about the wines and who makes them. It all started with Syrah, funny how a lot of our winemaking guests have told us it started that way. Matt Nagy and Ben Brenner both found their way to California from the East Coast working at different wineries in Napa Valley. In 2013 they came together and started making Syah from the Las Madres Vineyard in Carneros. Now they are sourcing grapes from the Alder Spring vineyard in the farthest reaches of Mendocino County and down to Carmel Valley in Monterey County. All with the focus of sourcing the best grapes and staying out of the way. Minimal intervention is likely the best way to describe our winemaking style. “The idea of the winemaker is to be the reliable translator – to take what was made in the vineyard from sun, water, and soil and let it become the finest wine that it can be.” With that much time spent on the car I hope they are all caught up with all the episodes of The Winemakers Podcast. Check out this week’s show and Matt & Ben’s wines. [EP170] www.bnwines.com @bnwines [email protected]

This week we’re joined by a trio of young winemakers who are making their voices heard about the future of winemaking in Sonoma Valley. Jack Sporer wears many hats, he runs the operations of Sonoma’s newest custom crush facility, Magnolia Wine Services, he’s the assistant winemaker for Bucklin Vineyards and has his own label, Fresh Wine Co. Through Magnolia he works with Dan Marioni who got hooked on making wine the hard way at Coturri Winery and now makes zero/zero Natural wines under labels D. Marioni Wines and Sonoma Mountain Winery. Rounding out this next-gen trio is a friend of the program, Isabel Gassier, who is making A Deux Tetes and some Sixteen 600 wines at Magnolia. Three different winemaker and winemaking styles all come together under the same roof in pursuit of the best grapes, the best vineyard and a true expression of Sonoma Valley. The future looks bright! [EP169]

To me a Journeyman is someone who has spent their career learning from those around them, expanding their knowledge and then sharing with their peers. If we agree on that then Mike Drash is truly a Journeyman since his first position at DeLoach Winery then on to J winery in the Russian River Valley. Next moving to the Napa Valley working at Far Niente and as Winemaker at Luna Vineyard and his own brand Tallulah. But not until taking a winemaking position in Southern Minnesota that he had to take all that experience and apply it to varieties and grape growing conditions unlike anything he had worked with, another time to learn. 2020 finds Mike taking on another chance to learn as winemaker for Stone Tower Winery in Virginia, I wonder if Thomas Jefferson would have anything to share with Mike. Hope you enjoy this week’s show, but you can’t listen until you have voted. Cheers!!! www.stonetowerwinery.com @stonetowerwinery @winemakermiked

This week we virtually visit Anderson Valley and chat with the owners of Bee Hunter Wine. This region is typically known for Pinot Noir and racy whites but there is a lot more going on up there. One of our listeners turned us on to this “dynamic duo” and their funny way of talking up there. If you have never heard of Boontling, we will translate some of their favorite sayings. Super cool humans and talented winemakers. Do you know anyone that was born in a “fairy ring” ?? You will if you listen to the show, check it out… beehunterwine.com @beehunterwine

This week we wish John Myers a Happy Birthday and talk about female wine influencers, UV light for grapes and smoke taint. [EP166]

Rosalind Reynolds started her journey into wine at a young age, working on experimental techniques in the lab for Gallo. Her passion for making wine pushed her to “harvest hop” around the world, finally settling in as assistant winemaker to Pax Mahle in Sebastopol. Rosalind then started her own label, Emme Wines, making small batches with unique varietals in a crushpad that can only be described as an incubator for young, talented winemakers. Sam and Brian were literally left speechless when she described some of the projects she was working on. Wine drinkers, meet your future, young winemakers that are more than willing to think outside the box and bring you fresh, interesting wines. She just released her new wines this week, I encourage you to act quickly if you want to try them. emmewines.com [email protected] @rosalindsreynolds To attend the Voter Registration Party on Monday go to ashesdiamonds.com

This week we sit down with Jen Reichardt, owner-winemaker at Raft Wines. Jennifer was raised in Petaluma, born into a family of duck farmers. In 2016 she started her own wine label, focusing on unique varietals from interesting vineyards, maintaining a price point that was accessible to everyday wine drinkers. Her wines have also given her a platform to raise awareness about voting issues, supporting restaurant workers and obviously delicious duck consumption. In the midst of our current round of fries, we also discuss smoke taint and the issue of climate change. We encourage our listeners to follow Jennifer on Instagram and reach out to your House Representatives via the Capital switchboard to help us pass the Restaurants Act. Tune in, turn on, eat local, drink local… [EP164] Capitol Switchboard – 202-224-3121 drink.raft.wine @duckdaughterjj @raftwines @miracle.plum

With the sale of the Benziger Family Winery to The Wine Group in 2015, Joe and Mike Benziger have left as well as Tim Wallace. So who stepped up to continue in the family tradition? Jill Benziger took over Consumer, Trade and outreach Liaison and her sister Jamie, named Wine Enthusiast Magazines 40 under 40 tastemakers in 2019, took over as winemaker at Imagery. We sit down with the new generation to see how the transfer of power is going. The commitment to Biodynamic farming and the passion for making great wine is still there. So what’s different ? Give it a listen and find out. Benziger.com Imagerywinery.com @imagerywinery @benzigerwinery The Wine Makers is #9 on the list of Top 30 Wine Podcasts of 2020!

This week we celebrate one of our favorite holidays by sitting down with the two biggest champions of Grenache. The Haas & the Perrin Family changed the focus of the wine industry in California by introducing Rhone varietals to the New World. Sondra Bernstein from the girl & the fig forced wine lovers to step out of their comfort zones by only offering these wines at her hugely successful restaurant in Sonoma. These were not seen as smart business decisions at the time, but passion and focus sometimes override logic. Thank God, we hope you enjoy the show! [EP162] tablascreek.com thegirlandthefig.com @figgirl @tablascreek @MJ Towler @hospicedurhone

We are in the middle of Harvest and still dealing with fires, smoke and heat. This show was sort of a break from reality for us, some meat but also a lot of fat. Ramblin on. [EP161]

This week we have a little fun and taste through the new releases from Sixteen600 and Bart offers a special vertical Zinfandel promo. If you happen to listen to the entire show you will be rewarded with some stupid ramblings from the Wine Makers. You can tell we are suffering from PTSD. Sonoma Strong has become Sonoma Tired. Enjoy everyone… Cheers! [EP160]

We are experiencing fires in a large portion of our wine growing regions due to a lightning storm that brought over 11,000 strikes in a 72 hour period. The smell of smoke has become a part of our daily lives for the past two weeks. First and foremost our hearts go out to all the families that have lost loved ones and their homes. Being that the fires have started so early in the picking season, we have a new challenge this year, smoke. Vineyards that have prolonged exposure to smoke risk being “tainted” by the smell and flavor of the fires. What does that mean for this years harvest? This is not an easy or fun conversation to have but we thought it was important to honestly discuss the ramifications. Stay safe, tune in…

This week we sit down with MJ Towler. MJ is a wine professional with over 20 years of experience in all aspects of the wine business, Towler has worked retail, wholesale, auctions and also as a sommelier. On May 5, 2000, he became the first-ever African American fine and rare wine auctioneer. We had been following his Instagram account for a while and were intrigued by his choice of unique wines, especially his love of Rhone varietals. MJ will soon be starting a new project that includes a podcast from New York so we thought it would be fun to get the lowdown. We talk about marketing, music, race, and of course wine. MJ recently featured Hill of Tara wines on his feed so we brought along Danny Fay to make an introduction. This is a good one…. Sidenote – Fire season has officially begun here in California, we have multiple fires in and around wine country that are making things even more challenging for harvest than they already were, please continue to support our local growers and winemakers in any way that you can. Stay safe. blackwineguy.com Instagram @blackwineguy The Black Wine Guy 19 Tower Hill Ave. Red Bank, New Jersey 07701

To say Artie has spent a career working with the best in the food & wine industry is a laughable understatement. From Nobu in New York to the Versace Mansion in Florida, from Harlan Estates to Mayacamas in California, this guy has seen it all. Now producing his own wine brand using top growers like Phil Coturri, who makes a brief appearance on the show, Artie is making a name for himself among wine drinkers who appreciate his passion and attention to quality. These wines are not easy to get but well worth the pursuit. Sit back, pour a glass and enjoy. [EP157]

This week we talk about Cameron Diaz and her new venture into “clean wine”. We might be a bit late to the conversation but felt we had to weigh in. What the Fuck is “Clean Wine”? The Wine Industry is in an uproar over labeling concerns but what is the real issue, and are we at fault for not addressing this and making it clear? You decide.

Left a good job in the City, working for the Man every night and day. In 2016, Todd Cavallo and his wife Crystal left their jobs in finance and bought a farm in upstate New York. The plan was to grow vegetables, make wine, raise chickens, and collaborate with like-minded people to create a biodynamic farm. They have gotten a lot of attention for their Piquette, a wine based beverage made by using the once used grape skins, fermenting them again and doing a dosage before bottling or canning. It’s low alcohol, refreshing, delicious, fresh and cool. They have also made still wines from a grape called Marquette, a hybrid grape created by Cornell, their U.C. Davis on the East coast. For all of us that have wanted to truly “drop out & tune-in”, this show is for you. [EP155] wildarcfarm.com @wildarcfarm Wild Arc Farm, 918 Hill Ave, Pine Bush, NY 12566 845-419-3504

This week we travel to Israel, virtually, to chat with Guy Eshel from Dalton Winery in the area of Galilee. We heard about Guy through a mutual friend in Mexico City, the Taco Mensch. Guy Eshel grew up in Cali and Israel and has worked at wineries in France, Australia and California, including Broc Cellars in Berkley. We knew almost nothing about the wine culture in Israel so we cover a lot of topics, including terroir, climate, and the kosher certification. The wines Guy sent us were amazing, we discuss how you can get access to them here in the States. Enjoy the show… [EP154] www.dalton-winery.com @daltonwinery @guyovino @TacoMensch

So, at first glance you might ask why we are sitting down and talking with someone who works at a bank. Let me take an excerpt from Rob’s own “Professional Summary” to give you an idea, Rob McMillan is one of the top wine-business analysts in the United States and the author of Silicon Valley Bank’s highly regarded annual State of the Wine Industry Report. With decades of experience researching the wine business, his views are sought after and trusted by winery owners, journalists, entrepreneurs and investors. He is a prominent speaker, both domestically and internationally, and he is extensively quoted in national, regional and trade press. He has also been named several times as one of the Top 50 Most Influential People in the US wine industry. We cover a lot of topics on this show but we mainly focus on the general health of the wine industry, both pre and post Covid-19. You can find links below to his annual report that we think is extremely valuable to anyone in the wine industry. Check it out…. Rob McMillan, EVP & Founder Silicon Valley Wine Division 1300 First Street #466 Napa, Ca. 94559 www.svb.com/wine-report www.youtube.com/watch?v=ciEMUQcbFjI www.youtube.com/watch?v=LG1wk3p3jVE www.svbwine.blogspot.com

The guys cover a wide variety of topics this week including social media influencers, organic sprays, drought, cannabis farming and bottling lines. [EP152]

Troon Vineyard in the Applegate Valley region of Southern Oregon was originally planted by Dick Troon back in 1972. The property was conventionally farmed for over 40 years and was in need of some love. Craig Camp was brought on in 2016 to focus on organic, bio-dynamic and regenerative farming, bringing the land back to its original state, suitable for farming high quality grapes to make world-class wines. Their unique climate is very similar to Southern France and therefore perfectly suited to Rhone varietals. The wine making team of Nate Wall and Sarah Thompson have re-energized the land and brought a new focus based on the total health of the vines to create some serious and fun wines. Great story, check it out.. troonvineyard.com @troonwines

This show was our third and maybe the last virtual tasting of this series. Bart sent out a 2012 Chenin Blanc from the cellar and a 2017 Zinfandel just out of the barrel. Once again we were truly grateful for the support of our listeners and the incredible community they have created. We hope to be returning soon to our regular shows without the use of Zoom. Thank you all for the support over the last few months. Stay safe, tune in, drink more wine. danecellars.com winerysixteen600.com

Mayacamas Olds was recently named as the new General Manager of Gloria Ferrer Winery in Sonoma. Her journey in the wine business started at a very young age with her parents owning Sky Vineyards on Cavedale Rd. between the Napa and Sonoma valleys. Maya has a Bachelor of Science in fermentation from UC Davis and has worked on multiple continents with large and small companies in the wine industry. She has known Sam since they were in diapers and used to work with Bart at Lasseter Winery when she was a part of the Enterprise Vineyards team. Mayacamas has big plans for Gloria Ferrer and a position with a lot of influence. She will be in charge of every aspect of the business from hospitality to viticulture all the way to winemaking and sustainability. We are truly proud to have one of our own running this great estate that greets wine lovers at the entry to Sonoma in Carneros. [EP150] Check it out…. gloriaferrer.com @gloriaferrerwinery 23555 Arnold Drive, Sonoma 866-845-6742 skyvineyards.com @skyzinfandel

Today we officially reopen the tasting rooms here in Sonoma. But what exactly does that mean ?? We discuss the challenges of opening up for hospitality in Sonoma. Stay safe. Drink more wine. Cheers !! [EP149] danecellars.com winerysixteen600.com

This week we decided to “honor” one of our favorite grapes. Grenache doesn’t get as much attention as some of the other varietals despite being THE most widely planted grape in the world. We invited on four of the local Grenache Masters; Casey Graybehl, the Grenachista, Peter Mathis from Mathis Wines, Jeff Cohn from Jeff Cohn Cellars and Dave Mounts from Mounts Winery. [EP148] Sondra Bernstein from The Girl & The Fig joined the podcast as well, her love of this amazing grape has fueled the consumption for diners at her restaurant here in Northern California. She also hinted of a possible Sine Qua Non wine dinner at her Suite D event space. Stay safe, tune in, drink more…Cheers… jeffcohncellars.com grenachista.com mountswinery.com mathiswine.com thegirlandthefig.com

This week we are not talking about Covid-19, Corona Virus, PPP, PPE, SIP, N95, DTC, EDD, Ventilators, Curb-Side Pick Up, Social Distancing, etc. We needed a break. We thought you might need one too. We had an idea, let’s just talk about wine with interesting people and wines we love. Bart, Sam and Brian decided to each invite two guests, and not reveal our choices until we started recording the show. The result was the ultimate “blind date” [EP147]

This week we are joined by wine professionals on the retail side of the business to talk about how they are dealing with an increased direct to consumer demand. Todd Jolly from Sonoma’s Best, Donald Moffat from Zachys and Alvaro Cardenas from Wine Stop give us the lowdown on sales, tariffs, pricing and market trends. After you listen to the show, reach out and buy some wine. Cheers… [EP146] mywinestop.com zachys.com sonomas-best.com

We had another great virtual wine tasting with Dane Cellars & Sixteen600. This is just some “bonus” content if anyone would like to hear it. danecellars.com winerysixteen600.com

This week on the podcast we invited some of our friends from different wine making regions in the world to discuss the challenges of selling wine in our current environment. We were joined by Anne Charlotte from Chateau Font du Loup in France, Elyse Perry from Bokisch Vineyards in Lodi, Dusty Nabor from Dusty Nabor Wines & NSO Wines in Southern California and Melani Harding from Bon Niche Cellars in Paso Robles. dustynaborwines.com nsowines.com @dustynabor bonniche.com @barleyvondoodle @melaniharding lafontduloup.com @anne_charlotte_lafontduloup bokischvineyards.com @bokischvineyards

Cathy is the co-founder and CEO of Enolytics, a big data startup providing business intelligence for the wine industry. She also currently writes for Forbes.com about the business and politics of the wine industry, and for Inc.com about entrepreneurs with a special focus on women. She is the author of the award-winning book Hungry for Wine: Seeing the World through the Lens of a Wine Glass. Cathy’s writing has appeared in print and online for both general-interest and wine industry publications including the Harvard Business Review network, The Atlantic, Decanter, Food52.com (where she was the “Wine, Unfussed” columnist), DailyBeast, The Boston Globe, the Washington Post, Wine Enthusiast, GlobalPost, Grist.org, and Daily Candy. She found a little time to come hang out with us. cathyhuyghe.com Cathy’s Book, Hungry for wine Cathy’s Post on Balanced Glass

This week we finally sit down with Esther Mobley, former editor at Wine Spectator in New York and current wine, beer and spirits writer at the San Francisco Chronicle. What we have loved most about Esther since joining the Chronicle in 2015 is her ability to use wine as a backdrop to get at the really interesting stories about the people and issues behind the wine. Iconic wine makers and wineries are sometimes used as a backdrop to cover deeper stories of immigration, climate change and social inequity. Her natural sense of curiosity serves her well and endears her to the readers. We talk about what it’s like to cover the wine industry in these strange times where personal contact is off limits. Pour yourself a Paloma and enjoy… [EP143] Stay safe, order wine, tune in and turn on….. sfchronicle.com esthermobley.com  

This week the guys were supposed to have Esther Mobley on, wine writer for the S.F. Chronicle. Our Zoom invite somehow made it into her “junk” file but we decided to do the show anyway. Don’t worry, we got her back for next weeks show. We discuss the origins of the podcast and how it has changed in the last few weeks. Stay safe, order wine, tune in and guzzle down. [EP142]

BONUS CONTENT! – On Friday the 10th of April 2020 The Wine Makers Podcast did their first Virtual Wine Tasting with Dane Cellars & Sixteen600. They recorded it and decided to release it as a “bonus” show for anyone that wanted to hear it. Thank you to everyone that signed up and joined us, it was nice to see all of your faces and we truly appreciate the support. Cheers! The next virtual tasting is scheduled for Friday May 1st. Stay tuned for details. winerysixteen600.com danecellars.com thegirlandthefig.com

“The Wine Industry doesn’t have an education problem, we have an engagement problem”. Paul Mabray is an outspoken voice in the wine industry when it comes to data collection and how to properly use it to engage our customers. We thought this was a good time to have him back since all of us in the industry are scrambling to connect with our customers in a meaningful way. Stay safe, order wine, listen in and turn on. Cheers [EP141] Thanks emetry.io paul @ emetry.io

Jordan Kivelstadt joins us on “lock-down” this week to talk about his new project KIvelstadt Cellars Wine Garden & Eatery that was set to open April 18th in the former historic site of Fords and Schellville Grill. Jordan and his chef Matt Tucker have had to put things on hold so they shifted to a wine and meal delivery service to stay connected with their clients and the community. Sam and Bart talk about their new “virtual tasting” experience that rolls out this week. Stay safe, order wine and join us in the digital world, this could go on for a while. Go to Dane Cellars or Sixteen 600 websites below to order wine for the virtual tasting. Cheers. [EP140] danecellars.com winerysixteen600.com kivelstadtcellars.com

One of our favorite guests joined us on the show this week to chat about the state of the global wine industry, virtual wine tasting and how damn tasty moose can be when cooked properly. Enjoy !!! wakawakawinereviews.com [email protected]

The “shelter-in-place” order has been given by our California Governor Gavin Newsom. The Wine Makers are working from home this week. We decided to practice “social distancing” and try out the Zoom app to continue to continue recording shows for our listeners. Sondra Bernstein, owner of the girl & fig restaurant, sits in and talks about the state of the food and wine industry going forward. Her restaurants and catering business closed on Monday with no projected opening dates. It’s getting weird out there !!! We will continue to do our shows and bring some information and hopefully spread a little joy. [EP139] Once we get familiar with our different app options with quality sound we will continue bringing guests onto the show. We hope that by continuing to record our podcasts we can bring some sense of normalcy into your lives. Enjoy the show. thegirlandthefig.com thebitegoeson.com

In 1989, Carl Doumani discovered the work of Friedensreich Hundertwasser, a Viennese painter, architect, ecologist and philosopher. Believing that the wine world had transformed a beverage of consummate pleasure into an absurdly serious pursuit, he commissioned Hundertwasser to design a winery to combat these notions. [EP137] Imagine Alice in Wonderland meets Charlie & the Chocolate Factory. Now about the wines… The winery borders the famed Shafer’s Hillside Select vineyards in Napa Valley’s Stags Leap District. Winemaker B.R. Smith, who studied under Aaron Pott, crafts these deeply flavored wines under the watchful eye of consulting winemaker Philippe Melka. Cabernet Sauvignon is the obvious draw but the Petite Sirah steals the show, bringing grace and elegance to an otherwise dark and brooding variety. Upon entering the barrel room, Smith’s surfboard, perched atop the first row of barrels, lets you know these people have a zest for life and whimsy. Bruce Mackay is the tour guide and historian, with numerous stories of the property and it’s eccentric inhabitants. If you were visiting Napa and only had one winery to visit, this would be a fulfilling choice. Hope you enjoy the show. quixotewinery.com @quuixotewinery

This week we sit down with Tanner Walle and Lauren Feldman of Valley Bar & Bottle and talk about the new wine bar and restaurant opening up in the former space of Harvest Moon. Both of these hospitality professionals have decades of experience servicing industry staff as well as visiting tourists. This funky space is destined to be a “hot spot” in Sonoma for wine and food lovers. Wine “geeks” like us are craving a place to hang out and drink interesting global wines with cutting-edge foods. They are in final stages of preparation and should be open by May 1st. Great show… [EP136] valleybarandbottle.com @tannerwalle @laurenfeldman

This week we sit down with Korbin Ming from Korbin Kameron Winery, the highest elevation vineyard in the Moon Mountain District. His family produces world-class Bordeaux varietals in some extreme mountain conditions. We have waited a long time to get Korbin on the show because we are huge fans of the wines and think they are a rare gem in Sonoma. We also have Danny and Katie Fay from Hill of Tara, they source their grapes from Korbin’s vineyard. Listeners may remember them from their inaugural release last year around St. Patricks Day. These wines are among the most coveted in Sonoma County and we felt honored to go through the whole portfolio. Danny and Katie will be offering their second release for Hill of Tara in the coming week, we highly encourage you to get in on the ground floor. Enjoy this show as much as we did… korbinkameron.com @korbinkameron hilloftarawines.com @hilloftarawines

This week we sit down with legends Philippe Cambie and Phil Coturri and discuss their new collaboration “A Deux Tetes”. A project that focuses on New World Grenache with Old World sensibility and depth of knowledge. The Rose has been released and the Grenache Noir from two different sources, Miller Vineyard and Oakville Vineyard in Napa, is still in barrel but soon to be bottled. Isabel Gassier is the wine maker and translator of Philippe’s ideas about the wines. She is the daughter of Michel Gassier, one of our favorite wine makers in France and she is an up and coming star in the California wine world. We discuss philosophy of wine making and Philippe’s history and rise as the “God of Grenache” in Southern France. This is a really good show and we had fun recording it, I hope you enjoy it as much as we did. Cheers……