The Wine Makers on Radio Misfits

The guys sit down with yet another Sonoma County Icon, David Ramey. From his years in France at Chateau Petrus to Healdsburg CA., David Ramey is known as one of California’s best and most respected winemakers. His efforts have helped shape the way many wines in the US are made today. David lets us in on his own philosophies of wine making and life making for a truly authentic and tremendously interesting show. http://www.rameywine.com

The guys talk it up with Cathy Huyghe, CEO and Co- Founder of Enolytics, Author of: Hungry for Wine, Seeing the World through the Lens of a Wine Glass and columnist for Forbes and Inc. magazines. A really fun episode that digs deep into understanding how and what consumers really think about wine. Of course, we taste, talk and laugh as Cathy helps put the World of Wine under analysis.

This episode was recorded at Suite D in Sonoma, where Sondra Bernstein was hosting an International Grenache Day party. We sat down with iconic wine maker Randall Grahm, founder of the Bonny Doon winery. Randall is a true pioneer in the wine world and a hero to the Rhone community. Robert Joseph is a wine maker for Le Grand Noir, a winery in the Languedoc- Roussilon. He has also written over 20 books on wine and is a former journalist for the London Sunday Telegraph. www.bonnydoonvineyard.com www.legrandnoir.com

The guys sit down with one of the men that really started the Sonoma wine scene, Mike Benziger. Sitting in Mike’s huge organic garden we talk history, wine and life. A Very special show, enjoy.

To say that Richard Arrowood is a Sonoma Legend is both true and an understatement. Richard Arrowood is an iconic winemaster who has been making wine exclusively in Sonoma County for more than for 50+ years. From 1974 through 1990, he created the wines for Chateau St. Jean, where he developed some of the first vineyard-designate Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon produced in Sonoma County. He has worked closely with Phil Coturri over the years to produce the best fruit with absolutely the best field management principles. He and his wife, Alis, founded Arrowood Winery with the 1985 vintage. Each year, they made extraordinary small-lot varietals and vineyard designates. Richard was the winemaster at Arrowood Winery until June 2010, when he resigned his position to devote himself full-time to making wines for his estate winery, Amapola Creek Vineyards and Winery. Facebook: @amapolacreek Twitter: @amapolacreek Instagram: amapolacreekwinery Winery Address: 392 London Way, Sonoma, CA 95476 Mailing address: P.O. Box 1987, Glen Ellen, CA 95442 PH: 707-938-3783

This week the guys sit down with Jeff Cohn, owner/winemaker Jeff Cohn Cellars in Sonoma. Jeff recently received some very high scores for his last release and we were lucky enough to try his newest wines before anyone else. Shortly after the recording of this show, we were told about the passing of Kent Rosenblum, he was a great mentor to many including Jeff Cohn. His spirit lives on through the wines he made and the wine lovers he touched.” https://www.jeffcohncellars.com/ Sonoma Tasting Room: T | 707-938-8343 E | [email protected] Alameda Admin Office: T | (510) 465-5900 E | [email protected]

The Wine Makers sat back this week and did a full-blown tasting at Three Sticks Winery. We were joined by special guest Marcia Macomber, who is a marketing and advertising guru in the wine industry. Enjoy as Ryan and Bob do their (our) show for us!

The guys head to the Home Ranch of Sonoma’s Sangiacomo family to talk land, fruit and winemaking. Mike and Steve Sangiacomo along with Meghan Ainsworth really made us feel at home… in the middle of 1600 acres of beautiful vines and fruit. One Hell of a discussion follows and one not to be missed. Website: http://sangiacomowines.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SangiacomoWines/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sangiacomowines/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/SangiacomoWines/

The guys really dive in for a long talk with one of Sonoma’s best known winemakers, The Godfather himself; Michael Muscardini. This is one conversation you won’t want to miss. Enjoy. [email protected] Muscardinicellars.com 9830 Sonoma Highway Kenwood, CA 95452 707.933.9305

The guys take a deep dive into exactly what’s going on in the fields right now in Sonoma and Napa counties. As harvest quickly approaches and everyone is gearing up for the immense job ahead, we take a minute to relax and taste some new wines along with covering what’s going on around the area wine wise. Always a bit irreverent and casual, The Wine Makers certainly take the stuffiness out of the wine world. Enjoy.

The Wine Makers sit down with Cody and Emily Rasmussen of Desire Lines Wines. Working their way up the hard way, they are great people as well as stellar winemakers. Cody is also the assistant winemaker at Bedrock Wine Company, working with Morgan Twain Peterson and Chris Cotrell. www.desirlineswines.com [email protected] [email protected]

The Wine Makers do a deep dive with a member of the very elite club, Winemaker of the Year as rated by the San Francisco Chronicle, Bibiana Gonzalez Rave. Bibiana is from Columbia, studied in France and has been a consulting winemaker at some of the top wineries around the world. Today she is making her beautiful wines in Sonoma County and we were lucky enough to talk with her on the show.

The Wine Makers host Amy Bess Cook of WOW along with Lulu McClellan of Handley Cellars and Katy Wilson of LaRue Wines. Both Katy and Lulu are incredible winery owners and their wines are simply beautiful. Amy also has a new Grenache called Sirsee and is promoting gender equality in the winery business.

EP57: After the holidays, the guys talk about what’s happening in the vineyards and all things wine. Enjoy.

Never have the guys met a winemaker as dedicated to quality, cult status wines and CHARITY. All of the finances from Bob Cabral Wines go to local school charities including some very pricey (but worth it) Imperials that provide virtual school budgets in Northern CA. The wines: Fantastic. The Mission: Pure and very functional. Bob is all action and very little talk. Hear what he does have to say this week on The Wine Makers.

The Guys get with a fixture in the wine industry, Bob Cabral, from Three Sticks Winery, to cover his background and the Three Sticks line up. Some very interesting and even emotional thoughts are shared as we wolf down the Three Sticks Rose’ and generally learn a lot from Bob. Visit them online at threestickswines.com

This week the guys welcome Jordan Kivelstadt of Kivelstadt Cellars. Jordan, the Wayward Son has driven wines in all new styles of packaging, from wine on tap from a keg to premium wine in cans. Needless to say, a lively discussion occurred. Wine in CANS?! John is not a fan, Bart and Brian are. Will they agree to disagree? Try the Orange wine, you’ll love the “chugability factor”.

Recorded live at The Girl & The Fig in Sonoma, John is back after his hip operation and the Wine Makers’ host a party for Nicole Rolet from Chene Bleu in the French Rhone region. This is a fascinating and funny episode so don’t miss, special thanks to Sondra Bernstein for hosting.

EP52: Memorial Day 2018 – On this episode we welcomed Melani, a loyal listener of the show and an active duty nurse with the US Navy along with all of her friends from Tennessee, San Diego and Washington at the world famous Rhone Room to hang out and drink some wine. Melani has recently decided to purchase a vineyard in Paso Robles and spend the rest of her life making and growing wine. It was a pleasure to meet them all and hear their stories.

Todd is a certified specialist of wine, sake professional, and currently runs one of the the coolest little wine clubs in Sonoma. Head out of town on Napa St. and drive eight blocks.On your left is a building with a deli and a wine shop. Ask for Todd. Listen to this episode and you will see why. Enjoy Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/sonomasbest/ Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/sonomasbest/

Chef Ari Weiswasser cut his chops at some of New Yorks best restaurants, including Daniel, Corton and Picholine. After a couple years at the French Laundry in Yountville, the young chef decided to open up his own spot, Glen Ellen Star, with his wife Erinn Benziger. We talk about food, family and balance. Enjoy

This episode was recorded from our hotel room at the Hospice du Rhone event in Paso Robles. We were joined by Isabel Gassier who left her family winery in France to come work with Bedrock Wine Company and Enterprise Vineyards in Sonoma. Phil Coturri stops by to talk about Saxum Vineyards and drinking wines way too young. The conversation gets heated when Ian Blessing from the French Laundry and Tasio Baserga of the San Luis Obispo Country Club discuss screw caps versus corks. Hold on to your glass, this episode may ruffle some feathers in the wine world. Gassier wines – http://www.michelgassier.com/en/wines/ Tasio Baserga – [email protected] Ian Blessing – Instagram @ianjamesblessing

Sheana Davis is an American cheesemaker, chef, culinary educator and owner of the Epicurean Connection in Sonoma. In 2009, Sheana proudly released her own cheese, Delice de la Vallee, which in 2010 won an ACS 1st Place. She talks about wine pairing, the history of cheese in Sonoma, and the current wave of young cheesemakers on the rise. We are also joined by her husband Ben Sessions, formerly of Hanzell Winery, and Kyle Reynolds, cheese expert from the Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn. Pour yourself a glass and cut off a wedge of your favorite cheese for this episode. Contact Sheana: http://www.theepicureanconnection.com/ Instagram @EpicureanSonoma Twitter @EpicureanSonoma The Epicurean Connection PO Box 1916 Sonoma, CA 95476

This week we welcome Ian Blessing from the French Laundry and open up some 1970 Margaux and some old non-vintage Champagne. Sam and Bart discuss the recent rain storms and how they’ll affect the vineyards. Recorded at Bart Hansen’s house on Sonoma Mountain over-looking some of the most historic vineyards in the County.

This week we welcome Jeff Bundschu from the historic Gundlach-Bundschu Winery. This Sonoma landmark planted vines in 1858 and has been harvesting grapes ever since. Jeff shares his deep passion of music and wine, and their relationship to each other in his own life. We learn about his family hi-jacking a train and kidnapping Richard Branson. His story of last years fire is truly terrifying. Ian Blessing, from the team at the French Laundry joins the show to discuss the new breed of sommelier. We open up a bottle of 1982 Gundlach-Bundschu Kleinberger, these vines have since been ripped out and no longer exist in California.

From the World-Famous Rhone Room in Sonoma, CA a conversation with two of Sonoma’s most innovative vintners ever, Morgan Twain Peterson and Chris Cottrell. Discussing their ideas for an extensive new line of wines, saving Heritage Vineyards and what the ‘wine life’ is really all about. Drop by the General Hooker House when you’re in Sonoma to taste all of the incredible Bedrock Wines.

Catchin’ up on everything wine and fun, the guys blend their own wines with new fruit from Dane Cellars. Direct from the barrel, we all blended our own mixture. I was a bit heavy on the Syrah according to the instructor, Bart Hansen. Penalty Laps for Myers.

The Wine Maker’s guest today is the man who helped put Zin in every store in the country, Peter Mathis. Peter grows his fruit (now mostly Grenache) and makes his wine here in Sonoma. Peter’s Grenache and Rose’ are beautiful and the conversation is great.

Land, Weather, Fruit and the art of winemaking. Bart, Brian and Sam discuss all of these and more on this week’s episode.

EP41: Tom Gendall from Cline Cellars, joins The Wine Makers to talk land, fruit and winemaking. Tom’s insights to making high quality yet accessible wines, gives us all a new way of looking at the wine we buy and drink.

The guys tackle the issue of the strange weather patterns we’ve had this year and how it might affect the crop and of course what they’re doing about it right now.

The long anticipated interview with Maureen Cottingham, Executive Director of the Sonoma Valley Vintners and Growers Alliance. Their events are among the most popular in all of California’s wine making regions, visit them at SonomaValleyWine.com

On the heels of last week’s discussion of the future, let’s look at reality and what we can do at every point along the way to make sure this year is spectacular.

The guys look forward to the new year and what it can bring in terms of new vineyards, beautiful fruit and the wine-making that goes with it. Let’s hope it’s different than last year in a very positive way.

An obviously over-served group of Wine Makers talk about exactly how to do a wine tasting right by comparing glasses of wine against each other and how Jeff Cohn makes such a beautiful red wines.

The guys kick off the year with two great guests: Ian Blessing from The French Laundry and Jeff Cohn of Jeff Cohn Wines. A quick review of last year and some predictions for the coming year.

The guys get together and reflect on all that happened in 2017, a crazy year to be sure.

Part 2 of our show from Sondra Bernstein’s Rhone Room. The guys discuss Rhone wines and the state of the end of the growing season.

Since it’s the holidays, the guys found Jayme Powers, owner of SIGH Sonoma, the only Bubbly tasting room in town. Jayme describes just how hard it is to build a brand new tasting room and gives us all the details of Bubbly(Champagne in France), how to make it, open it and what to give as we approach the holidays.

Sondra Bernstein, the genius behind The Girl & The Fig, Suite D, The Fig Rig… wow, what a resume’ joins the guys at a live show from her newest creation, The Rhone Room. Featuring all Rhone style wines, The Rhone Room follows the wine list from The Girl & The Fig restaurant.

The guys discuss their love of music and wine with Casey Graybehl. This show focuses on Grenache and how long it takes to make; then how easy it and fast it can go down. Enjoy and thanks for listening.

Part 2 with our special guest Kieran Robinson from Kieran Robinson Wines. Kieran’s fascinating background has given him a true appreciation for the deep-rooted French and American viticulture and wine-making philosophies.

The guys meet up with Winemaker Casey Graybehl to talk over his line of Grenache wines and how all of this fits into the holidays. Brian and Bart get Casey really talking about his background, his time in France and what it’s like to move from a “Garage-ista” to having a full line of small batch Grenache: his wines are stellar and a treat for any holiday or in your glass right now. Sam is on special assignment in NYC and John is figuring just how much great wine he can get the family involved in. Happy Holidays from The Wine Makers

Brian Casey scores for The Wine Makers, bringing our good friend Kieran Robinson from Kieran Robinson Wines as our guest this episode. Kieran’s fascinating background, from Phili to the Cotie Rotie, has given him a true appreciation for the deep-rooted French and American viticulture and winemaking philosophies.

After being so rudely interrupted by the horrendous Nor-Cal fires, The Wine Makers invite you back to Sondra Bernstein’s Rhone Room for a show originally intended for release on October 13th. Let the world know Sonoma and Napa are indeed open for business and are really on track. Our guests are Ian Blessing from The French Laundry and Brandon Montalvo from Sante’, two young Sommeliers who bring their fresh views to the show.

The guys finish covering the Nor-Cal fire and all the sordid details of unemployment and destruction. Help us recover by getting to Sonoma and support the best wine in the world.

Sam, Brian and John get together to provide an in-depth look at the Sonoma-Napa fire. Sam spent his week on the fire line providing the nation, via Facebook a close-up, brutally honest view of the fire, its current damage and the damage to come for the town of Sonoma. The fires are still burning in some hills and forests even now, 11 days after they started.

LIVE for the first time from Sondra Bernstein’s new tasting house, “The Rhone Room”, the guys introduce you to the new generation of Sommeliers. Meet Brandon Montalvo from Sante’ and Ian Blessing from The French Laundry. We introduce Dane Cellar’s new Chenin Blanc and discuss the fine points of wines with a background story, from aging wine in shark tanks to Fable Mountain South African wines complete with selfies taken by the monkeys in the forest. Brian describes the truly deluxe tour at Opus One and just how down-home and open everyone was… perhaps not your usual tour. The Rhone Room is the newest tasting house in Sonoma and the only one dedicated to Rhone Wines Alone. What could be a nicer welcome to Sonoma than The Rhone Room?

The grapes continue to flourish in the fields. Weather has made a real impact on harvest because of the temperature swings over the last couple of weeks. Sam and John kick around some of the Real history in Sonoma Valley and how it impacts the wine that is grown here. We’ve got more memories of Sondra Bernstein’s International Grenache Day little “get together”. It really turned into a great event as a party for the vintners who are so stressed and busy right now. Be on the lookout for Morgan Peterson and his Bedrock wines… You’ll thank yourself for looking it up. We end up chatting about Katie Bundschu and the Myers Wedding 17 yrs. ago on their back deck.

EP21: The Guys have a first taste of Pinot Noir in a can from up in Oregon. It’s also Bart Hansen’s birthday! Boxes, cans, screw-tops…it’s all in the fruit not the packaging. So drink more Grenache! A special shout-out to Sondra Bernstein for throwing her intimate little party for Grenache Day and Bart’s birthday.