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- podcast
The Wine Makers – Devyani Gupta, Valdemar Estates
This week we welcome Devyani Gupta to Sonoma for an in depth conversation about working for an internationally owned winery in Walla Walla. Devyani worked for some of the legendary leaders in the Washington wine industry before settling in to the Winemaker position at Valdemar Estates. The Syrah stopped the conversation as we simply stared at each other and smiled. Everything she is doing right now is inspiring on every level. Welcome the incomparable Devyani Gupta. Enjoy this one. [Ep324] Valdemarestates.com @valdemarestates
- podcast
The Wine Makers – Alex Mitchell, Must Machinery
This week we welcome Alex Mitchell from MUST Machining & Fabrication to the podcast. MUST grew out of two different Napa Valley winery supplier/fabrication institutions York Machine Works and Burgstahler Machine Works, which had 70 years of experience innovating, leading, and servicing the wine industry. Alex, a former York employee began working with him in 2006, with the intent to purchase the business when York retired. In 2010, Alex and his wife, Michelle, assumed ownership. The Mitchells also met Wayne Burgstahler and told him that when he was ready to retire they were interested in purchasing his company, which came to fruition in late January 2020. The Mitchells combined the two shops and created MUST. Alex grew up in Napa Valley with his family growing grapes and making wine. Check out the show to hear the entire story. instagram.com/mustfabricate
- podcast
The Wine Makers – Matt Reid, PWR & Benessere
Matt Reid started his career making wine at his house in San Francisco. He fell in love with the process and enrolled at UC-Davis Viticulture Program. He then worked at Seavey, Quixote and Failla. Matt is now the winemaker at Benessere, working with obscure Italian varietals, as well as launching his own brand, Peoples Wine Revolution, bringing affordable wines to daily drinkers. Benesserevineyards.com Pwrwines.com
- podcast· 48:22
The Wine Makers – Todd Alexander, Force Majeure Vineyards
Todd Alexander has started a new life in Washington. Former winemaker at Grace Family in Napa, he looked at NASA weather models through 2050 and noticed Napa and Sonoma were all in “the red”. He jumped at an opportunity to move north and is now the wine maker at Force Majeure and some other side projects that we discuss on the show. BeatsVinesAndLife Podcast host M.J. Towler joins us on the show, recorded in Walla Walla, and do his hilarious impression of Christophe Baron. [Ep321] @forcemajeurevineyards @beatsvinesandlife
- podcast· 1h 33m
The Wine Makers – Reach for the Moon Mountain District
This week we are joined by winemaker Danielle Langlois of Lasseter Family Winery and wine director Christophe Tassan MOF, of Moon Hollow ahead of the second edition of the immersive Reach for the Moon wine event, June 1st at Monte Rosso. They provide expert opinions on the wines and vineyards of one of our favorite AVAs and share some of the great new wines they’ve made from the very different Moon Mountain District estates they represent. We even busted out a 2013 as a sneak peek into the highlight of the event–the Antonio Galloni-led master class, a celebration of the 10 vintage anniversary of the appellation’s approval. We even get a cameo by the winegrower who has become synonymous with Moon Mountain District. Care to guess who? [Ep320] For more information about the event and to buy tickets visit: https://moonmountaindistrict.org/ And try these wines!: https://www.moonhollow.com/ https://www.lasseterfamilywinery.com/ https://www.jambedeboiswines.com/
- podcast· 1h 09m
The Wine Makers – Stacy Buchanan, Blood of Gods
We sit down with Stacy Buchanan this week in his home town of Walla Walla. Stacy is the creator of the “Blood of Gods” zine, a biannual wine publication that was inspired by his history at Thrasher Magazine and his love for Death Metal. The zine was started a joke to poke a finger in the eye of the stuffy wine publications and draw some pretty cool comparisons between the wine business and the music world. Blood of Gods has now grown into a real resource and inspiration for wine geeks and those initially intimidated by the “old guard” in their ivory towers. The artwork is amazing and the stories approach wine in a way that is much more “palatable” to the casual consumer. Stacy was definitely one of our favorite people we met on our trip to Washington. Listen in and subscribe to the zine. Bloodofgods.bigcartel.com @bloodofgodszine
- podcast· 1h 03m
The Wine Makers – Sean Boyd, Rotie Cellars
We are in Walla Walla at the Hospice du Rhone wine event. This morning we drove over to “The Rocks District” to meet up with Sean Boyd at Rotie Cellars tasting room, what Sean calls “the fish bowl”. The wall of windows provides an almost 360’ view of the Grenache and Syrah vineyard. The signature rocks flavor comes through in all of the wines, which are only available through the winery. [Ep318] @rotiecellars Rotiecellars.com
- podcast· 1h 45m
The Wine Makers – Justin Trabue (Bad Ass Wine Witch), Ward Four Wines
Writing notes for this show has been a challenge. Absolutely nothing compares to spending time with Justin and hearing her talk about the journey. You simply have to hear it. Justin is currently making five wines here in Sonoma, only 25 cases of each. Listen to the show to find out the best way to get a hold of these wines. [Ep317] wardfourwines.com @wardfourwines Cal Poly Scholarship for Black, Indigenous, People of Color in Wine and Viticulturership
- podcast· 1h 15m
The Wine Makers – Sarah Doyle, Wine Writer The Press Democrat
This week on the show we welcome Sarah Doyle. Sarah is the wine writer for our local Sonoma County newspaper the Press Democrat which was first issued in 1897. Sarah is a more recent reporter for the PD but her experience in writing about wine and other elixirs is a great part of her story that we hope you enjoy. When you’re done with the show we want to know what instrument she played, her favorite red varietal and what sort of dogs does she have? Enjoy the show and support your local newspaper, especially if they have wine writers. [EP316] https://www.instagram.com/whiskymuse https://www.pressdemocrat.com/sarah-doyle
- podcast· 1h 25m
The Wine Makers – Lance Cutler or is it Jake Lorenzo?
Lance Cutler spent fifteen years as winemaker/general manager for the historic Gundlach Bundschu Winery in Sonoma, California. He almost single-handedly brought humor into the fine wine business producing the fabulous Gundlach Bundschu poster series, and the Sonoma Valley Wine Patrol, which masterminded the hijacking of the Napa Wine Train and the kidnapping of Richard Branson of Virgin Atlantic Airlines. Then enters Jake Lorenzo, the author, any subject is fair game and Jake pulls no punches. Opinionated, controversial and beloved by cellar rats and winemakers everywhere for speaking the truth, he seamlessly intersperses fictional characters with real people, placing them in unique situations, and weaving the whole mishmash into mesmerizing stories. There is no source from which you will learn more about the inner workings of the wine industry. There is no source that will infuse your learning with more chuckles and outright laughter. winepatrol.com
- podcast· 1h 26m
The Wine Makers – Mark Adams
Mark Adams, Ledge Vineyards Musician, farmer, winemaker, and sound engineer on the cult classic Murdercycle. We were “lucky” to catch Mark on his roundabout way home to Paso Robles from the Luck Music Festival in Texas. With a little guidance from his friend and neighbor Justin Smith of Saxum, Mark and his wife Ciera are making world class Rhone wines from their own property down the road from the James Berry Vineyard. Find these wines. [Ep314] ledgevineyards.com @ledgevineyards markadamsband.com
- podcast· 1h 31m
The Wine Makers – Cyril Penn, Editor Wine Business Monthly
Brian, Sam and John sit down with Cyril Penn, Editor of Wine Business Monthly to talk agriculture, wine trends and listener questions about up and coming varietals, making wine at home and how the 2023 Vintage is shaping up. A great conversation ensues. Cheers! [Ep313]
- podcast· 1h 32m
The Wine Makers – Julien Barrot, Domaine La Barroche
This week we welcome Julien Barrot from Domaine La Barroche, a property in Châteauneuf-du-Pape that has been making wine since the 14th century. The youngest in the family, he has the strong character of these winemakers who invest themselves in their profession and their appellation. Julien arrived on the estate in 2002, barely 22 years old, fresh from his training in oenology, with a business school diploma in his pocket. With an infinite thirst for learning, he is one of those “committed” generations where curiosity and open-mindedness perfectly complement the respect for the terroir and the know-how passed on by their elders. After several vintages and meticulous parcel selection, the estate now owes him its various cuvées with such singular personalities: Julien Barrot, Pure, Fiancée and Liberty. 16, chemin du Clos 84230 Chateauneuf du Pape @domainelabarroche contact@domainelabarroche.com
- podcast· 1h 30m
The Wine Makers – Dutton Goldfield
Dutton Goldfield began as a handshake in a vineyard in 1988 when long-time friends Steve Dutton and Dan Goldfield recognized a shared vision between them- to craft wines that express the true nature and personalities of their cool-climate vineyards and which are made to love. Join the guys as they sit down with Dan this week on the Wine Makers podcast. Cheers! [Ep311] duttongoldfield.com