On The Wine Road Podcast

Over the years I have featured wineries in the burgeoning regions of Arizona, primarily southern Arizona, my former stomping ground. On this podcast you’ll meet Lisa Strid of Aridus Wine Company of Willcox, east of Tucson. They also have a tasting room in Scottsdale in the Phoenix area. Interestingly, Lisa presented a seminar at the Napa Valley Wine Institute before I met up with her in Arizona. That provided a great opportunity to try a few of their wines before our scheduled interview in Tucson. As you'll hear, I think they're a standout in the Arizona wine industry. 

On this podcast I chat with principles from 5 wineries who have been chosen to attend Wine & Spirits Magazine's Top 100 Tasting Event in San Francisco on October 9th. It's a spectacular evening that includes some of San Francisco's top restaurants. The recordings you'll hear are from past interviews with Jason Drew of Drew Family Wines, Jared Brandt of Donkey & Goat, Cathy Corison of Corison Winery, Eric Sussman of Radio-Coteau, and Jean-Charles Boisset of Raymond Vineyards. Also, publisher and senior editor Joshua Green explains the lengthy process of the picking the top 100 wines.  If you can't make it to the event, pick up Wine & Spirits special Winter issue being released next week, or peruse the Top 100 list online.

A couple of weeks ago I had the honor of being invited to attended a grand affair at the Culinary Institute of America at Copia in Napa. About 700 people were in attendance, culinary fare was being served, several musicians performed and all for the purpose of celebrating ZD Wines' 50th Anniversary. The Rutherford AVA Napa Valley winery has been building something special for quite some time. They also make one of the most unusual wine blends I've heard of in the U.S. Abacus is pricey but because of the decades it takes to craft that unique blend you could argue that it's worth it. Just a few days before the celebration I had the chance to sit down with winemaker Brandon deLeuze so you and I could hear more about ZD Wines.

On today's podcast Nancy Light, the Vice President of Communications at the Wine Institute rings me up to discuss the fact that September is California Wine Month. There are over 70 events occurring throughout the state. We touch upon many in the Sonoma, Napa regions as well as a few in other appellations. You just might be inspired to plan a trip around one of the events. I'm parking the car and picking up the phone for this On The Wine Road Podcast.   

This week I'm traveling off the wine road and on to the spirit trail. Spirit Works Distillery has been on my radar for quite some time. I've heard nothing but good things about what they craft and witnessed them win an award one evening. It's an interesting story how Timo and Ashby Marshall came together under extraordinary circumstances and ended up where they are today. That is, creating finely crafted variations of gin, vodka, and whiskey in a sustainably conscious manner with their grain to glass philosophy. I'm impressed with what doing...I even like their gin! (That hasn't happened since that one night in high school).

You know, some of the world's most respected wines are made right here in Northern California. However, I do like to branch out and learn about wineries across the country...and the world. I thought you might be interested as well. In this podcast I’m reaching across the globe to talk with Brand Marketing and Communications Manager, Jelena Meisel of Italy’s Zonin1821. They're a nearly two centuries old vine growing and winemaking company, the largest private and family wine producer. Their web address in the states is ZoninUSA.com. The number "1821" signifies the year the company was formed. Jelena joined me on the phone to fill us in about the family and brands. Someday I hope to see a few of the properties in person. If you get a chance, visit the website to see them. Bellissima!  

I've known these guys at Kokomo Winery over five years now. Winemaker Erik Miller was on my first show back in October of 2013. Winegrape grower Randy Peters was kind enough to by my guest every other month a couple years ago when I presented a feature called From Bud to Bottle. And as you'll hear, my wife and I belong to their wine club. When I heard they achieved a perfect 100 point score in the North Coast Wine Challenge, I was thrilled for them. Like a friend would be. Sure, it's not quite the same as receiving 100 points from some international wine critic but when you consider the wineries entering are from six of the most respected wine regions in California, well that's sayin' something. By the way, I knew that wine was special the first time I tasted it, before the award. I remember the moment. It's sublime. A true representation of the nectar of the gods. Here's your chance to find out how they did it.

I'll bet a bottle of wine you haven't heard a story about a successful pilot deciding after retirement to move his family to a rural area to raise his family who, without expectation or a plan, became a wine baron. In 1972, Napa Valley was a quieter agricultural area but just a few years later the region was thrust upon the world stage...and it's been growing ever since. And like many, the wine bug bite the former pilot, Koerner Rombauer. On today's podcast I talk with his son, K.R., and winemaker Richie Allen about their great success. You'll also learn of a surprising development that occurred just a week following the interview. I'll leave it at that. And if you have heard a story about a former pilot who became a wine baron, reach out to me for your bottle of wine.

It's hard to imagine that since the late 1600s nothing has been discovered or invented that seals a bottle of wine better than the all natural product of cork. Sure, now there are screwcaps and synthetic closures but neither provide the positive aspects that cork can deliver. To learn more about this fascinating, timeless product I've hooked up with Peter Weber of the Cork Quality Council. Together with ETS Laboratories they are conducting exhaustive research to discover and eliminate TSA, or cork taint, in wine. In this podcast you'll learn a little about this research and the many environmentally beneficial properties of cork.  

It's incredible how a relationship from decades ago has led to this interview. The details are contained in the podcast so I won't go into it here. Nevertheless, I met Tim Hower last year over email. Finally, a few weeks ago we met to record this interview. It's interesting how an American in the energy industry ended up becoming part owner from this world renowned winery. The night we met Tim invited to taste through a line-up of Two Hands Wines (as I had hoped). I love the wines from Barossa Valley and McLaren Vale and Two Hands offers a stellar representation of the two regions. You can hear about their wines and how a fan of Two Hands became part owner in today's podcast.  

I've been seeing Breathless Sparkling Wines around more and more lately. They've been winning awards, and I hear people say it's their favorite bottle of bubbles. It was time to find out more about this burgeoning winery. The three sisters who share ownership and responsibilities pursued the endeavor inspired by their mother's zest for life. I enjoyed a tasting and interview with Sharon, and admitted to her that I prefer still wines over sparkling. The one they have now captured my heart...the silky, lightly sweet Ratafia. Like liquid gold. Speaking of which, they've already picked up 10 Gold medals in 2018, four of which were Double Golds. To that I say "Cheers!" 

The name Mondavi is synonymous with wine in California, and across the globe for that matter. Riana is a 4th generation Mondavi and is a brand ambassador for CK Mondavi and Family. In early March I had the chance to sit down with her and their winemaker, Charlie Gillmore. We met at the Sonoma County Wine Library, a true library rich with books on wine history as well as educational resources. There were a few people studying nearby so it may seem like we're talking in hushed tones. It is a library, after all. During this podcast we'll discuss their 75 year history, their decades long relationships that help maintain their incredibly low prices, and keeping the brand relevant with the current generation. 

Paradise Ridge Winery was one of a handful of wineries that burned to the ground during the October Sonoma/Napa wild fires. Now that some time has past I spoke to family member Rene Byck about that harrowing night and following week, as well as their plans to rebuild. When I spoke to Rene in late February they had yet to begin clearing the debris. That allowed me the opportunity to take and share photos of the devastation which you can see at OnTheWineRoad.com/ParadiseRidge. The good news is, all but one of their many art installations and sculptures have miraculously survived. As a consumer you can help support the winery by visiting their Kenwood tasting room or buying the fantastic wine they offer from their website, PRWinery.com. 

Those of us who live wine country hear it all the time when people visit to go wine tasting, "Where should we start?" The first answer I give is "What do you want to experience?" Well, now the Wine Routes trip planner can provide a great number of options that can tap into your interests. You can enter the kind of varietals you like, the kind of experiences you'd like to have, whether you can bring your kids, your dog and so on. Then you can plan a trip based on the responses and share that trip with others. Another bonus is the ability to create lasting relationships with the wineries. I talk with Co-Founder Adrian Tamblin and Product Manager Ian Scales. As you'll hear, the app and website also includes wine regions across the U.S. Listen in and get ready to explore. Cheers!

In today's podcast On the Wine Road travels across four states as we make our way to Boise, Idaho. Wine may not come to mind when you think of Idaho but like the Russian River Valley in Sonoma County, the Rhone River in France and the world's other exceptional wine growing river valleys, Boise has the Snake River Valley. The weather can be a challenge and they need more acreage planted to vines but they're off to a good start and are determined to grow. In the meantime, Washington has been a reliable source of grapes for Idaho wine producers. While in Boise my wife and I met Earl Sullivan of Telaya Wine Co. I was impressed with not only his winemaking style but the story he told of how he and his wife Carrie chose to forgo successful careers to start a winery for the purpose of owning a family run business. It's a story worth hearing.

Yes, for 50 years the Chappellet family has been crafting exceptional Cabernet Sauvignon and other varietals from their Pritchard Hill Estate high above Napa Valley. It started with a leap of faith as Donn Chappellet and family left a successful business in Los Angeles to make the kind of wine he enjoyed. He may have been a bit naive but determination, and a little help from Napa Valley icons, helped Donn and Molly Chappellet build a well-respected and sought-after brand. Vice President and owner Dominic Chappellet shares his family's story from the beautiful estate where he was born and raised.

This year's Wine Expo in Sonoma County featured a seminar on Pét Nat, or Pétillant Naturel. It's an ancient method of making a sparkling wine with a single fermentation. It predates the more common methode champeniose that is used in Champagne and sparkling wine. On the panel was natural wine producer Jared Brandt of Donkey & Goat. He intrigued me. There's been a natural wine movement in recent years but Jared and his wife Tracey have been at it for over 2 decades. They rarely filter their wine and add as little sulfur as possible. He explains the reasoning behind that and his process as we hear their story.

When I attended Wine and Spirits Magazine’s Top 100 Wines Tasting event in San Francisco this past October I had the chance to meet Chris Phelps, the associate winemaker at Inglenook Estate Winery. I jumped at the chance to do an interview with Chris. We finally made that happen in December. You may not realize this but Inglenook was one of the first estate wineries in Napa Valley, founded in 1879 by Finnish sailor (and early entrepreneur), Gustave Niebaum. Following its sale in the mid-60s the winery's quality and reputation suffered. Enter Francis Ford Coppola. Through his love and decades of painstaking efforts the winery is once again an internationally respected estate and remains a Napa Valley icon. This is its story.

The folks Ram's Gate Winery refer to themselves as the Gateway to Sonoma and the Carneros wine region. It also leads to a full sensory experience with stunning views, architecture, and design, the aroma of the organic garden, the palate-pleasing culinary offerings, and, oh ya, the wine. It truly embodies the meaning of "the nectar of the Gods." Ram's Gate Winery is like a spa without the massage tables and towels but just as relaxing. Managing Director David Oliver and winemaker Jeff Gaffner fill me in on its history and the experiences they yearn to offer their customers.  For more interviews visit OnTheWineRoad.com  Join my wine community at Patreon.com/OnTheWineRoad 

I often need to remind myself that well known winemakers here in Northern California may not be familiar to those of you outside the area. David Ramey, of Ramey Wine Cellars, could be one of those. As you’ll hear in this podcast, David is well known by most in the biz. His name came up three times in the last few months while talking with other winemakers. A lot of wineries have tapped into his knowledge by hiring him as a consultant. I’ve also heard he doesn’t hold back his opinions. Those spring forth concerning a bit of a controversy he’s in the midst of here in Sonoma County. Meet the winemaker who utilizes old world methods with modern innovations…when necessary. Here’s David Ramey…