On The Wine Road Podcast

When it comes to winemaking you'll find Cathy Corison at the intersection of Power and Elegance. You won't locate that intersection on a map but you can find it in a Corison bottle. Cathy has worked at respected Napa Valley wineries such as Freemark Abbey, Chappellet and her namesake winery for 40 years. Not a bad run for a woman who got her start with a wine appreciation course "on a whim." This year she was named a Top 100 Winery by Wine & Spirits Magazine. She'll be the first to say her success has as much to do with serendipity and luck as it does talent. Meet Cathy Corison on today's podcast.  

On today’s podcast we’re going east of Sonoma County and north of Napa Valley into Lake County. The wineries in this rural area are spread out south and around scenic Clear Lake, the largest lake in California. Because the price of land is less expensive than the neighboring wine regions, much of the wine they bottle is too. Yet, as you’ll hear, their quality rivals the Nor Cal regions that carry a greater reputation. On this trip I focused on Brassfield Estate Winery, talking with their winemaker Matt Hughes. Listen in and you might find yourself inspired to pursue the wine of Lake County as we travel On The Wine Road.  

Hear how a ski trip to Chile, which turned into a three-year adventure, inspired Randy Ullom to take his appreciation for wine and make a career out of it. Eventually, he would join Kendall-Jackson, travel the world, and make what has become the number one selling Chardonnay in America for 25 years in a row. You'll hear about Randy's career and learn about Jess Jackson, the maverick winery owner who took the world by storm.

After nearly three decades in Germany promoting her family's business, Claudia Schug has returned to Northern California to work with her siblings at Schug Carneros Estate Winery. Although Schug is not a household name, German immigrant Walter Schug played an important roll in the growth of Napa and Sonoma's wine industry. It's an interesting story Claudia shares about how her father made his way to America for good with his new wife in tow and the few belongings they had all crammed into a VW bug. It's a tale of the American Dream coming to life for this immigrant family.  For photos and more interviews visit OnTheWineRoad.com

South of the town of Sonoma, in the southern end of Sonoma Valley, is a wide open plain with farmland, vineyards, and the flat and wetlands of San Pablo Bay. Nestled back against the tip of the Sonoma Mountains, in the midst of unexpected lush surroundings, is Cline Cellars. It’s a favorite wine and destination for many across the U.S. For 15 years the director of winemaking, Charlie Tsegeletos, has been crafting a great number of wines back behind that oasis, which also includes the Italian varietals for Cline’s other property, Jacuzzi Family Vineyards. Fortunately for him, the winery sits across the street. Both are enjoyable to visit but are individually unique properties. I reached out to Charlie during a busy harvest but he managed to carve out some time for me.

Notice: My apologies for the delay in uploading this post. I live in Santa Rosa, California, not far from the devastating fire issues. Our hearts go out to those affected by the damage and big props to the first responders who have worked multiple days in a row. We'll remain strong and carry on. Each year Wine and Spirits Magazine chooses the Top 100 wineries of the world. Each winery is invited to attend their annual tasting event in San Francisco. This is the third year Eric Sussman of Radio-Coteau has been chosen. He makes remarkable cool climate Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Riesling, Syrah, and Zinfandel. As a "pioneering micro-climate negociant" he works with as many as 16 different vineyards. He's highly respected and I was pleased to finally track him down. For more interviews visit OnTheWineRoad.com.

Join me as I take the drive to Smith-Madrone Vineyards and Winery perched high atop Spring Mountain. It provides a unique viewpoint of Napa Valley (in more ways than one). Stuart and Charlie Smith have been up there since the early 70s crafting wine the way they feel it should be made. Their style hasn't always been in favor but as tastes have changed they've become fashionable again. If you enjoy hearing opinions on the wine industry from those who have been around for forty-five years you'll appreciate this podcast. For more visit OnTheWineRoad.com.  Join my community at Patreon.com/OnTheWineRoad.

I truly enjoy sharing the stories of winemakers and I really get a kick out of finding distinctive gems that are outside the norm. This is certainly one of them, steeped in multiple layers of rich history. Aimée Sunseri is a 5th generation winemaker from Napa County’s oldest family-owned winery, the Nichelini Family Winery, which dates back to 1895. She is also the winemaker for New Clairvaux Vineyards in the small, dusty town of Vina, Ca. The original winery was the largest producer in the world in the late 1800s. It just so happens her partners are Trappist-Cistercian monks, whose viticulture history goes back nearly 1000 years! It should come as no surprise that with all that winemaking history Aimée recently won an international women’s competition. Click the play button to hear their surprisingly unfamiliar story.

This was only the second time I’ve featured just one guest on my radio show since it began in 2014. Today you’ll meet the Godfather of Zinfandel, Joel Peterson. You may not recognize his name but Joel has been bottling and promoting Zinfandel since he started his brand in 1976, Ravenswood Winery. It's likely you've heard of that name. They bottle other varietals and are well known for their slogan, No Wimpy Wines. Now he's back at the beginning with his new brand, Once and Future. It’s a fascinating story he shares on today's podcast.

(Garagiste - A French term used to describe a garage-based winemaking operation. Once seen as a negative, garagiste wineries are now treated with cult-like status.) Ben Papapietro was a garasite in San Francisco. His desire to get into the wine business found him living in his van in a vineyard for months at a time. Some how he managed to keep his newspaper job during his decades-long venture. Along with friend and partner Bruce they managed reached success in Sonoma County with Papapietro Perry Winery. Ben shares his tale with me in this podcast.

You know, one wine country’s best-kept secrets are the smaller, boutique wineries who, more often than not, make stellar hand-crafted wine. Without cruising around Northern California in person you wouldn’t know of most of them. Paul Mathew Vineyards is a fine example. Winemaker Mat Gustafson and his wife Barb make a great team, and if you happen to be in Sonoma County they offer fantastic food and wine pairing dinners. The road Mat traveled in becoming a winemaker was long and took many turns, most in the right direction. I think you’ll enjoy his story. Heck, it might even give you hope while you pursue your dream. For more interviews visit OnTheWineRoad.com.

This is the second time I've had the chance to interview Ted and each time it's been an enjoyable experience. Now he's the head winemaker at the historic Clos Du Val winery in Napa's iconic Stags Leap District. Clos Du Val has recently made some dramatic changes to their wine making philosophy. The timing couldn't have been better to get Ted's thoughts on the changes you'll be seeing and tasting in the near future. My family happened to be visiting Napa Valley that week from Phoenix and not only were they surprised by getting to attend the interview they also received the wine tasting from Ted. It's not often a tasting is provide by the winemaker. As I say, he's a gracious guy.  

National Rosé Day was June 10th and to mark that occasion I interviewed 3 winemakers who craft distinctive versions of refreshing pink wine. I traveled from Napa Valley to Sonoma County and hit Glen Ellen in between. This is the season for Rosé and over the last few years that style of wine has been getting quite interesting as winemakers search for creative ways to produce it. That’s what you’ll hear on this podcast. So find a warm spot in the sun with a chilled glass of Rosé and let’s get started. Cheers! For more interviews visit www.OnTheWineRoad.com.

This interview began as a discussion concerning the 40th anniversary celebration of Raymond Vineyards’ first vintage release. Always the innovator, owner Jean-Charles Boisset had it bottled with a gold embossed red velvet label. No, really. This inspired me to sit down with him to discuss his creative inspiration. That led me to present other wine producing innovations he has been offering from Buena Vista Winery (Sonoma Valley) and JCB by Jean-Charles (Napa Valley). I enjoy interviewing J.C. because I never know what to expect from him. I take that back. I do know what to expect and it’s his playful irreverence that tempts me to return. This is the extended version of what aired on my radio show. An EP of JC, if you will. Enjoy. Find more podcasts, upcoming events and wine trivia at OnTheWineRoad.com

She’s been called “the most respected wine critic and journalist in the world” by Decanter magazine. Jancis Robinson recently honored the UC Davis Shields library by donating her personal writings, papers, photographs, and even tasting notes. Her long list of credits include co-authoring The World Atlas of Wine with Hugh Johnson, editing The Oxford Companion to Wine, and co-authoring American Wine with Linda Murphy. She is founder of the award-winning JancisRobinson.com. Naturally, I jumped at the chance when offered the opportunity to interview Jancis at the Shields Library prior to the event celebrating her donation. As you’ll hear she was quite gracious. Find more interviews at OnTheWineRoad.com.

If you enjoy a glass of wine while reading a good mystery you'll appreciate this story. Zinfandel has been in the U.S. since the early 1800s yet no one knew for sure where it originated. Is it related to Primitivo? Finally in 2001, with help from others around the globe, U.C. Davis professor Carole Meredith solved the mystery and in turn helped save the heritage grape from extinction. Carole shares her exhaustive research and discovery with me in this in-depth interview. You'll also hear about her own vineyard, Lagier Meredith, which sits high atop Mt. Veeder overlooking Napa Valley. Pour yourself a glass, it's a good story. Find more stories at OnTheWineRoad.com.

On Earth Day my guest was Kenny Likitprakong of Hobo Wine Company. He was a good fit. He's a guy who loves the land, the freedom of the road and wearing out a pair of shoes. It's no wonder he chose a career that would take him into the vineyards along country roads to produce a product from the soil. Kenny and his wife Lynn are also environmentally conscious and choose to use 100% geothermal clean energy to run the production facility. But don't let the name fool you. He's making world class wine and getting noticed. OnTheWineRoad.com

It's not often, actually only once before, that I've interviewed a Hospitality/Tasting Room Manager of a winery. Yet the impressive experience that is offered at MacRostie in Sonoma County's Russian River Valley inspired me to do so. LisaMarie Kennedy is the driving force and we discuss the mindset that sets them apart from other tasting rooms. And, of course we'll discuss their wine. That's a given. For more interviews visit OnTheWineRoad.com

Michael Sebastiani has been in the vineyards since he was ten, if not younger. In his 20s he began working with Paul Giusto at Viansa Sonoma. While there they hatched the idea of starting their own brand. Highway 12 passes through the iconic vineyards of Russian River Valley, Sonoma Valley, Los Carneros and Napa Valley. No better name could capture the essence of the wine they wanted to offer. In this podcast you'll hear what it takes to start and operate a winery as they speak candidly about the challenges and their ultimate success with Highway 12, Carneros Highway and The Highwayman. It's time to travel On The Wine Road.

There were a number of wineries established in the mid to late 1800s in California that still exist however Foppiano Vineyards is the longest continually run family winery in Sonoma County. Some of the original dwellings and structures still exist, even the tasting room is built out of the original old redwood tanks. And if you visit you can still taste their 1996 Petite Sirah. The place is steeped in history. Join me in the Russian River Valley appellation as I talk with the president, the winemaker and self-appointed historian.