On The Wine Road Podcast

On this podcast we talk about Tannat grown and crafted by Bodega Garzón in Uruguay and Y. Rousseau Wines in Napa. Joining me in this discussion is Christian Wylie, the general manager of Bodega Garzón, and French American Yannick Rousseau, the winemaker of his namesake winery. We in the U.S. are not terribly familiar with the Tannat varietal but it is respected in South America and southwest France. Through the efforts of these two experienced wine masters and other wineries who are giving it a chance we'll all become more familiar and appreciative of the unique characteristics this varietal has to offer. By listening to this podcast you'll also become familiar with the state-of-the-art Bodega Garzón winery and the region. You may also be inspired to visit! Let's go... For past interviews visit www.OnTheWineRoad.com.

If you want to taste depth of variety the wines made from Acorn Winery's Alegria Vineyards dates back to 1890 and includes over 70 different grape varieties. Sixty different varieties are included in the Medley blend! Not many winemakers are bottling field blends like this anymore. Has he gone bonkers or is he crazy like a vineyard fox? In this podcast you'll meet Bill Nachbaur of Sonoma County's Acorn Winery. For other interviews visit OnTheWineRoad.com.

Susie Selby has been a winemaker in Sonoma County for 23 years now but following the loss of her father, who happened to be her partner, she was nearly talked out of pursuing the venture. Facing an uphill battle she chose to forge ahead. Along the way the community has supported her and Selby wine has been served at White House functions more than any other winery in the country. Without a road map she’s found success. As you’ll hear she has maintained her sense of humor and humbleness. Join us for our conversation in Healdsburg on the edge of Dry Creek Valley.

I read in Wine Spectator that Garrett of G. Love and Special Sauce is a fan of wine. It turns out his sister helps supports his desire with fine Burgundian wine. This gave me a good reason to set up an interview prior to a show at the Fillmore in San Francisco a while back. I've been a fan for many years and it was very cool to spend some time with him. (I gave him a nice bottle of Kosta Browne Pinot to say thanks). We talked wine, music and family. After the interview he asked if I wanted to hear a song he’d been working on called “Drinkin’ Wine”. Absolutely! It was a great start to an extraordinary evening. Part of the song is on this podcast but you can find a link to the full video of the song at www.OnTheWineRoad.com/People and search for Garrett there.

I think you'd have to agree that in 1969 Lee Titus was likely the only person who was a wine grape grower and radiologist. There's nothing like pursuing two passions. Inspired with what has happening in Bordeaux at the time he replanted the grapes that were falling out of favor wtih the varieties that are now so popular in Napa Valley. We learn about the family's changes and decision to make their wine as I talk with second generation wine grower Eric Titus.

You're invited to join me on a foggy morning in May as I meet winemaker and viticulturist Tom Meadowcroft. We walk through the Louvau Vineyard in Russian River Valley, Sonoma County. We discuss bloom, his winemaking process and those he respects. In this intimate conversation you'll feel you're standing and walking along side of us. The Meadowcroft tasting room is in Cornerstone Plaza south of the town of Sonoma. I really enjoy his Sangiovese, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir, Cabernet and the other wines he crafts.

On this first day of 2017 I’m presenting my show from the last day of 2016. On the final broadcast of the year I wanted to highlight those who have expressed their passion about the wine industry. The winery owners, winemakers and growers I have chosen have done so eloquently, philosophically, poetically, and often spiritually. I'm confident that if you listen it will make the wine you love taste even better. Cheers! Guests include Greg LaFollette of Alquimista Cellars, Julie Johnson of Tres Sabores, Ulysses Van Der Kamp of Van Der Kamp Vineyards, Mark Topel of Topel Wines, Jean-Charles Boisset of Boisset Family Estates, George Macleod of MacLeod Family Vineyard, Delia & Janet Viader of Viader Vineyards and Winery, and Gary Breen of Campovida.

Not long after college, and with a degree in French Language, Michaela Rodeno talked her way into getting hired as the second employee at Moët & Chandon's new American winery, Domaine Chandon. It was 1973 and the office was in a garage on Mt. Veeder. After 15 years of helping Chandon become a success, she left as a V.P. and accepted the C.E.O. position at the newly established St. Supery Vineyards and Winery. While there she formed Women for WineSense with Frog's Leap Winery's Julie Johnson, to combat the rising anti-alchohol movement of the 1990s. Michaela is now retired from the industry and focuses on the family's Villa Ragazzi Wines, while Women for WineSense has continued to grow across the country. When you hear this interview you'll understand why she is a beloved member, if not an icon, of the Napa wine industry.

This is one of the oddest segments I've ever recorded. Judd Finkelstein of Judd's Hill Winery has his own radio show on 1440AM KVON, Tuesdays at 9am. So I joined his show to interview him which aired on my show. Still with me? Judd's Hill Winery is a family owned and green certified winery in Napa Valley. Learn more by listening here.

The University of California at Davis has undertaken a wine label transcription project called “Label This” and you can participate. Imagine, lending your time to this prestigious college which is considered by some to house the greatest wine library in the world. They have digitized 5,000 historic wine labels which were collected over a period of decades by Maynard Amerine, a professor of viticulture and enology at UC Davis. To make them searchable and accessible to the world, they need your help. If you appreciate wine you’ll enjoy this simple task which will open a window into the history of wine. Listen in as Amy Azzarito explains the project.

I had a feeling of great anticipation before meeting this international wine icon. Agustin Huneeus began his career by saving Concha y Toro in Chile, a brand now recognized across the globe. He also worked for Seagram's, eventually overseeing their international brands. That position brought him to Napa Valley which led to his decision to get back into running his own winery again. He's done very well and continues to do so at Quintessa and with other successful wineries here and in Chile. Like me, I'm sure you'll be captivated by his voice which resonates with the wisdom he has gained and the miles of dusty roads he has traveled.

On this podcast we're going to challenge your belief in mystical talent. Marc Mondavi is not only a long time winemaker from the iconic Mondavi family, he is also experienced in the fine craft of dowsing, divining, yes they even call it water witching. Go ahead, scoff if you will, but Marc is paid handsomely for this talent and he wouldn't have been for decades if he wasn't successful. It's no wonder his other wine project, aside from the family's Charles Krug winery, is called The Divining Rod Wine. You'll walk with me as he demonstrates his talent and as he talks about his other craft, fine wine.

It's time to veer off the Wine Road a bit and chat with a brewer. After all, the modern era of the craft beer industry began here in the heart of Northern California Wine Country. Don is an icon among brewers beginning with New Albion Brewery, kick starting Mendocino Brewing Company, and now calling Napa Smith home. He's been working on his craft as long as some of the winemakers I've interviewed. Hear about his past, present and likely future.

This is the second of three harvest I'll be participating in this season. This time I join winemaker Ashley Herzberg of Amista Vineyards as they pick Syrah for sparkling wine in Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma County. You'll learn how picking for sparkling differs from still wine. After harvest we head to the crush facility for the second segment where you'll hear how the juice gets it's red color. It's a specifically timed process. Tag along with me, won't you?

Last year I had the pleasure to work a bit during harvest. This year I've chosen to work and record during three harvests. The first one was at Bucher Vineyards in Russian River Valley, Sonoma County. The Buchers are wine grape growers but have been bottling their own wine the last few years. I've heard their wines compared to Kistler, a highly respected ultra premium producer! In this podcast I talk with John, his wife Diane, and their winemaker Adam Lee about this year's harvest and their Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. (Did I mention they also run a dairy farm?) There's not much sleeping going on this time of year.  

If you're sticking around Labor Day weekend through the 11th, or if you're visiting our beautiful wine country, consider attending the 2nd Annual Vineyards to Villages' Wine Safari. During the week 11 boutique wineries in Russian River and Dry Creek Valley are participating in this fundraiser to bring clean water infrastructure to schools and communities in Kenya. Listen to hear how you can turn Sonoma County wine into water. You out-of-towners can help too. See photos and read about their successes at www.gpfd.org. 

There is so much to do when you visit San Francisco you may not consider the fact that there are wineries and tasting rooms in the bay area. In this podcast I'll focus on Treasure Island Wines and Winery SF (part of the Winemakers Studio group) on Treasure Island, and Bluxome Street Winery in San Francisco. Their offerings are on par with the wines you'll find in wine country to the north as they all source their grapes from Sonoma, Lake, Mendocino and Napa counties. Listen in as I talk with those in the bay area. 

You don't meet many Scotsmen in Northern California. There aren't many Scottish winemakers in the U.S., especially those who focus almost exclusively on Syrah but Steve Law of MacLaren Wine embodies all of those characteristics. He's doing it well having been lauded by Sonoma Magazine and Wine and Spirits magazine. This inspired me to join him in his tasting room after hours to learn about his passion and wine making.

We've been fans of Seghesio Family Vineyards for a number of years now. A recent article in Wine Spectator gave me the impetus to reach out to Ted Seghesio to discuss the exceptional vintages of Zinfandel we're experiencing. If you love Zinfandel, or would enjoy learning to, now is a good time to put Northern California Zins on your list. Also, I couldn't pass up the chance to talk with Ted about his family's 121 year grape growing and wine making history. They're one of only a few who made it through Prohibition and are still in business today.

This episode is my full radio show from our recent trip to Lake County, Napa Valley's more peaceful neighbor to the north. You'll hear my conversations with Six Sigma Ranch, Hawk and Horse Vineyards, Steele Wines, and Shannon Ridge Family of Wines. It's a rural area with many wineries near one another yet the region is quite spread out from Lower Clear Lake to Upper Lake. The warm days and cool nights lend to exceptional wines in the hands of the area's experienced wine makers. This episode may, and should, inspire you to visit.