On The Wine Road Podcast

In wine country they say it takes a lot of good beer to make great wine. So it should come as no surprise when I venture off the Wine Road to talk beer, especially when it's with a guy who's been at it as long as Colin Kaminski. I had one of his hand-crafted beers one late morning in May as we talked about Downtown Joe's, the history of that location and his tenure there. 

If you remember Pat Paulsen's Presidential campaigns then you probably agree with me that this year would have been ideal to have him as a candidate. We could use his satirical commentary. I talk with his son Monty about his father's legacy and the wine they make at Pat Paulsen Vineyards. They're serious wines for fun times!

May 24th, 2016 is the 40th Anniversary of the blind tasting heard 'round the world. In 1976, Chateau Montelena's Chardonnay and Stag's Leap Wine Cellars' Cabernet Sauvignon beat the best the French had to offer; a shocking result at the time. Yet it almost wasn't publicized. Hear how the historic Paris Tasting came together, where the winning Chardonnay grapes were from and how the word spread across the world. Guests include tasting organizer Steven Spurrier, Time Magazine journalist George M. Taber, winemaker Mike Grgich and winegrower Helen Bacigalupi. Fill a glass and enjoy the tale of a significant moment in wine making history.

Owner Frankie Williams of the nationally distributed wine Toad Hollow Vineyards joins me to tell her story and to make a proclamation for May. They are proud of their lighthearted approach to wine and celebrate the Fine Art of Fun.

I’m just south of St. Helena in Napa Valley at V. Sattui Winery. As they celebrate their 40 anniversary I talk with owner Dario Sattui about his early challenges, his determination, and how he successfully fulfilled a desire to continue his family’s wine making legacy.

Last fall I had the chance to chat with Rick Steves prior to his talk Lessons from a Lifetime of Travel, the content of which seemed to rely on his books, The Value of Thoughtful Travel and Travel as a Political Act. Why feature him on a show about wine? He’s enjoyed wine in the world’s most beautiful places. Plus, why not take advantage of the opportunity to talk with this travel guru? It’s a short conversation but well worth it.

Winemaker Clay Mauritson is part of a six generation winegrowing family, however he's the first to try his hand at winemaking. His experience in the vineyard has led him to an enlightening project that shows how much the soil has an impact on the flavor and mouthfeel of the wine. In this case he bottled Cabernet Sauvignon grown and managed identically in three different vineyards to express the variances the loam soil can impart on the finished product. Each are uniquely fantastic. In this segment you'll learn about his Loam Wines project and a bit of the family's history.

Learn how a successful newspaper woman and activist unwittingly kicked off a renaissance in California's olive oil industry. Nan Tucker McEvoy's ranch also makes fantastic wine. A Tuscan agronomist and winemaker has been instrumental in their success. Blake Yarger fills us in on the details.

I talk with winemaker Sandy Walheim about Francis Ford Coppola's new winery, Virginia Dare. The brands and tasting room pay homage to two events in American history. Virginia Dare is known as the first English child born in the New World to colonists in 1587. It was also the name of an early winery which operated in North Carolina beginning in 1835. You'll hear about the wine and how they tie-in to these historical events.