On The Wine Road Podcast

Imagine owning a vineyard that is considered one of the very best in the U.S. How would you feel if it were chosen as one of the Top 30 vineyards in the world!? Within the last year, that remarkable honor was bestowed upon Hirsch Vineyards. Perched high above the Sonoma Coast, Hirsch is defined by extremes - high elevations, steep hillsides, nearly 80 inches of rain each year, intense sunshine, and wind-driven storms. The nearby San Andreas fault has fractured the land into a composite of rock, sand, and soil, producing wines of extraordinary character. More than 60 individually farmed blocks of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir each tell their own story, and range from wines that are powerful to delicately elegant. Winemaker Jasmine Hirsch, the daughter of founder David Hirsch, has grown up on the property and has a lifelong understanding of its land and potential. On this podcast, she shares details about what makes this property so distinctive. Discover more at HirschVineyards.com  On The Wine Road Podcast theme m

This interview at Korbel Champagne Cellars dates back to September of 2021. We were just easing out of the pandemic, so to play it safe, I had the pleasure of joining owner, president, and chairman Gary Heck poolside. Yes, there is a swimming pool off the guest house at the winery. It was a beautiful fall morning, and to have a Korbel mimosa in hand was a bonus! Korbel Champagne Cellars has a multi-layered history full of drama and perseverance. We touch upon Gary's life on the property and how the Korbel brothers eventually created California "champagne" in 1882. Interestingly, the Hecks are only the second family to run the business, and as a result of their decades of determination, the brand can be found across the U.S. and internationally. Click here to visit Korbel Champagne Cellars. The podcast opening and closing themes were composed by Marscott

Phillip Titus is a likeable winemaker whose exuberance is youthful, yet he has been in the business for a long time. As you'll hear, he's had a stellar career and recently added Acumen Napa Valley to his list of respected wineries. He helped plant his father's vineyard as a young teenager, entered the acclaimed wine and viticulture program at UC Davis at age 18, and has been making some of Napa's most sought-after wines since graduating.  You'd likely expect him to have a swelling ego, but no, he's one of the most pleasant, easy-going guys you'd want to meet. He delves into his storied career and shares details of the iconic vineyards from which he makes wine for Acumen. The podcast opening and closing themes were composed by Marscott, and additional tunes are sourced from APM Music. On The Wine Road Podcast is sponsored by Sonoma Clean Power.  

Why take the 6 hour and 40 minute drive to the Applegate Region in Southern Oregon? I had to see what 29 year old Mini Byers has acquired. Cowhorn Bioynamic Vineyard and Garden is a Petal-certified Building under the Living Building Challenge 2.1 by the International Living Future Institute.  The tasting room is LEED-certified, and there is a beautiful, modern guest home on the property overlooking the vineyard. Naturally, I accepted the offer to stay there for two days. While there, I spent a morning with Mini's winemaker, Vince Vadrine. We talk about his background, the vineyard, and the Rhone wine varietals he crafts. A trip to the area is well worth it. There's so much to see and experience, of which we took full advantage! On The Wine Road Podcast is supported by Sonoma Clean Power. Music was sourced APM Music, and the theme was composed by Marscott.  

I am reaching back to 2019 for this podcast. In case you missed it, you may want to hear this story as Jordan Vineyard and Winery is one of Sonoma County's most stunning wineries, fashioned after a French chateau. It stands boldly yet gracefully among the sweeping lawn, beautifully manicured trees, and vineyards. Since the first vintage in 1976, Jordan wine has lived up to the elegance of the Chateau in which it is produced. Needless to say, it was a pleasure to spend time there interviewing CEO, General Manager, and family member John Jordan and winemaker Rob Davis. For you Napa wine history fans, you'll love the stories Rob shares about "the Dean of California Winemakers," André Tchelistcheff. As you listen, you'll understand the reasoning behind Wine Enthusiast Magazine choosing Jordan Vineyard and Winery as American Winery of the Year in 2014.  On The Wine Road Podcast is supported by Sonoma Clean Power. Music was sourced from FirstCom/Universal Music and Marscott.    

This podcast was spawned by the new book from Ace Cider founder and former owner Jeffrey House, The Cider King, How I Ace'd It!  The book was Jeffrey's project after selling his beloved brand in 2021. All kinds of unexpected developments occurred following the book's release. Of The Cider King book, Jeffrey says, "It's a story of immigration, a story of business, entrepreneurship, plus some encouragement for anyone who suffers from depression" (which he's dealt with for decades). We go into quite a bit of detail about the sale of his company and how he almost bought it back. You'll also hear how he ended up working for Ace Cider again, thanks to the insightful decision made by its new owner in 2024. Jeffrey is always a kick to interview, aside from the fact that we drink cider while doing it. Maybe pop one open yourself while you listen.  On The Wine Road Podcast is supported by Sonoma Clean Power The open and close theme was composed by Marscott Additional music was sourced from APM Music

I'm going to start this Women In Wine Day post by recognizing the founders of National Women in Wine Day, Yolanda Papapietro and Renae Perry. You can read more about Women in Wine Day and nominate a woman in the wine industry for recognition at Women In Wine Day.com. You may realize a number of the women listed for nomination have appeared on this podcast in the past. The interviews for today's offering were originally posted in 2022, in honor of the Second Annual Women in Wine Day. I feel they're worthy of a second posting in 2025 to celebrate this year's Day. Katie Madigan is one of two winemakers at St. Francis Winery in Kenwood, Sonoma Co. Katie was lucky enough to develop an interest in wine as a result of her parent's love and enthusiasm for the beloved nectar.  Pam Starr is a Co-Owner & Founding Winemaker of Crocker & Starr in St. Helena, Napa Valley. She has great enthusiasm about working in all aspects of the wine industry and has made quite a name for herself. As you'll hear, both ladies sha

For this podcast, I sat down with Andy Robinson from Seghesio Family Vineyards. I recently learned that Wine Spectator named Seghesio’s 2022 Sonoma County Zinfandel the Top Value Wine of 2024—an incredible achievement, especially considering the global competition in the Top 10. Producing high-quality wine at a scale that reaches shelves across multiple states and countries—while keeping it affordable—is no small feat. That’s just one of the many topics I explore with Andy in this conversation.  On The Wine Road Podcast is supported by Sonoma Clean Power  The closing music was composed by Marscott Additional music is sourced from APM Music

In the fall of 2023, I recorded this interview as an oral history video for the Napa Valley Wine Library Association. I didn't get it completed until early summer of last year. It's about time I post it as a podcast! It was a real pleasure to get to know David Duncan, co-owner and CEO of Silver Oak Winery, founded by his father, Ray in 1972. Together, David and I explore the numerous innovations and transformations that have helped solidify Silver Oak's remarkable legacy over the past 50 years. By the end, you'll gain a deeper appreciation for why Silver Oak remains a true icon in both the Napa and Alexander Valleys.  On The Wine Road Podcast is supported by Sonoma Clean Power  The closing music was composed by Marscott Additional music is sourced from APM Music

Nestled at 1,500 feet atop Bennett Mountain, overlooking Bennett Valley, Coursey Graves Estate Winery boasts some of the most breathtaking views in Sonoma County—I can vouch for it, having had the pleasure of working there for the past year. (This explains why I’ve been behind on updating this podcast and my website.) Guests are often struck by the beauty, exclaiming, “This is gorgeous!” From every vantage point, there’s something to admire: sweeping vistas that stretch for miles, a serene Monet-inspired pond framed by stately oak trees, lush, colorful gardens, and the occasional visit from local wildlife. The wines themselves are marvelous, capturing the essence of their unique origins. Chardonnay and Pinot Noir reflect the elegance of the cool-climate Sonoma Coast vineyards in which they’re grown. The Estate Cabernet blend (currently Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Malbec) and Syrah embody the rugged volcanic soils and rock in which they’re grown. The vines, with roots that dive deep, are often blanketed

In this episode you’ll meet Jerry Lohr, the founder of J. Lohr Vineyards and Wines. They’re a major player. The brand is found in nearly every grocery and liquor store across the country. J. Lohr produces 1.7 million cases annually and is 20th on the list of the largest U.S. wine companies. The family-owned and operated winery is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. During their half-century of business, philanthropy has played a role in their operations. This year, they chose to go nationwide with one impressive charitable initiative that will award a nonprofit organization $5000 in each of the 50 states! It’s called 50 Years, States and Ways of Giving. Additionally, consumers are invited to nominate which organization receives the donation! In this interview, you’ll hear more details about their summer campaign, we’ll talk about their commitment to sustainability and the family dynamic. (In their case, there’s no drama. It’s quite healthy). While you listen, think of which nonprofit you’d like to nom

In this episode I celebrate this year’s Sonoma County Barrel Auction. The theme for the weekend is Never Before, Never Again wines. On May 2nd I was invited to the Tasting Preview event attended by trade, media guests, partners, and participating vintners. This year’s auction was the 10th anniversary of the Barrel Auction. Over $400,000 was raised during the auction at MacMurray Ranch the following day. Congratulations to Sonoma County Vintners! In addition to having the chance to taste some of the 63 wine lots - that is, only a fraction of the 63 - I snagged five wine producers to talk about their Never Before, Never Again wines. We’ll discuss the special varieties and blends they created for the auction that contributed to the event's success.  My guests included Justin Hirigoyen from Twomey, Alan Ramey of Ramey Wine Cellars, David Hejl of Domaine Della, and Shauna Rosenblum and Trestor Goetting of Ridge Vineyards. Join us in the courtyard of Bacchus Landing in Healdsburg, CA for the conversations.  F

For today's episode, I'm reaching back to August of 2020. Clément Pierlot is the chef de cave (winemaker) of historic Champagne Pommery in France. I found it interesting that the Champagne house known for creating the Brut style of bubbly is now making a sparkling wine from California grapes. It turns out, Louis Pommery California Sparkling is harvested and made just up the freeway from me in Sonoma County. It was a topic worth pursuing. That led to another interview with a fellow Vranken-Pommery winemaker, Bruno Maillard. He crafts rosé in Provence and Carmargue/Languedoc, the world’s foremost regions for the light refreshing pink wine. You’ll hear from these Frenchman and learn about the incomparable heritage of the largest winegrower in Europe, Vranken-Pommery.

Patrick Davis is returning to Northern California for SIP - Songwriters in Paradise 2024. You may have caught him on my podcast last year, and it’s a real pleasure to catch up with him again to chat about Songwriters in Paradise 2024 in Napa, very soon April 18th-21st, then Healdsburg, Sonoma County  July 23rd – 28 at special wineries in each region. Patrick Davis is a talented performer. He's a prolific writer, travels quite a bit, and likes to be so surrounded by his friends. Together they put on a great show with humorous jabs and banter between songs. It’s evident, these Songwriters in Paradise love being part of SIP shows in Napa and Healdsburg. It's one of those Not To Be Missed events. During this interview, Patrick gets into much more detail about Songwriters in Paradise 2024. songwritersinparadise.com On The Wine Road Podcast is sponsored by Sonoma Clean Power

This month we celebrated Women’s History, International Women’s Day was March 8th, and this past Monday, the 25th, it was National Women in Wine Day in the U.S.  So, appropriately, my guest for this episode is an accomplished woman in wine, who also happens to be an international woman. Marimar Torres is a member of Familia Torres, a historic winemaking family in Spain’s Catalonia region. She loves living in California, especially Sonoma County’s Russian River Valley, where she presides over Marimar Estate Vineyards and Winery as President and CEO. Yet she continues to be a trailblazer and jetsetter. Join us in her home as I honor Marimar for National Women in Wine Day.  Marimar Estate Vineyards and Winery On The Wine Road Podcast is sponsored by Sonoma Clean Power  

In my 11 years in and around the wine industry, people have often asked me about barrels, yet related to the surface details, like whether a winery uses French oak, or 100% new oak, how many months does the wine age in oak, etcetera. Well, there are so many other details involved with barrel selection and how they can be used, it will make your head spin! So, if your head hasn’t been spun in a while, listen in to my conversation with Joe Nielsen. He’s as smart as he is chill, which allows him to easily change hats from the positions of general manager to winemaker, often several times a day at the south Sonoma winery. Before I get into the barrel discussion, I’ll ask him about a topic that’s new to me, pressure bombs. It’s a technique they use as a means to keep an eye on the health and needs of the vineyard. Yet, as it turns out, the method is not nearly as intense as the name suggests. No explosions occur at Ram’s Gate. Find other interviews, wine trivia, and news at OnTheWineRoad.us   On The Wine Road Podc

  This brand is what you get when you combine the 4th generation of a historic wine brand (Charles Krug Winery, first established in 1862), with an off-shoot winery that is predominantly owned by women who exhibit the courage and grace of the family’s immigrant matriarch (C Mondavi & Family), and a passion to support nonprofit causes (Equality Now), and blend it all into a wine brand that is enhanced with innovative augmented reality technology.  What's more, the juice is sourced from three European countries to provide a certain je ne sais quoi! It's Aviana. Giovanna Mondavi explains the inspiration and purpose behind this remarkable wine.

As we find ourselves in the period of holiday parties you may be considering how much alcohol you’re consuming. We’re also approaching a month that can be referred to as Dry January, which is supported by an international campaign that promotes a self-imposed break from alcohol. Does that mean wine lovers have to put aside their beloved nectar of the Gods? Not necessarily. A good option will be discussed on today’s episode that takes me into San Francisco. My guest is Catherine Diao, wine lover and co-founder of Null Wines.  On The Wine Road Podcast is brought to you by Sonoma Clean Power, offering solutions to help customers save with clean energy. 

This Classic episode was recorded in September of 2021 for my radio show, then uploaded as a podcast a year later. If you missed it the first time around, I know you'll enjoy it this time. The Kingdom of Bhutan has been referred to as "magical" for quite some time. So I suppose it should come as no surprise that the introduction of vineyards, while in the shadow of the Himalayas, occurred unexpectedly. And like a centuries-old fable, the hero in this tale possessed an unwitting innocence. Words that can best describe the project are, adventurous, challenging, and even daunting, but it has the potential to be miraculously rewarding. Today I share the tale of the Bhutan Wine Company and its founder, the exceptional Michael Juergens.

In this episode you’ll meet Jennifer Brown of Napa Valley’s Hall Family. They are more or less based in three counties, they source from a good number of appellations across California, and they have three brands that I’ll touch upon, but we’ll focus on BACA Wines. BACA only produces Zinfandel, which I found interesting knowing that Jennifer’s family has gained notoriety for Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Sauvignon Blanc. Jennifer and I met in 2020 at the Zinfandel Advocates and Producers Zinfandel Experience Grand Tasting event and she told me she loved to skip through the Zinfandel vineyards as a child. Zinfandel? Hearing that from a Hall family member struck me with enough curiosity I wanted to hear the full story of how she ended up focusing on Zinfandel instead of the other varieties her family is well known to produce. Today, you will get to hear that story.