I'll Drink to That! Wine Talk
A former sommelier interviews incredibly famous and knowledgeable wine personalities in his tiny apartment. He gets them to talk candidly about their lives and work, and then shares the conversations with you. Crush Wine & Spirits is the retail partner. To see all the back episodes from episode 1 in your feed, and to see new episodes sooner, it is important to SUBSCRIBE. It is free to subscribe. Contact info- Email leviopenswine@gmail.com Instagram @leviopenswine Twitter @drinktothatpod Phone (347) 450-3092 Website illdrinktothatpod.com
Zorik Gharibian is the founder of the Zorah winery, in the Vayots Dzor region of southern Armenia.
Zorik discusses the long history of wine production in Armenia, referencing evidence that wine was made in Armenia in the Copper Age (about 6,000 years ago). He talks about the grape remnants and clay storage jars that have been found from that time. And he discusses other wine related finds in Armenia, in both the pre-Christian era and later. Zorik then explains why a hundred year gap occured in the dry wine production of Armenia, and he talks about the situation for wine as he found it in Armenia in the late 1990s.
Zorik explains his rationale for beginning his own winery in Armenia, and talks about the different winemaking regions of Armenia. He gives special emphasis to the area that he chose to base his production in, Vayots Dzor. He talks about the native grape family of that region, which is known as Areni, and his experiences with planting a new Areni vineyard. That is contrasted with his comments about a much older vineyard of Areni, which he also works with. Both vineyards are own-rooted, as phylloxera is not present in the region.
Zorik also talks about the amphora clay containers that housed wine in Armenia in ancient times, and which he uses today as well. He gives his explanation for why he chose to mature his Areni wine in amphora - known as Karas in Armenia - as opposed to wooden barriques. And he relates details about his search to find amphora that were already existing in Armenia and which he could use, as well as to develop production of new amphora there today. He further gives a summary of the drinking habits of his surrounding region in Armenia, and an outlook on what it is like working in Armenia today.
This episode also features commentary from:
Katherine Moore, Union Square Wines
Lee Campbell, Early Mountain Vineyards
Conrad Reddick, Monterey Plaza Hotel and Spa
This episode is sponsored by:
Kevin Zraly is the author of "Kevin Zraly's Windows on the World Complete Wine Course". He is also the co-author (with Mike DeSimone and Jeff Jenssen) of the book "Red Wine: The Comprehensive Guide to the 50 Essential Varieties and Styles". Kevin was for decades the Cellar Master of Windows on the World restaurant, located on the top floors of the North Tower of New York City's original World Trade Center.
Kevin describes his entry into the world of restaurants as a college student, and how a series of seemingly chance events led him to study and teach about wine. He recalls trips to California, France, Italy, and Spain to visit wineries, and some of the standout moments in those adventures. Then Kevin talks about his short lived career as a wholesale wine salesman in New York City, and explains how that quickly developed into a job opportunity as the Cellar Master at the brand new Windows on the World restaurant in the late 1970s. His role at Windows brought him into contact with legendary restauranteur Joe Baum, whom Kevin talks about at length.
Kevin talks about the philosophy behind the wine program at Windows on the World - from the selection to the pricing to the service style - and recalls a key trip to Bordeaux to source wines there with Alexis Lichine. He also explains how working at Windows led to his book deal, and to more and more teaching opportunities. Kevin became famous as a teacher and speaker about wine, and in this interview he discusses how he approaches speaking to a group about wine. He also recalls the origins of the New York Wine Experience, which he founded.
The interview with Kevin goes from highs to lows, as Windows on the World is closed by a bombing in 1993, and then totally destroyed as a result of the 9/11 attacks. Kevin shares the pain he has felt as a result, and gives his rationale for why he might have survived while his co-workers perished. He also talks about how he has coped with the aftermath of those terrible events on a personal level, and some of the challenges that he has faced as a parent.
This episode also features commentary from:
Martin Sinkoff, Martin Sinkoff Associates
This episode is sponsored by:
Christopher Howell is the winemaker and General Manager of the Cain Vineyard and Winery in the Napa Valley of California.
Christopher discusses his early wine tastings and home winemaking in the 1970s, and talks about some key relationships that helped form his interest in wine. He explains how he ended up pursuing an oenological and viticultural education in Montpellier, France, highlighting some notable people that he studied with, and how that school work then led to a stagiaire position at Château Mouton Rothschild in Bordeaux. Christopher talks about a chance meeting that he had while working at Mouton, and something that was said to him that has stayed with him for the rest of his life. He also discusses other adventures in other wine cellars in France, notably at Château Rayas in the Rhône Valley.
Christopher discusses his return to the United States, and a pivotal meeting with Helen Turley that then led to a job at Peter Michael in the late 1980s. He talks about characteristics of Helen Turley and her husband John Wetlaufer that would contribute to their success in the wine world, and Christopher is frank about what he learned from them both. He further explains how the transition to working at the Cain Vineyard and Winery came about, where he has now been employed for the last thirty years.
Christopher is open about his sometimes unconventional winemaking choices, and explains the thought processes behind some idiosyncratic decision making, as well. In particular concerning brettanomyces, reduction, and volatile acidity. He also discusses the evolution of the different wine offerings at Cain, and what he has learned from that progression. He shares a great deal of his philosophy on topics like farming, vineyard trellising, terroir expression, grape variety blending, and wine complexity. He also is frank in his discussion about what his career choices have really entailed.
This episode also features commentary from the following people:
Cathy Corison, Corison Winery
Kelli White, author of "Napa Valley Then and Now"
Ehren Jordan, Failla
John Lockwood, Enfield Wine Co.
Bernard Portet, founding winemaker at Clos Du Val
This episode is sponsored by:
Jason Lett is the co-owner of The Eyrie Vineyards, in the Willamette Valley of Oregon.
Jason discusses how his father, David Lett, helped transform the Willamette Valley into a growing region for Pinot Noir, acheiving worldwide acclaim for his efforts. Jason, who was born shortly after his father arrived in Oregon, retraces in this conversation the path that led his father there. He also talks about the character of his father, what he was trying to accomplish and why. Jason is clear about the state of winery, the wines, and his relationship with his father at the time of the transition to his own leadership at The Eyrie Vineyards.
Jason explains realizations he has made working with other grape varieties besides Pinot Noir in Oregon, such as Chasselas and Trousseau. He also talks about how the farming at the family properties has changed since his father's day. And he discusses how his approach to certain wines is different from his father's practice.
Jason is open about how trips to Burgundy and interactions with Burgundians have affected him and his work. He specifically talks about people like Gérard Potel, André Mussy, the Drouhin family, Michel Lafarge, Patrick Bize, and Romain Lignier. Some of Jason's comments about these people are further fleshed out in this episode by additional commentary spliced in from other interviews in the I'll Drink to That! archive.
Climate change is also discussed in this episode, as Jason addresses how this reality might be approached in the vineyard. And he talks about how the region that his father made famous for Pinot Noir has itself changed over the decades since.
This episode also features commentary from the following people:
Mimi Casteel, Hope Well Wine
Jacques Seysses, Domaine Dujac
Dominique Lafon, Domaine Comtes Lafon
Michel Lafarge, Domaine Michel Lafarge
Christophe Roumier, Domaine Georges Roumier
Becky Wasserman-Hone, Becky Wasserman & Co.
Russell Hone, Becky Wasserman & Co.
This episode is sponsored by:
Mary Ewing-Mulligan is the President of International Wine Center, located in New York City, and a co-author of the "Wine For Dummies" books.
Mary discusses her introduction to working with wine, employed by an Italian government agency responsible for promoting Italian wine. She explains the situation for Italian wines in the United States at the time, the 1970s, and how the Italian wines in the market went about competing with wines from other countries. She also contrasts that situation for Italian wine to the situation for Italian wine in the United States today, and points out what has changed. Mary then talks about her own experiences traveling to Italy, and her friendship with the Currado family of the Vietti winery in Italy's Piemonte.
Mary goes on to explain a key decision in her own wine career, leaving a high paying job in public relations to take a more modestly paid position at a wine school. She talks about her struggles to pass the Master of Wine exam, and her eventual triumph as the first woman residing in North America to earn a Master of Wine title. She then discusses her introduction of the Wine and Spirit Education Trust curriculum to the United States.
Mary's career takes another turn as she and her husband Ed McCarthy write the very successful "Wine For Dummies" book that led to a number of other wine books in the "Dummies" series being authored by the couple as well. She talks about how she and Ed went about writing the "Dummies" books, in terms of approach. And Mary grapples in this interview with being on the one hand the author of "Wine For Dummies," while on the other hand also being a Master of Wine. She explains how she feels about the pairing, and what her motivations were at each point in her career.
This episode is sponsored by:
Christophe Roumier and his family run Domaine Georges Roumier, located in the Burgundy village of Chambolle-Musigny in France.
Christophe discusses the arrival of his grandfather in Chambolle-Musigny, and the beginning of the Roumier family history with wine. He talks about his family's work for the Comtes Georges de Vogüé domaine, also in Chambolle-Musigny, and then explains the timeline for estate wines at Domaine Georges Roumier. Christophe further discusses the Roumier and Ponnelle family connections (Christophe's mother was a Ponnelle), and the role that Christophe's father took on at Pierre Ponnelle, as well as at Domaine Georges Roumier. Christophe also details his own route to studying oenology in the late 1970s, and then working at the family domaine beginning in the 1980s.
The vineyard holdings of Domaine Georges Roumier are discussed in detail, covering the plots for Bourgogne Rouge and Chambolle-Musigny villages, as well as the Les Cras, Les Combottes, and Les Amoureuses 1er Crus in Chambolle-Musigny, Clos de la Bussière 1er Cru in Morey-Saint-Denis, and the Grand Crus of Ruchottes-Chambertin, Charmes-Chambertin, Bonnes-Mares, and Musigny. Christophe then discusses the Corton-Charlemagne parcel he works, the Clos Vougeot that he used to farm, and the Échezeaux parcel that he recently began working. Christophe addresses both the character of these vineyards, and character of the wines that they produce.
Christophe talks about the farming practices at Domaine Georges Roumier, and addresses his move to organic farming methods in the 1980s. He specifically highlights why the move to organic has been important for his wine production. He also talks about topics like vine trellising, and the changing conditions in the Burgundy vineyards today.
In terms of winemaking, Christophe discusses aspects like the stages of a fermentation, the role of reduction, the importance of temperature control to his work, lees contact, sulphur addition, and further, Christophe enunciates the ramifications of delaying the start of a malolactic conversion.
This is a very rare chance to hear directly from Christophe Roumier as he talks about his approaches to his work, and recalls some of the key moments of his career.
This episode also features commentary from the following people:
Dominique Lafon, Domaine Comtes Lafon
Becky Wasserman-Hone, Becky Wasserman & Co.
Jacques Seysses, Domaine Dujac
Jean-Pierre de Smet, founder of Domaine de l'Arlot
Michel Lafarge, Domaine Michel Lafarge
Benjamin Leroux, Benjamin Leroux
Claude de Nicolay, Chandon de Briailles
This episode is sponsored by:
Giacomo Oddero and his family operate Poderi e Cantine Oddero, in the La Morra area of the Barolo appellation in Piemonte, Italy.
Giacomo, who was born in the mid-1920s, remembers the difficulties encountered in the Barolo region in the aftermath of World War II, as well as the specific changes that helped set the Barolo area on a path to prosperity. He recalls the challenges posed by families leaving the area in lean times, and the cooperation that was necessary to make region wide changes in wine production standards. Giacomo specifically mentions the process of codifying the Barolo appellation rules, encouraging growers in the area to register their grape production, and the move to make less wine of a higher quality. He also discusses the family purchases of vineyards like Brunate, Rionda, and Rocche di Castiglione, and the differences he finds between single vineyard Barolo and a blended Barolo classico. Giacomo talks about why he chose to stay in the Piemonte during hard times, and the decisions that he and his brother Luigi undertook when the two worked together, when their winery was known as Fratelli Oddero. Giacomo also mentions several other prominent names in the Barolo region, such as Renato Ratti and Battista Rinaldi. Finally, he explains what a public initiative undertaken during his tenure as mayor ultimately entailed for the region. Those who want to understand the culture and history of the Piemonte region will find this interview to be a treasure trove of information.
This episode is sponsored by:
Rod Berglund and his family own Joseph Swan Vineyards in Sonoma County, California, where Rod is also the winemaker.
Rod explains how he first became interested in wine, and what led him to found his own winery in the late 1970s. He also discusses how he met winemaker Joe Swan, who would eventually become his father-in-law. Rod conveys how Joe in many ways stood apart from his California winermaking contemporaries of the 1970s and 1980s, making choices influenced by the changes Joe had seen in Burgundy, France. Those included the use of French oak barrels, an increasing interest in whole cluster, and a focus on low yields from the vineyard. As Rod explains it, Joe's approach to winemaking was a simple one, but he also took seriously the goal of making great wines of limited production. This extended to Joe's approach to Zinfandel, which he made with an eye to high quality, rather than assuming the grape variety had to have a bulk wine destiny. Rod touches on some of the other people that influenced Joe's vision of wine, including André Tchelistcheff, Jacques Seysses, and Kermit Lynch. This episode also features a clip from IDTT episode 460, wherein Joel Peterson speaks about his experiences working with Joe Swan in the 1970s. As the interview progresses, Rod details the changes he has made at the winery and in the vineyard since Joe Swan passed away, explaining the logic of each adjustment. This conversation also touches on topics like the "Swan clone," extended maceration, whole cluster use, tannin management, malolactic conversion for Chardonnay, the specifics of growing grapes in the Russian River Valley, and the makeup of old Zinfandel vineyards. Those wanting to understand the transition of California winemaking practice from the 1960s to now will benefit tremendously from hearing this episode.
This episode is sponsored by:
Tomoko Kuriyama is a partner in Chanterêves, a micro-négociant based in Burgundy, which she runs with her husband Guillaume Bott.
Tomoko spent over a decade working in wineries in Germany, then moved to Burgundy in France and started Chanterêves. She explains in this interview the differences between Germany and Burgundy in terms of the winemaking and vineyard work. She also discusses the outlook of the growers in each place, and how those differ. Tomoko worked with growers in Germany like Paul Fürst and Peter Jakob Kühn, and visited German growers like Helmut Dönnhoff and Gernot Kollmann. Then in 2005, she did a harvest at Domaine Simon Bize in Burgundy, which subsequently led her to move to Burgundy and start a micro-négociant there. When addressing topics like botrytis, the nature of a fermentation, brettanomyces, sulphur dose, lees contact, reduction, and tannin management, Tomoko compares and contrasts the approaches in Germany with those in Burgundy. By doing so, she explains both at a deep level. Tomoko also describes how winemaking in Germany and in Burgundy have evolved in the years that she has been making wine. For example, she describes the embrace of infusion instead of extraction in the red winemaking of Burgundy, and why it may be so common today. Those looking to better understand the character of German wine and Burgundy will find a lot of revelatory information in this interview.
This episode is sponsored by:
NY Drinks NY Harvest Trips to the Finger Lakes, Long Island, and the Hudson Valley
Anthony Hanson wrote the book "Burgundy," which was originally published in 1982, and then subsequently revised by him for another edition published in 1995. He is today a consultant for Haynes Hanson & Clark, as well as The Fine Wine Experience in Hong Kong.
Anthony describes his entry into Beaune (via bulldozer) in the 1960s, and his first tasting at the Hospices de Beaune in Burgundy. He discusses his growing awareness of domaine bottled Burgundy at the time, and how he found those domaine wines to differ from the négociant bottlings that were being shipped to England back then. Anthony talks about his tastings at various Burgundy domaines, with personalities like Hubert de Montille, Jacques d'Angerville, Aubert de Villaine, Jacques Seysses, and Becky Wasserman. He then explains why he began to write his book "Burgundy," which was first published in 1982. That book addressed topics such as clones, fertilizers, chaptalization, blending, the influence of Guy Accad, and the growing amount of domaines bottling their own wine for sale. Anthony subsequently revised that book for another edition published in 1995, and in this interview he explains what had changed in Burgundy between 1982 and 1995, described by him as a period of important changes in the region. In addition, Anthony addresses in this interview topics that emerged later for Burgundy, such as premox and a debate around climate change.
This episode is sponsored by:
NY Drinks NY Harvest Trips to the Finger Lakes, Long Island, and the Hudson Valley
Jeff Kellogg is the co-founder of Kellogg Selections, a wine distributor in North Carolina. Jeff is a former sommelier, who previously appeared in I'll Drink to That! episode 230.
Jeff discusses his decision to start a wine distribution business, and the financial and personal realities around launching such a business. He also describes a changing demographic in North Carolina, and what that means for the wine market of that state. Jeff weaves in several personal and professional insights from his earlier jobs in explaining what he is up to today, discussing the appeal of working in distribution for a former sommelier. Those who have never worked in wine distribution will likely learn a lot from what Jeff has to say, whether they work in wine professionally or not.
This episode is sponsored by:
NY Drinks NY Harvest Trips to the Finger Lakes, Long Island, and the Hudson Valley
Jacques Seysses is the founder of Domaine Dujac, based in the Burgundy village of Morey-Saint-Denis in France.
Jacques recounts how he became interested in wine, and what led him to purchase a domaine in Burgundy in the late 1960s. He describes working with Gérard Potel at Domaine de la Pousse d'Or, as well as some of his visits to other Burgundy vigneron, like Henri Gouges, Charles Rousseau, and Pierre Ramonet. Jacques talks about the Burgundy vintages of the 1960s and 1970s in this interview, and explains how the conditions in Burgundy have changed since that time, both in terms of the climate and the market for the wines. Jacques also shares his memories of some of the many people who have worked with him at Dujac over the years, including Lee Hudson, Jean-Pierre de Smet, Ted Lemon, Alain Graillot, James Halliday, and others. And Jacques talks about what he found when visiting California and the Northern Rhône Valley. There is also a discussion of how the current Dujac wines are approached and what Jacques considers the important decisions of his sons and daughter-in-law in running the domaine. Those curious about winemaking technique will find many specifics from Jacques in this interview, addressing topics like whole cluster use for Pinot Noir, cold maceration, wild yeasts, and more.
This episode is sponsored by:
NY Drinks NY Harvest Trips to the Finger Lakes, Long Island, and the Hudson Valley
Mimi Casteel is the owner of the Hope Well Vineyard, in the Willamette Valley of Oregon. Her family owns the Bethel Heights Vineyard, also in Oregon.
Mimi takes on issues like land use, agricultural practice, and vineyard work in this interview, stressing the importance of a connection with nature. She argues against reductionist approaches in the vineyard, and against a goal of species elimination. She also explains how she has worked to combat phylloxera through ecology. Mimi discusses her larger worldview when making several of these points, which is that complexity equates with security in the natural world. And she delivers a warning about the difficulties that already affect our world, and which she feels may be catastrophic in the future. Topics like oxidation, reduction, and minerality in wine are also discussed within this episode.
This episode is sponsored by:
NY Drinks NY Harvest Trips to the Finger Lakes, Long Island, and the Hudson Valley
David Ramey is the founder and co-owner of Ramey Wine Cellars and Sidebar Cellars, both based in Sonoma County, California.
David shares his career path in California wineries from Simi, to Matanzas Creek, Chalk Hill, Dominus Estate, Rudd Estate, and starting wine labels of his own. While discussing those various work experiences, David also shares what he learned at each point, and how this would evolve into his winemaking approach today. He goes grape variety by variety, explaining key aspects he has learned about each. David also gives his thoughts on winemaking topics such as whole cluster, malolactic conversion, reduction, oxidation, tannin management, infusion vs. extraction, barrel aging, and more. This episode gives a clear picture of how California winemaking has changed over the decades, and breaks down some key winemaking concepts.
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Benjamin Leroux is the proprietor of the Benjamin Leroux winery located in the town of Beaune, in the Burgundy region of France.
Benjamin explains how although his family was not in the wine business, he found himself working in a winery at a young age. He discusses his internships outside of Burgundy, at wineries in Oregon and Bordeaux, before talking about his start as the head winemaker at Comte Armand in the 1990s. Benjamin describes in detail the winemaking techniques he was using to make wine in Pommard during the nineties, and contrasts that with how he makes wine today and for the last several years at his own winery, also named Benjamin Leroux. He discusses what prompted him to make changes to his winemaking, and explains that every vintage must be approached as its own. Along the way, Benjamin addresses topics like hedging, organic farming, whole cluster, infusion vs. extration, and reduction. He also talks about some key vineyard areas of Burgundy, comparing and contrasting Vosne-Romanée with Gevrey-Chambertin, as well as Morey-Saint-Denis, and Chambolle-Musigny. Benjamin further talks about some appellations that he is particularly drawn to, like Blagny and Saint-Romain, as well as grape varieties like Aligoté.
This episode is sponsored by:
Joe Rochioli, Jr. owns the J. Rochioli Vineyards and Winery in California with his son Tom Rochioli and his family.
Joe describes the events on the family farm in the Russian River Valley of Sonoma County around the middle of the twentieth century, when there was a shift from growing various cash crops to growing more and more wine grapes. He discusses his decision to pursue more plantings of grape varieties like Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, and Pinot Noir on his acreage. And Joe talks about what he discovered when working with those grape varieties in the various areas of his vineyards. He also explains how the market for the grapes evolved over time. In particular, Joe describes his relationships with Davis Bynum, Williams Selyem, and Gary Farrell.
This episode is sponsored by:
Ken Wright is the founder and winemaker of Ken Wright Cellars, based in Carlton, Oregon.
Ken discusses his work with Dick Graff in the 1970s, and then explains why he decided to move from California to Oregon in the 1980s to pursue winemaking in Oregon. He gives a thorough explanation of the different rock types found in state, and the attributes that different sites bring to a resulting wine. He also goes into depth in explaining his own winemaking evolution, from working at Panther Creek, to starting Ken Wright Cellars in 1994. Along the way, Ken makes several connections between the winemaking and the farming, and explains how one is often the result of the other. In particular, he talks quite a bit about the phenomenon of reduction in a wine, something he tries to prevent. Ken further describes several key vintages for Oregon Pinot Noir, discussing the attributes of those years and their impact on his own thinking.
This episode is sponsored by:
NY Drinks NY Trip to the Finger Lakes Wine Region
Russell Hone lives and works in Burgundy, France with his wife Becky Wasserman.
Russell is one of the wine world's great characters, and this interview follows along with the various curves, shifts, and turns to the side of his life, going from England in the post-war years to Germany, Bordeaux, and then on to Burgundy in the 1980s until today. He recalls several encounters with a broad cast of characters from throughout his life, and along the way gives an account of how various wine regions and wines have changed over time. Specifically, there are many reminiscences about Burgundy and Burgundians, some famous and some not. Russell also testifies to a few of his other passions, including Sauternes and old vintage Port.
This episode is sponsored by:
NY Drinks NY Trip to the Finger Lakes Wine Region
Brenna Quigley is a geologist who does wine related consulting as a terroir specialist at brennaquigley.com
Brenna describes her unusual family connection to geology, and her entry into the wine world. She goes on to define key concepts in geology, such as what soil is, how it is formed, and the different types of rocks that are found in the world. Brenna describes the key rock formations of France, their history, and how they correspond to wine regions. She then discusses what the implications of different rock types are for vines, and takes a close look at specific wine areas, explaining what their distinguishing features are. Wine fans who would like to deepen their knowledge of wine and geology will find a lot to love about this episode.
This episode is sponsored by:
NY Drinks NY Grand Tasting in Manhattan
Sonoma Executive MBA in Wine Business at Sonoma State University
David Hirsch is the owner of Hirsch Vineyards, located in the Sonoma Coast of California.
David opens up about his travels across the United States and across the world in the 1960s and 1970s, and about what led him eventually to the outer reaches of the Sonoma Coast to plant a vineyard. He also reveals what he has learned about the farming of grapevines over the years. And he talks about some of the key people who shaped his thoughts as he became the owner of a vineyard, and then subsequently a winery. Famous names from both Burgundy and California winemaking make an appearance within this conversation, and David is both frank and funny in the reminiscences about his life.
This episode is sponsored by:
NY Drinks NY Grand Tasting in Manhattan
Sonoma Executive MBA in Wine Business at Sonoma State University
Pierre Morey works with his family at Domaine Pierre Morey and Maison Morey-Blanc, both based in the Burgundy village of Meursault, in France.
Pierre grew up farming some of the most renowned vineyards of Meursault, as his family worked as sharecroppers for the Lafon family. He discusses his experience working in and vinifying the fruit of vineyards like Le Montrachet, Meursault-Perrieres, Meursault-Genevrieres, and Meursault-Charmes. He also delves into his transition to Regisseur at Domaine Leflaive, which some have called the greatest white Burgundy domaine, and where he worked for two decades. Pierre describes a life in the vines and in the cellar, sharing many details of his work. He also opens up about the loss that he experienced in his own family, and how that affected his professional life. Those wanting details about famous Côte de Beaune crus and about the vinification of white Burgundy will find both in this interview, which also address the changes in farming that Pierre Morey witnessed during the course of his career.
This episode is sponsored by:
NY Drinks NY Grand Tasting in Manhattan
Sonoma Executive MBA in Wine Business at Sonoma State University
Joel Peterson is the Founder and Winemaker of the Ravenswood Winery, and the Founder and Winemaker of Once & Future Wine, both in California.
Joel describes his first moments with wine, tasting wine with his father and mother, and how that led later to his work with Joseph Swan. Joel talks at length about Swan and the early days of the Joseph Swan winery. Swan was making exemplary California Zinfandel, and Joel explains why he also chose to focus on Zinfandel at the winery he founded, Ravenswood. He recounts the humble beginnings of Ravenswood, an operation that would later become much larger after the market success that Joel found with the Ravenswood "Vintners Blend." That popular red wine was an introduction to Zinfandel as a red wine for many consumers at the time, countering the White Zinfandel trend of that moment. Joel discusses Zinfandel as a grape variety, and talks about several of the different old vine Zinfandel vineyards in California today. He also addresses the ups and downs that Zinfandel has encountered in the broader United States wine market, and its position today. Joel then shares his advice to someone starting out in the winemaking business right now.
This episode is sponsored by:
NY Drinks NY Grand Tasting in Manhattan
Sonoma Executive MBA in Wine Business at Sonoma State University
Jasper Morris is the author of the book "Inside Burgundy: The Vineyards, the Wine, & the People", as well as the website Jasper Morris Inside Burgundy.
Jasper gives both an overview of his own career as a wine importer and Burgundy specialist, and an overview of the vineyards of Burgundy. Jasper goes from north to south along the Côte d'Or, giving his unfiltered opinion about the different communes and crus along the way. Specific vineyards in Gevrey-Chambertin, Morey-Saint-Denis, Chambolle-Musigny, Vosne-Romanée, Nuits-Saint-Georges, the hill of Corton, Beaune, Pommard, Volnay, Meursault, Puligny-Montrachet, and Chassagne-Montrachet all are talked about in-depth. Jasper also addresses how Burgundy has changed since the 1970s, recalls visits to some of his favorite producers, and discusses some of the important topics in the bigger Burgundy conversation today. Those topics include winemaking style shifts, the market for the wines, premox, clones, and changes in the vineyard work in the region.
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Luis Seabra is the proprietor and winemaker at Luis Seabra Vinhos, producing dry wines from the Douro Valley and the Vinho Verde regions of Portugal.
Luis discusses his beginnings working as a plant specialist at an university, his work doing vineyard trials for the Portuguese government, the nine years that he made dry wines at the house of Niepoort, and on to the founding of his own winery. Over the course of the interview Luis takes up all kinds of topics relating to Portuguese wine, such as vine material, grape varieties, the soil types in different areas, historical wine blending practices, and the winemaking norms in differnet parts of the country, as well as how those have changed over time. He explains the evolution in his own thinking concerning both winemaking and vineyard practices. Luis clearly illustrates what he means by contrasting his own thoughts and techniques with the dominant thinking in the surrounding area. Those wanting a deep dive into topics like whole cluster, skin maceration, pressing, and élevage, will find Luis a capable guide. He also discusses the different character of recent vintages for his own wines.
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Jeanne-Marie de Champs is the proprietor of Domaines et Saveurs Collection, an exporter of Burgundy and other wines from France. She is based in Beaune.
Jeanne-Marie discusses arriving in Burgundy from the Loire Valley, and the situation for Burgundy in the 1970s and 1980s. She explains why she started her own business exporting wines, and the changes in the American wine market that were happening as she was developing her own business. Jeanne-Marie highlights some of the vigneron in Burgundy who helped her learn about that region, and recalls notable vintages. She also explains her philosophy for choosing wines, and points out some appellations of Burgundy that she finds particularly appealing today. There is also a sense given of how Burgundy, and the reception for the wines from there, has changed over the years.
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Ehren Jordan is the proprietor of the Failla winery, which specializes in Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Syrah from California and now also Oregon. Ehren is also the owner of the Day wine label, working with Zinfandel.
Ehren discusses his decision to work increasingly with fruit from Oregon vineyards, while comparing and contrasting those with the vineyards he is familiar with in California. He also addresses aspects of his winemaking in Oregon, in terms of technique. Reduction in wine is something that he talks about at length. Ehren also highlights his interest in working with Gamay, Savagnin, Syrah, and other grape varieties from Oregon, in addition to Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. There is also a consideration for what the wine market is today within this conversation, and what the current market means for both the production and sales possibilities for wines from both Oregon and California. Day, which is Ehren's Zinfandel project, is also discussed.
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Jean-Pierre de Smet was a co-founder and partner in Domaine de l'Arlot, the winery based in the Nuits-Saint-Georges appellation. Jean-Pierre retired from l'Arlot in 2007, and has since that time been helping his friend Didier Fornerol make the Domaine Didier Fornerol wines, also in France's Burgundy region.
Jean-Pierre provides key insights into a number of Burgundy winemaking techniques, and also about the people he knew and has worked alongside with in Burgundy since the 1970s. Jean-Pierre is very clear about the influences on him of people like Jacques Seysses (Domaine Dujac), Anne-Claude Leflaive (Domaine Leflaive), and Patrick Bize (Domaine Simon Bize), and how he integrated their ideas and help into his own work at Domaine de l'Arlot. There are numerous details provided about topics like whole cluster, the speed of a fermentation, vine training, the vintages of the 1980s and 1990s, the nature of Nuits-Saint-Georges and Vosne-Romanée crus, white vs. red winemaking, and climate change. Jean-Pierre also gives a clear picture of the Burgundy community of the 1980s, and of a group of vigneron who would go on to become famous names in the region and across the world. Those who want to understand the history of Burgundy from the 1970s through to today would benefit from listening to this episode.
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Maggie Harrison is a partner in the Antica Terra winery in the Willamette Valley of Oregon, where she is also the winemaker. Maggie also makes the Lillian wines from California fruit.
Maggie discusses her first winery job working at Sine Qua Non, the development of her approach to each step of the winemaking process, and what she sees as the difference between Oregon and California wine areas. She also explains her thoughts on blending wine, and what she is looking for at the blending table and before that at the wine press. Maggie further talks about the particularities of Antica Terra vineyard, and what she has learned working with it.
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Esther Mobley is the wine writer for the "San Francisco Chronicle."
Esther talks about her previous work at "Wine Spectator" magazine, how her approach to writing has evolved since joining the "San Francisco Chronicle", and what she has found compelling amongst the stories and issues surrounding California wine today. Esther also shares a lot of insight into how she goes about her job for the "Chronicle" and how she views her work as different from her predecessors at that newspaper.
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Louis-Benoit Desvignes and his sister Claude-Emmanuelle Desvignes work together at Domaine Louis-Claude Desvignes in Morgon, in the Beaujolais area of France.
Louis-Benoit discusses the challenges of the climate, the farming, and the market for a producer of Morgon wines today. He describes a changing area that is inheriting great vine material and building on the the hard work of previous generations, but also actively searching for approaches to address a different set of problems. Louis-Benoit details the changeable nature of the harvest in Beaujolais, explaining the work that has been required in different recent vintages. He also explains the character of the different parcels of land that he and his sister farm, such as the Côte du Py and Javernières. There is in addition a lot of discussion in this interview around the particularities of how the Desvignes family make wine, and what some of those techniques imply.
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Erin Scala speaks with Burgundy vigneron devoted to the Aligoté grape variety and explores the challenges and rewards associated with Aligoté today.
Erin narrates a tour of Burgundy cellars and vineyards, piecing together conversations with multiple vigneron to find a through thread for Aligoté.
This episode contains interviews and commentary from vigneron and wine professionals working with Aligoté, including:
This episode is sponsored by:
This episode was made possible with the assistance of:
António Maçanita is involved with several wine projects throughout Portugal, including Fitapreta in the Alentejo, Maçanita Vinhos in the Douro Valley, and the Azores Wine Company on the Azores Islands.
António discusses the rapid change that is happening on the island of Pico, as hundreds of hectares of vineyard are being replanted after over a century of decline. He explains the winemaking history of the area, and points to the reasons why there is a resurgence in interest in grape vines on Pico, an island in the Azores. António also uses his knowledge of old texts to provide commentary on the changes. He further discusses the Alentejo region, and the winemaking history of that zone, while detailing the characteristics of some of that area's signature grape varieties. And António divulges the unorthodox approach that he is taking to winemaking in the Douro Valley of Portugal. This interview provides both an overview of important Portuguese wine regions, and an analysis of how they have changed over time.
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Arvid Rosengren is the Wine Director of Legacy Records, the restaurant in Manhattan. He won the World's Best Sommelier title in 2016.
Arvid shares his memories of growing up in a household of limited means, and what that brought later in his life to his attitude as a competitor and a working sommelier. He recalls his wine studies in Sweden, and his work in restaurants in both Denmark and Sweden before his move to New York. He also recounts the process of winning the World's Best Sommelier Competition, and what he did to train and compete in that event. Now looking back, Arvid reveals some of his thoughts about sommelier competitions as well.
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Lee Hudson is the owner of Hudson Ranch and Vineyards, in California's Carneros district.
Lee recalls his early days in Texas and in France, as well as the experience of working the 1975 harvest in Burgundy at Domaine Dujac. Lee describes founding his own ranch and vineyard in California, and gives a grape by grape guide to different grape variety characteristics and how the ways they are grown can affect them. Those interested in Chardonnay, Syrah, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Grenache, and Pinot Noir will find a lot to learn from what Lee has to say about how those grapes behave in the vineyard. Lee also discusses his classmates at the University of California, Davis, many of whom have gone on to notable careers in wine in the decades since they were in school with Lee.
Will Predhomme operates Predhomme, Inc. a wine communications firm based in Toronto, Canada. He is also a partner in Pearce Predhomme, a wine label sourcing wines from Oregon and South Africa.
Will traces his history with restaurants and wine, from humble beginnings in Windsor, Ontario to sommelier jobs in Calgary and Toronto. He discusses how his goals changed over time, and how he approached a transition off the floor and into working for himself. Will addresses the potential pratfalls of self-employment, and describes why someone who has worked within the sommelier culture might not want to leave it behind. Real life examples are provided to illustrate the points made to those looking to make a move off the restaurant floor.
James Conaway is the author of "Napa: The Story of an American Eden", "The Far Side of Eden: New Money, Old Land, and the Battle for Napa Valley", and "Napa at Last Light: America's Eden in an Age of Calamity," a trilogy of books about wine and wineries in California's Napa Valley.
James argues that serious changes are needed if the Napa Valley is to survive as an agricultural eden in the future. He points out threats to the Valley from climate change, limited resources, increased vineyard and winery development, and an emphasis on welcoming more and more tourists to the area. He explains that for him wine has a moral component which is often ignored, and argues that a wine choice is also a political choice.
Dominique Tourneix is the Director General of DIAM Bouchage, a company specializing in reconstructed cork closures for wine.
Dominique discusses the causes of cork taint in wine and the presence of volatile compounds within traditional cork. He examines the part that wine cork plays in both preventing and allowing for the oxidation of wine, as well as the useful life of a cork. He also explains the alternative solution that his company offers to the traditional wine cork, and how it can be seen as a winemaking tool. Dominique further gives an overview of the global market for wine closures, comparing the relative attributes and market share of synthetic closures, screwcap, traditional cork, and reconstructed corks like DIAM.
Enrico Pozzesi is the owner of Fattoria Rodano, the winery located within Castellina in Chianti, in Tuscany, Italy.
Enrico discusses his wines and vineyard property in this episode, as well as the varying conditions that were presented by different vintages. He also discusses his friendship with an advisor to his winery, Giulio Gambelli. Gambelli in the years since his death has become a legendary figure, known for his incredible wine tasting ability and for the wines he helped create at many properties, including Rodano, Case Basse, Montevertine, and Bibbiano. Though mostly unheralded during his own lifetime, Gambelli is now considered one of the most important figures in the history of Tuscan wine. Enrico recalls many details from Gambelli's life and work in this interview.
Anne Parent and her sister Catherine run Domaine Parent, based in the Burgundy village of Pommard. They also control the micro-négociant known as Jacques Parent et Compagnie.
Anne describes the differences between the key crus of Pommard, relating how Pommard Epenots is distinct from Pommard Les Rugiens. She also describes her vineyard holdings on the hill of Corton. Anne recounts the difficulties of recent vintages in the area, and discloses some of her favorite years for her wines. She talks about different vineyard and winemaking decisions that have resulted from the conditions of varying harvests, and gives her opinion about the effect climate change has had in the region of the Côte de Beaune.
Ray Coursen is the owner and founding winemaker of Elyse Winery as well as Jacob Franklin Wines, in California's Napa Valley. He is also involved with winemaking for Purple Heart Wines, benefiting the Purple Heart Foundation.
Ray relates how he arrived in the Napa Valley in the 1980s, and shares conversations he had with several wine world figures at that time. He discusses the history of some key vineyard sites, as well as the attributes of numerous grape varieties that he works with. Ray also divulges some of his unusual winemaking techniques. Further, Ray points out what has changed in the Napa Valley over the last several decades.
Chisa Bize runs Domaine Simon Bize et Fils in Burgundy's Savigny-les-Beaune with the help of her sister-in-law, Marielle Grivot.
Chisa describes her own upbringing in Tokyo, and explains how a chance meeting with Patrick Bize led her to Burgundy, where she is now in charge of the Bize family domaine. Chisa details the differences between the various crus that Bize cultivates, and explains how her approach to farming has shifted over time. She also shares her thoughts on personal growth in response to some tough recent events.
Aldo Vacca is the Managing Director of the Produttori del Barbaresco, in the Barbaresco zone of Italy's Piemonte region.
Aldo discusses the foundations of Barbaresco as a delimited zone, and talks about the origins of the Produttori del Barbaresco. He gives a sense of how the winemaking at the Produttori has evolved over time. He also describes the characteristics of some of the important crus of the Barbaresco area, and addresses the differences between some recent vintages and those of the past. While explaining how Barbaresco has developed over the course of a century and more, Aldo points out some of the key changes that have occurred in the region.
Jean Gonon works with his brother Pierre at Domaine Pierre Gonon in the Northern Rhône Valley of France, within the Saint-Joseph appellation.
Jean speaks about the importance of farming, vine selection, and constant care in this discussion, while asserting that the winemaking that follows is quite simple. He also gives a history of Saint-Joseph as an appellation, and as a terroir. Jean explains why his wines taste as they do, in relation to where they come from and the type of vines involved. And he gives his impressions of different grape varieties, like Syrah, Marsanne, Roussanne, and Chasselas.
Dominique Lafon is the Managing Director of Domaine des Comtes Lafon, with cellars in the Burgundy village of Meursault. Dominique also founded the Mâcon winery Les Héritiers du Comte Lafon, and the Burgundy négociant label Dominique Lafon. He consults in Oregon at Lingua Franca Wines.
Dominique discusses his firsthand meetings with some of the greats of Burgundy of a previous generation, people like Henri Jayer, Pierre Ramonet, Gérard Potel, and Hubert de Montille. He also assesses the contribution of his own generation in Burgundy, and talks about the importance of his stint working for Becky Wasserman. Dominique relates the qualities of the Meursault, Beaune, and Volnay crus he vinifies, and gives his observations about the Montrachet vineyard. He gives his opinion on the merits of various cellar techniques, and talks about what is important to him in his own winery and vineyard work in the Côte de Beaune, the Mâcon, and in Oregon.
Erin Scala explores the renaissance of winemaking happening today on the Greek island of Crete.
Erin narrates a tour through the Crete wine regions near the towns of Heraklion, Chania, and Sitia, and gets answers about grape varieties like Vidiano, Thrapsathiri, Malvasia di Candia, Kotsifali, Liatiko, Plyto, and more.
This episode contains interviews with winemakers and wine professionals working on Crete, including:
Nikos Douloufakis (Douloufakis Winery)
Antonis Dourakis (Dourakis Winery)
Zacharias Diamandakis (Diamandakis Winery)
Abbot Filotheos Spanoudakis (Toplou Monastery)
John Masaoutis (Oenologist)
Yiannis Stilianou (Stilianou Winery)
Nikos Paraskevas (Paraskevas Winery)
Bart Lyrarakis (Lyrarakis Winery)
Afshin Molavi (Manousakis Winery)
Nikos Gavalas (Gavalas Winery)
Maria Tamiolakis (Rhous Winery)
Patrick Comiskey is a wine writer for "Wine & Spirits" Magazine as well as the "Los Angeles Times." He is also the author of the book "American Rhône: How Maverick Winemakers Changed the Way Americans Drink."
Patrick recounts the origins of Rhône grape varieties like Syrah, Grenache, Mourvedre, Viognier, Marsanne, and Roussanne in America, and points out some of the winemakers who brought those varieties to prominence in California and Washington State. He provides a timeline for the development of those Rhône grapes in the United States, and discusses some of the market successes and challenges for the wines made from them.
Samuel Guibert is a co-owner and winemaker at the Mas de Daumas Gassac winery, in the Languedoc region of France.
Samuel goes into detail about the unusual red and white wines of Mas de Daumas Gassac, a winery that blends Pinot Noir, Nebbiolo, Tannat and a number of other grape varieties together with Cabernet Sauvignon for their red. Samuel explains the setting of the individual vineyards that compose Mas de Daumas Gassac, the wine history of the surrounding Languedoc region, and the evolution of the winemaking at his winery.
Lodovico Antinori is a partner in Tenuta di Biserno, in the Maremma area of Tuscany, and was the founder of Ornellaia in Bolgheri. He is also a partner in Tenuta Campo di Sasso.
Lodovico is open and frank in his assessment of his career, discussing his family's position within Tuscan wine, his own important trip to California, and the rise of Super Tuscan wines like Ornellaia. He describes founding Ornellaia with the help of Andre Tchelistcheff, the later influence of Michel Rolland, and the rise to fame of Ornellaia and Masseto. He then discusses what led him to sell Ornellaia to the Robert Mondavi company, and his current projects in the Maremma of Tuscany, in Italy.
Peter Liem is the publisher of ChampagneGuide.net, as well as the author of the book "Champagne: The Essential Guide to the Wines, Producers, and Terroirs of the Iconic Region".
Peter Liem returns to the show for an interview about Champagne. Peter has been tasting the wines of Champagne professionally for twenty years, and has lived in that region for the last ten years. In this interview he discusses the terroirs of the Champagne region, and gives tips for better evaluating the wines.
Doug Frost is both a Master Sommelier and a Master of Wine, who resides in Kansas City, Missouri. Doug does wine and spirits consulting in a range of fields, and works as a wine writer.
Doug reflects on his career in restaurants, distribution, writing, and consulting in this conversation, touching on his varied adventures in the wine and spirits trade. He remembers cellar visits in the Rhone Valley, describes the wine scene in Kansas City over the years, and speaks to the changes within the Master Sommelier program. He also articulates his thoughts on hospitality, service, and tasting.
Victor Hazan wrote the book "Italian Wine", which was published in 1982. He also co-wrote several Italian cookbooks with his wife, the late Marcella Hazan.
Victor Hazan speaks about his lifelong search for authentic Italian ingredients and expressions, an ethusiasm he shared with his wife of many years, Marcella Hazan. Victor details the start of his wine writing career, and confesses why he left off writing his second book on Italian wine. He also provides portraits of some of the key vintners he met along his travels, such as Antonio Mastroberardino and Renato Ratti.
Becky Wasserman-Hone is the founder and co-director of Becky Wasserman & Co., an exporter of wines from Burgundy and other regions of France and Europe.
Becky looks back on her career in this interview, and talks about what would be become a key period for Burgundy, as it increasingly found an audience amongst American consumers. She also recalls some of the keys friends and mentors she made along the way, including Michel Lafarge, Gerard Potel, Hubert de Montille, Lalou Bize-Leroy, Aubert de Villaine, Richard Olney, and others. And Becky divulges her personal descriptions of key Burgundy communes, such as Gevrey-Chambertin, Flagey-Echezeaux, Vougeot, Nuits-Saint-Georges, Vosne-Romanee, Beaune, Volnay, Chambolle-Musigny, and more.
Bill Easton is the proprietor and winemaker at both Easton Wines and Domaine de la Terre Rouge in Amador County, California.
Bill describes an era of post-Prohibition California winemaking that has largely disappeared, and explains why he decided to pioneer Rhone grape varieties in a corner of the state that was little known. Bill also is frank about his stylistic choices, and his decision not to embrace the fashionable 1990s style of big wines.
Totte Steneby is the Beverage Manager of Portal Restaurant in Stockholm, Sweden. He is also an importer of Burgundy wine into Sweden, and a European brand ambassador for both the Sandhi and Domaine de la Cote wineries of California.
A former child actor, Totte Steneby discusses his sommelier career, having worked at a number of top restaurants in Sweden. He shares some of the difficult moments he has experienced during restaurant work as well, including one hard opening gone wrong. Totte also describes the Swedish wine market, which has dramatically changed in recent years.
Gianluca Garofoli works with his family at the Garofoli winery, in the Marche region of Italy.
Gianluca Garofoli discusses in-depth the wine history of the Marche, as well as the native grape varieties Verdicchio and Montepulciano. This conversation is an insider's guide to the Castelli di Jesi sub-zone of the Marche, and Gianluca provides rich detail about the winemaking there. Vineyard characteristics, vine training, weather conditions, soil types, vintages, and winemaking styles are all covered, as well as the changes in the wines of region over time.
Giampaolo Venica works with his family at the Venica winery, in the Friuli region of Italy.
Giampaolo Venica describes the Friuli as a region that has changed significantly in recent decades, and which is still in flux today. He notes the many changes in grape plantings and wine styles within the Collio, and questions what types of wines from the Friuli may find resonance with consumers in the future.
Marchese Umberto Fracassi Ratti Mentone is the sole producer of a Barolo from the Cherasco sub-zone of Italy's Piemonte region. His family has owned vineyard land in the Cherasco area for centuries, and the Marchese, who is now over 80 years old, tends to the family parcel at the edge of the Barolo zone.
This is a rare encounter with the Marchese, who rarely grants interviews. The conversation ranges across decades and even centuries of history in the Piemonte, covering the Roman period, the reign of the Savoy Dukes, World War II, and the great growth of Barolo production in the last few decades.
Stephen Brook is a prolific author of anthologies, travel books, and a wide range of wine books published over the last thirty years, including "The Complete Bordeaux," "The Wines of Germany," "The Wines of California," "Wine People," "The Wines of Austria," and "Bordeaux: People, Power, and Politics." Stephen has also been a Contributing Editor to Decanter Magazine since 1996.
Stephen revisits his wine writing career in this interview, recounting his adventures and undertakings in several different wine producing countries, and recognizing how those places and the people he has met have changed over time. He also takes a look at the generation he has been a part of within British wine writing, and considers what happens next in his own career and for wine writing generally.
Elena Pantaleoni is the proprietor of the La Stoppa winery in Italy's Emilia.
Elena Pantaleoni was pulling out international grape varieties from her vineyard in the mid-1990s, just when the acclaim for such wines was highest. And she embraced a Natural wine approach long before it became fashionable in the market. Why did she make those moves? Elena discusses in this interview the decision making that has set her apart from the pack in the Emilia and in Italy. In the end, she says, she didn't want to copy someone else from someplace else.
Christian Moueix is the president of Etablissements Jean-Pierre Moueix, based on the Right Bank of Bordeaux, France. He oversees several properties in Pomerol and Saint-Emilion, including Chateau La Fleur-Petrus, Chateau Trotanoy, and Chateau Hosanna. Christian is also the owner of the Dominus Estate and Ulysses wineries in the Napa Valley of California.
Christian opens up about his family life and career in this interview, touching on the post-war era of Pomerol, through the 1980s in Napa Valley - which turned out to be a fulcrum period of change for that region - and up through his recent business dealings and purchases in both California and Bordeaux. Fans of Chateau Petrus will find plenty of insight from Christian about that wine in this interview, as he discusses his forty years overseeing the property. Those curious about wineries that he owns today will also find plenty of detail, as well as many amazing anecdotes.
Victoria James is the Wine Director of Piora restaurant, in New York City's West Village, and the co-author of "Drink Pink: A Celebration of Rosé".
Victoria discusses her shift from diner waitress to fine dining sommelier, and opens up about the process of co-authoring a book with a new boyfriend. This episode will take you to all sorts of unexpected places, including Piemonte's Saluzzo, a lunch table in Provence, into a legendary Lower Manhattan wine cellar, and ringside for a knife fight at a Greek diner.
Michael Garner co-authored the book "Barolo: Tar and Roses - A Study of the Wines of Alba" and is writing the forthcoming "Amarone and the Fine Wines of Verona".
Michael Garner helped write one of the classic texts on the Piemonte and Barolo. In this episode Michael narrates a lively journey through his meetings with Giovanni Conterno, Bartolo Mascarello, Violante Sobrero, Luciano Sandrone, Lorenzo Accomasso, Beppe Colla, and many more Great names and personalities of the Langhe region in Italy. Plus Michael provides a bonus sneak peek on the topics of his forthcoming book, "Amarone and the Fine Wines of Verona," giving an overview of the wines of Valpolicella and Soave.
Beppe Colla, who was born in 1930, literally defined what Barolo is today through his work at the Prunotto winery in the Piemonte of Italy. Beppe Colla was one of the first to introduce single vineyard Barolo to consumers, and he helped lay down the guidelines that shape the wines of the region today. This is a rare interview with Beppe Colla, who is now blind and lives in retirement.
Steven Spurrier is a Consulting Editor for Decanter Magazine. Steven is famed for conducting the "Paris Tasting" of 1976, wherein wines from California bested the French in a blind tasting. He discusses that day in May '76 in this episode, providing a front row seat to what happened. He also shares surprising details from his life before and after.
Alessandro Masnaghetti is the editor of Enogea, a wine newsletter that has published several groundbreaking maps of wine regions.
Alessandro discusses how he went from nuclear engineer to mapman, and the influence that Italian wine journalist Luigi Veronelli had on his career. He also talks about Beppe Colla, a key figure in the history of the Piemonte, and discusses the rationale for focusing on specific crus from that region. And Alessandro gives some well thought out advice to those looking to better understand the crus of Barolo and Barbaresco.
Erin Scala delves into the evolving conversation around whole cluster, one of the biggest questions in winemaking. One hundred percent whole cluster? Not all wines are, but this episode sure is.
Why might a winemaker choose to use the stems, as well as the grapes, in their winemaking? Or why might they discard those stems? Erin Scala looks at the reasoning presented by some key winemakers from around the world.
This episode features interviews with:
Jean-Nicolas Meo of Meo-Camuzet (Burgundy)
Audert de Villaine of Domaine de la Romanée-Conti (Burgundy)
Jeremy Seysses of Domaine Dujac (Burgundy)
Greg Harrington of Gramercy Cellars (Washington State)
Mark Vlossak of St. Innocent (Oregon)
Sashi Moorman of Domaine de la Côte, Sandhi, Piedrasassi and others (CA & Oregon)
John Lockwood of Enfield Wine Co. (California)
Kate McIntyre of Moorooduc Estate (Victoria, Australia)
Ronnie Sanders of Vine Street Imports
Frederic Lafarge operates Domaine Michel Lafarge with his family, with cellars located in the Burgundian town of Volnay, in France. Frederic and his wife Chantal also recently began the Lafarge-Vial domaine, with holdings in the Beaujolais crus of Fleurie, Chiroubles, and Cote de Brouilly.
In this interview Frederic goes deep into the explanation of his winemaking for the various crus and grape varieties (including Pinot Noir, Gamay, Chardonnay, and Aligote Doree) that he works with. There are several surprising revelations, and Frederic explains quite well why, for example, he chooses to use stems with Gamay when he avoids them for Pinot Noir, and his thinking about the different crus. This interview comes full circle when Frederic describes how a technique he started using in 2015 is the same method that was used at the family domaine in the early 20th century, before his own father was born.
Randall Restiano is the Wine Director of the Eli Zabar restaurant group as well as the Eli's List retail shop in Manhattan.
Randall Restiano discusses wine buying strategies for restaurants and for retail. He suggests finding out what you don't like, thinking for the long term, being careful about large purchases, and focusing in on no more than two countries of origin for wine. Randall also has several principles that he keeps in mind when he evaluates every potential wine purchase. He shares those principles and more from his personal experience of wine buying in this interview.
Patricio Tapia is the author of the "Descorchados" wine guide to South America. He is also a Senior Correspondent for "Wine & Spirits" Magazine, responsible for covering the wines of Argentina, Chile, and Spain.
Patricio Tapia describes both the history and the future for wine in South America, looking at each generation of siginificant winemakers in Argentina and Chile, and discussing the diversity of grape varieties, winemaking methods, and regions across Argentina, Chile, Brazil, and Uruguay. Patricio makes clear that each country is distinctly different, with an individual history of immigration shaping the realities for the different sectors today. And he points out some regions that may become better known for quality wines in the future.
Marika Vida-Arnold is the Wine Director of the Ritz-Carlton Central Park New York City and also has her own consulting business, Vida et Fils.
In episode 412, Marika Vida-Arnold discusses her strategies for balancing sommelier work with her priorities as a mother of two children. How does she find balance with her schedule, commitments, and budgets to best get to the sort of life she wants for herself and her family? What are the important ins and outs of working with wine in a luxury hotel? And what needs to be kept in mind when operating as a wine consultant? Marika addresses all of those topics, and gives plenty of straight from the heart advice to those parents who have made wine their career.
Arnaud Lambert manages Chateau de Breze and Domaine de Saint-Just in the Loire Valley of France.
Philippe Newlin is Head of Duclot La Vinicole USA, the importer and distributor of Bordeaux wines from France.
Erin Scala takes a tour of Syrah and Grenache vineyards throughout California, and talks with winemakers working with Rhone grape varieties in that state.
The following winemakers and vineyard professionals are interviewed within this episode:
Chris Pittenger (Skinner Vineyards)
Gideon Beinstock (Clos Saron)
Randall Grahm (Bonny Doon Vineyard)
David Gates, Jr. (Ridge Vineyards)
Bob Lindquist (Qupe)
Ryan Roark (Roark Wine Company)
William Allen (Two Shepherds)
Larry Schaffer (Tercero Wines)
Fred Merwarth is the winemaker and vineyard manager at Hermann J. Wiemer Vineyard, a winery and vine nursery in the Finger Lakes of New York State that Fred also co-owns.
Larry Stone returns to the show to speak about his Lingua Franca winery and LS Vineyards, both located in Oregon.
Stefano Almondo works with his family at Giovanni Almondo, a producer in the Roero zone of Italy's Piemonte.
Frederic Mugnier is the proprietor of Domaine Jacques-Frederic Mugnier, located in the Burgundy village of Chambolle-Musigny, in France.
Ehren Jordan is the proprietor of the Failla winery, located in St. Helena, California.
Heidi Schrock runs the Heidi Schrock winery with her family in Rust, within Austria.
Bill Nesto and Frances Di Savino are co-authors of "The World of Sicilian Wine", as well as "Chianti Classico: The Search for Tuscany's Noblest Wine".
Katie Parla returns to I'll Drink to That! to discuss the situation for wine and other alcoholic beverages in Turkey today.
Regular listeners of I'll Drink to That! discuss some of their favorite episodes, and Erin Scala tracks down signature clips from those interviews.
Erwan Faiveley runs Domaine Faiveley as well as Maison Joseph Faiveley, both based in the town of Nuits-Saint-Georges in Burgundy, France. He also runs Domaine Billaud-Simon in Chablis.
Aldo Vaira, together with his family, runs the G.D. Vajra winery in Piemonte's Barolo zone.
Also in this episode, Erin Scala takes a look at grape varieties that are outliers in their areas.
David White is the founder of Terroirist.com and the author of "But First, Champagne: A Modern Guide to the World's Favorite Wine".
Hardy Wallace returns to the show to discuss his work for Dirty & Rowdy in California, as well as his new side project, called Clothing Optional.
Also in this episode, Erin Scala gives a contemporary survey of the world's Mourvedre options.
Cristiana Tiberio works with her family at Tiberio, a winery in Abruzzo, Italy.
Clement Baraut was a longtime consultant in the Loire Valley of France before starting Domaine Clement Baraut to pursue Savennieres and Grolleau wines of his own.
Haley Moore is Wine & Spirits Director of the Stock & Bones Company, a group of restaurants located in San Francisco, Oakland, and Portland, Oregon.
Isabelle Legeron is the author of the book "Natural Wine: An Introduction to Organic and Biodynamic Wines Made Naturally," and the founder of the RAW WINE fair.
Vittorio Fiore and his family own the Poggio Scalette winery in Tuscany as well as Castelluccio in Romagna, Italy.
Ben Howkins is a founding director of the Royal Tokaji Wine Company in Hungary.
Also in this episode, Erin Scala discusses Tokaji wines.
Corrado Dottori and his family run the La Distesa winery in the Marche of Italy.
Also in this episode, Erin Scala considers the migration of the Verdicchio grape to the Marche.
Jane Anson is the Bordeaux correspondent for "Decanter" magazine.
Martina Barosio works with her family at the Scarpa winery in Nizza Monferrato, within Italy's Piemonte region.
Also in this episode, Erin Scala retraces a timeline of Nizza Monferrato.
Mathieu Deiss works with his father at Domaine Marcel Deiss in Alsace, France.
Also in this episode, Erin Scala charts some of the history of Bergheim, in Alsace.
Hugh Johnson has been an author and editor of wine articles and books for over 50 years. His books include "The World Atlas of Wine," "A Life Uncorked," "Hugh Johnson's Pocket Wine Book," "Hugh Johnson On Wine," and "Wine". He also hosted and produced the PBS TV program "Vintage: A History of Wine".
Marie Vayron is a sommelier at Le Bernardin restaurant in Manhattan. Her family owns Château Bourgneuf in the Pomerol area of Bordeaux, France.
Mario Andrion is the enologist at Castello di Verduno, located within Piemonte's Barolo zone in the town of Verduno.
Also in this episode, Erin Scala explores the Pelaverga grape variety.
Ernest Ifkovitz is a partner in PortoVino, an importer of Italian wines into the United States.
Cristiano Garella is a partner in the Alto Piemonte's Colombera & Garella winery, as well as a consultant for many other wineries in that region of Italy.
Also in this episode, Erin Scala explores the shift in vineyard plantings within the Alto Piemonte.
Giacomo Conterno works with his family at Poderi Aldo Conterno, a winery located in the Monforte d'Alba area of Piemonte's Barolo zone.
Maria Teresa Mascarello is the proprietor of Cantina Bartolo Mascarello, in the Barolo area of Italy's Piemonte region.
Marta Rinaldi works with her family at the Giuseppe Rinaldi winery in the Barolo area of Italy's Piemonte.
Also in this episode, Erin Scala delves into Freisa.
Claude de Nicolay co-manages her family's Burgundy domaine, Chandon de Briailles in Savigny-lès-Beaune.
Also in this episode, Erin Scala explores the wines of Pernand-Vergelesses in Burgundy, France.
Lingzi He is a freelance journalist living in Bordeaux, who also has traveled and studied extensively in Italy.
Anselmo Guerrieri Gonzaga, along with his father Carlo, manages Tenuta San Leonardo, in Italy's Trentino-Alto Adige.
Also in this episode, Erin Scala explores when Cabernet might first have been brought to Italy.
Marco Tinessa creates Ognostro by sourcing grapes from Italy's Campania and fermenting them on Mount Etna in Sicily.
Luca Currado returns to the show to discuss recent changes at the Vietti winery in the Barolo area of Piemonte, Italy.
Mariel Wega is the Wine Director of a.kitchen + bar in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Abrie Beeslaar is the winemaker for Kanonkop and Beeslaar, both in the Stellenbosch of South Africa.
Also in this episode, Erin Scala explains how the threat of scurvy helped set in motion the South African wine trade.
Aaron Miller is the winemaker at the PlumpJack Winery in the Napa Valley of California.
Ampelio Bucci is the proprietor of the Bucci winery in the Marche of Italy.
Also in this episode, Erin Scala gives an introduction to Le Marche.
Kimberly Prokoshyn is the Head Sommelier and wine buyer at Rebelle restaurant in Manhattan.
Jean-Nicolas Méo is the proprietor of Méo-Camuzet in Burgundy, and a partner in the Nicolas-Jay winery in Oregon.
Also in this episode, Erin Scala gives a history of Richebourg.
Joy Kull is a co-owner of La Villana wines in Gradoli, Italy.
Bruce Tyrrell is the Managing Director of Tyrrell's Wines, based in the Hunter Valley of Australia's New South Wales.
Also in this episode, Erin Scala examines Australian Semillon.
Alex Sanchez works with the Brovia sisters at the Brovia family winery in the Piemonte, Italy.
Also in this episode, Erin Scala charts the rise of single vineyard Barolo.
Danny Meyer is the CEO of the Union Square Hospitality Group, responsible for restaurants like Union Square Cafe, Gramercy Tavern, Maialino, The Modern, Blue Smoke and others located in New York City and around the world.
Olivier Humbrecht is the proprietor of Zind-Humbrecht, the winery of his family in the Alsace region of France.
Also in this episode, Erin Scala talks soil types and war in Alsace.
Dan Petroski is the winemaker for Larkmead and the owner of Massican, both wineries based in the Napa Valley of California.
Also in this episode, Erin Scala discusses some of the unintended consequences of Prohibition.
Sam Ehrlich is the Wine Director of the Blue Ribbon Restaurant Group, based in New York City.
Nicoletta Bocca is the proprietor of the San Fereolo winery, in the Dogliani zone of the Piemonte in Italy.
Also in this episode, Erin Scala examines the hierarchies we place grape varieties into.
Tom Peters is the proprietor of the Monk's Cafe, the Belgian beer bar in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Daniel Brunier is a partner in the Vieux Télégraphe and Domaine la Roquète wineries in Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Les Pallières in Gigondas, and Château Massaya in Lebanon.
Angelo Gaja is the proprietor, with his family, of the Gaja winery in Piemonte, as well as the Ca' Marcanda and Pieve Santa Restituta wineries in Tuscany, Italy.
Charles Philipponnat is the Director of the Philipponnat Champagne house, in the Champagne region of France.
Also in this episode, Erin Scala discusses the situation for the Champagne region during World War I.
Ian D'Agata is the Scientific Director of the Vinitaly International Academy, the author of the book "Native Wine Grapes of Italy," and a contributor to both Vinous Media and Decanter Magazine.
Andy Erickson is the co-owner of Favia Wines with his wife Annie Favia, and a winemaking consultant for a number of Napa Valley wineries, including Mayacamas and Dalla Valle Vineyards.
Also in this episode, Erin Scala talks tannic bonding.
Jean-Louis Chave is the proprietor of Domaine Jean-Louis Chave and Jean-Louis Chave Selection, working within appellations of the Northern Rhône Valley of France.
Also in this episode, Erin Scala outlines the hill of Hermitage.
Christian Seely is the Managing Director of AXA Millésimes, the wine properties of AXA. In this interview he largely discusses Quinta do Noval, located in Portugal's Douro Valley.
Alexandre Thienpont oversees Vieux Château Certan in the Pomerol region of Bordeaux. François Thienpont is the founder of Wings, a wine trading company focused on the wines of Bordeaux.
Also in this episode, Erin Scala recounts some decisive events that occurred in 1956.
Erin Scala hosts an exploration of winemaking in the state of Virginia for a special episode of I'll Drink to That!
The following people are featured in this episode:
Ben Jordan, Winemaker at Early Mountain Vineyards & producer of War & Rust
Jake Busching, Winemaker at Michael Shaps Wineworks
Joy Ting, Enologist at Michael Shaps Wineworks
Michael Shaps, head honcho at Michael Shaps Wineworks
Andrew Cole, Beverage Director/Owner at Lampo
Matthieu Finot, Winemaker at King Family Vineyards
Jim Law, Winegrower at Linden Vineyards
Rachel Stinson Vrooman, Winemaker at Stinson Vineyards
Chris Scott, Grape Grower and Garagiste Winemaker
Amy Ciarametaro, Virginia Wine Lover
John Barrett "Jay" McInerney, Jr. is an American novelist and wine writer. His novels include "Bright Lights, Big City", "Brightness Falls", and "The Last of the Savages". His wine essays have been collected in "Bacchus & Me" and "A Hedonist in the Cellar". He is the current wine critic for Town & Country Magazine.
Chris Desor is a founder and partner in Verity Wine Partners, a wine distributor operating in New York and New Jersey.
Jeffrey Patterson is the winemaker for Mount Eden Vineyards and Domaine Eden in California's Santa Cruz Mountains, wineries which he also co-owns with his wife Ellie Patterson.
Also in this episode, Erin Scala discusses the Santa Cruz Mountains and the San Andreas Fault.
Dick Grace is the proprietor with his family of Grace Family Vineyards in Napa Valley, California.
Bianca Miraglia returns to the show. Bianca is the owner of Uncouth Vermouth, and a co-founder of Sensitive Cleaners, both based in New York.
Kevin Pike returns to the show, this time to speak about his new import company, Schatzi Wines.
Luca Currado Vietti and his family own Vietti, a winery in Italy's Piemonte region.
Also in this episode, Erin Scala takes a look at the history of Barolo winemaking.
Jacques Lardière retired from his role as Technical Director of Maison Louis Jadot in Burgundy in 2012, a job he had started in 1970. He now oversees Jadot's Résonance project in Oregon.
Eugenio Jardim was a longtime sommelier in California, at Jardinière, and is now US Ambassador for the Wines of Portugal.
Adrian Bridge is the Chief Executive Officer of The Fladgate Partnership, encompassing the Taylor Fladgate, Fonseca, and Croft Port brands from Portugal.
Also in this episode, Erin Scala discusses how the reign of England's Charles II affected the Port wine trade.
Ronnie Sanders is the President and Founder of Vine Street Imports, a wine importer and distributor.
John Lockwood is the owner and winemaker of Enfield Wine Co., a California winery.
Also in this episode, Erin Scala recounts the history of California's Wild Horse Valley AVA.
Cedric Nicaise is the Wine Director of Eleven Madison Park, a restaurant in Manhattan.
Brad Hickey is the winemaker at Brash Higgins, a winery in Australia's McLaren Vale.
Also in this episode, Erin Scala explores the McLaren Vale.
Paul Roberts is the Chief Operating Officer of Colgin Cellars, in the Napa Valley of California.
Vicente Dalmau Cebrián-Sagarriga is the proprietor of Bodegas Marqués de Murrieta in Rioja and Pazo de Barrantes in Galicia, Spain.
Also in this episode, Erin Scala explores the relationship of oak barrels and Rioja wine.
Paul Grieco is the proprietor of Terroir, in the Tribeca neighborhood of Manhattan.
Greg Harrington is the winemaker at Gramercy Cellars, the winery he owns with his wife in Washington State.
Also in this episode, Erin Scala charts the history of wine production in Washington State.
Martha Stoumen is a member of The Living Wines Collective, a winemaking cooperative in California.
Ricardo Freitas oversees the winemaking for the Barbeito winery on the Portuguese island of Madeira.
Also in this episode, Erin Scala takes a look at the wines of Madeira.
Paul Einbund is Beverage Director for the restaurants Frances and Octavia, both in San Francisco.
John Kongsgaard is the proprietor of the Kongsgaard winery in Napa Valley, which he runs with his wife Maggy and his son Alex.
Bernard Portet co-founded Clos Du Val in the Napa Valley of California, where he served as winemaker. He left that winery in 2010.
Jean-Baptiste Lecaillon is Executive Vice President of the Roederer properties and Chef de Caves at Champagne Louis Roederer.
Also in this episode, Erin Scala explores why the 750ml bottle is 750ml.
Gregory Dal Piaz has been preparing a book about the Chianti wines of Tuscany in Italy.
Olivier Collin runs the Ulysse Collin domaine in the Champagne region of France.
Also in this episode, Erin Scala explores the Côte de Sézanne.
Michael McCaulley is Beverage Director and Partner in the Tria restaurants in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Sashi Moorman works as winemaker for several American wineries, including Sandhi, Domaine de la Côte, Pence, Stolpman Vineyards, and Piedrasassi in California, as well as Evening Land in Oregon.
Benjamin Lewin is the author of several wine related books, including Wines of France: A Guide to 500 Leading Vineyards
Eric de Saint Victor oversees Château de Pibarnon in the Bandol appellation of France.
Eric discusses his parent's purchase of Château de Pibarnon in 1978, and details the previous history of the estate. He also talks about the Mourvedre grape variety, the various terroirs of his property, the aging curve of the wines, and winemaking techniques such as whole cluster use.
Also in this episode, Erin Scala discusses the history of the Bandol area.
Salvino Benanti works with his family at the Benanti winery on Sicily's Mount Etna.
Andrew McNamara is the Director of Fine Wine for Premier Beverage in Florida and the Chairman of the Court of Master Sommeliers, Americas.
Bruce Neyers of Neyers Vineyards winery in California returns to the show.
Karen MacNeil is the author of The Wine Bible, which was recently rewritten for a second edition.
CP Lin is the winemaker behind Erewhon, a New Zealand Pinot Noir.
Also in this episode, Erin Scala discusses New Zealand's South Island.
Bob Cabral recently left his winemaking job at Williams Selyem to work at Three Sticks Wines in Sonoma, California.
Bernhard Stadlmann works with his family at Weingut Stadlmann, their winery in Austria's Thermenregion.
Also in this episode, Erin Scala talks about the surprising early success of Rotgipfler in export markets.
Suzanne Mustacich is the author of the book Thirsty Dragon: China's Lust for Bordeaux and the Threat to the World's Best Wines
As João Nicolau de Almeida prepares to retire after a long career at Ramos Pinto in Portugal's Douro Valley, he sits down for an interview.
Also in this episode, Erin Scala gives a contextual history of Douro wine.
Carole Meredith is Professor Emeritus at the University of California, Davis, where she specialized in grape genetics within the Department of Viticulture and Enology. She is also a partner in the Lagier-Meredith winery in Napa Valley, where she works today with her husband Stephen Lagier.
Dorothy Tchelistcheff is the widow of winemaker André Tchelistcheff.
Kelli White is a sommelier at Press Restaurant in St. Helena and the author of Napa Valley, Then and Now.
David Gordon is the Wine Director of Tribeca Grill, in Manhattan.
Andrea Boscu Bianchi Bandinelli is the proprietor, with his brother, of Villa di Geggiano in the Chianti Classico zone of Tuscany, Italy.
Also in this episode, Erin Scala charts the changes in the makeup of Chianti wine over time.
Tara Q. Thomas is the Executive Editor of Wine & Spirits Magazine.
María José López de Heredia manages the López de Heredia winery in Rioja, Spain.
Also in this episode, Erin Scala talks Rioja.
Richard Betts returns to the show for a discussion of his scratch & sniff books on wine and whiskey, as well as other projects.
Jeffrey Grosset is the founder and winemaker of Grosset Wines in Australia's Clare Valley.
Also in this episode, Erin Scala discusses trying to find closure.
Robert Bohr is a partner in Charlie Bird restaurant in Manhattan, as well as the King Street Sommeliers consulting business.
Salvatore Geraci is the proprietor of the Palari winery, on Sicily in Italy.
Also in this episode, Erin Scala looks back to the myth and history of Sicily.
Guy Stout is a grape grower and member of the Glazer's Distribution team in Texas.
Craig Collins is the Beverage Director of the ELM Restaurant Group in Austin, Texas.
Also in this episode, Erin Scala checks out the Texas wine industry of today.
Carenn Jackson was working for Glazer's Distributors in Austin, Texas at the time of this interview. She has since moved on.
Chad Carey is a co-owner of The Monterey, Hot Joy, and Barbaro, all in San Antonio, Texas.
Also in this episode, Erin Scala discusses pre-Prohibition Texas winemaking.
Devon Broglie is the Associate Global Beverage Buyer for Whole Foods Market. He is based in Austin, Texas.
David Keck was the wine buyer for The Camerata at Paulie's in Houston, Texas, at the time of this interview. He has since moved on.
Also in this episode, Erin Scala notes the connection between opera and wine.
June Rodil is Beverage Director of the McGuire Moorman Hospitality Group in Austin, Texas.
Philippe Guigal works with his family at their winery E. Guigal in the Rhône Valley of France.
Also in this episode, Erin Scala explores the vineyards of the roasted slope, Côte-Rôtie.
Christy Canterbury is a wine writer, wine competition judge, and frequent speaker on wine topics around the world.
Danilo Nada works with his family at Nada Fiorenzo, their winery in the Treiso area of Piemonte's Barbaresco zone.
Also in this episode, Erin Scala looks into the Nebbiolo.
Karl duHoffmann is the Northeast Brand Development Manager for Anchor Brewers and Distillers, as well as a partner in Orchard Hill Cider Mill in New York.
Antonio Flores is the chief oenologist and master blender of sherry at González Byass, in the Jerez region of Spain.
Also in this episode, Erin Scala sails back into the history of Jerez de la Frontera.
Summer Wolff is the founder and European Portfolio Manager of Indie Wineries, a wine import company.
Gerhard Kracher manages his family wine estate in Austria's Burgenland, and is also a partner with Aldo Sohm in a project specializing in Grüner Veltliner from the Weinviertel.
Also in this episode, Erin Scala discusses botrytis in the Burgenland.
John Slover is a longtime sommelier who now devotes most of his time to private consulting in the New York area.
Bruno Borie is the proprietor of Château Ducru-Beaucaillou, in the Saint-Julien commune of Bordeaux.
Also in this episode, Erin Scala gives the 1855 Classification a recount.
Leonardo LoCascio, who recently retired from the Winebow Group, was a co-founder of Winebow in 1980.
Kareem Massoud works with his family at Paumanok Vineyards on the North Fork of Long Island, New York.
Also in this episode, Erin Scala charts the viticultural history of the North Fork.
Ryan Looper is a sales representative for T. Edward wines.
Leo Alzinger, Jr. works with his family at the Alzinger winery in Austria's Wachau.
Leo Alzinger discusses the key vineyard holdings of the family, as well as some of the realities of climate change, and the conditions of some recent vintages. He also details some of the changes that have occurred at the winery as some techniques regarding lees contact and sulphur use have been fine-tuned. And Leo explains some of the differences between Gruner Veltliner and Riesling, both in terms of growing them in the vineyards and working with them in the winery.
Also in this episode, Erin Scala recounts the history of vines in the Wachau.
Monica Samuels is the National Sake Sales Manager for Vine Connections, a wine and sake importer.
Alister Purbrick is CEO of Tahbilk, in Australia's Victoria region.
Also in this episode, Erin Scala recounts the history of Australian wine.
Ryan Mills-Knapp was the Beverage Director of Le District, in lower Manhattan, at the time of this interview. He has since moved on.
Yiannis Paraskevopoulos is a cofounder and owner of Gaia Wines in Greece, producing wines in Nemea and on Santorini. He is also a professor of enology at the University of Athens.
Also in this episode, Erin Scala uncovers the layers of Santorini.
Andrea Fassone is the founder and owner of Enotria Wine Imports, a wine importer based in New York.
Megan Glaab and her husband Ryan are the founding partners of Ryme Cellars, in California.
Also in this episode, Erin Scala discusses the Italian influence on California.
Bill Short is a Regional Manager for Dreyfus, Ashby & Co in New York.
Giusto Occhipinti is one of the founding partners of the COS winery in Sicily, Italy. Martha Stoumen joins to translate for Giusto.
Charles Curtis is the author and publisher of The Original Grand Crus of Burgundy.
Christopher Bates is the owner and winemaker at Element Winery in New York's Finger Lakes area, as well as the chef of the FLX Wienery restaurant.
Also in this episode, Erin Scala gives a history of wine production in the Finger Lakes.
Karen King is a Director of On Premise Development for the Winebow Group.
Ivan Rapuzzi works at the winery of his family, Ronchi di Cialla, in the Friuli region of Italy.
Also in this episode, Erin Scala recounts the history of the Friuli zone.
Ray Isle is the Executive Wine Editor of Food & Wine magazine.
Graham Tatomer is the winemaker and owner of the Tatomer winery, based in California's Santa Barbara County.
Also in this episode, Erin Scala explores the origins of Grüner Veltliner.
Justin Berlin is a founding partner of Spanish Wine Exclusives, a Spanish wine importer.
Federico Scarzello is the winemaker at his family's winery, called Scarzello, in Piemonte's Barolo zone.
Also in this episode, Erin Scala leads an inquiry into tradition and asks what it means.
Steve Wildy of the Vetri Family Restaurants returns to the show to interview Levi Dalton as I'll Drink to That! turns three years old.
Michael Cruse is the winemaker of Cruse Wine Co. and Ultramarine, both in California.
Also in this episode, Erin Scala talks St. Laurent.
Tyler Colman has written a long running wine blog as Dr. Vino, and has also authored two books on wine, Wine Politics: How Governments, Environmentalists, Mobsters, and Critics Influence the Wines We Drink and A Year of Wine: Perfect Pairings, Great Buys, and What to Sip for Each Season.
Carl von Schubert is the owner of the Maximin Grünhaus estate in Germany's Ruwer Valley.
Also in this episode, Erin Scala talks Riesling.
Jean-Louis Trapet and his family run Trapet Pere et Fils in Burgundy and Domaine Trapet in Alsace.
Also in this episode, Erin Scala recounts the early days of phylloxera.
Hans Reisetbauer is a distiller working in Austria.
Also in this episode, Erin Scala discusses the attributes of alchemy.
Beth von Benz works as a wine consultant at her company, MVB Consulting.
Florent Plageoles makes wine with his family at Domaine Plageoles, in southwestern France.
Also in the episode, Erin Scala traces the history of the vine in Gaillac.
James Tidwell is the Beverage Director of the Four Seasons Resort and Club in Irving, Texas, and also a cofounder of the TEXSOM wine conference.
Hans-Joachim "Hanno" Zilliken is the proprietor with his family of Weingut Zilliken - Forstmeister Geltz, in Germany's Saar region.
Also in this episode, Erin Scala tackles the hard subject of slate.
Jack Mason is the Wine Director at Marta Restaurant in Manhattan.
Cathy Corison is the winemaker and owner of the Corison winery in Napa Valley, California.
Also in this episode, Erin Scala discusses the important issue of climate change.
David Beckwith is a partner in Grand Cru Wine Consulting and in the restaurant wine app pickabottle.
Michel Lafarge is the namesake of Domaine Michel Lafarge in Volnay, a producer of white and red Burgundy. Daniel Johnnes joins to translate for Michel.
Also in this episode, Erin Scala discusses the life of Rudolf Steiner.
Aubert de Villaine is the director of the Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, in Burgundy.
Also in this episode, Erin Scala recounts the adventures of the Prince de Conti.
Mitja Sirk works with wine at La Subida, the restaurant his family runs in Italy's Friuli region.
Fabio Alessandria of G.B. Burlotto returns to the show for an in-depth discussion about his work at the winery in Italy's Piemonte region.
Also in this episode, Erin Scala talks treading.
Josko Gravner produces wine from Friuli in northern Italy and from Slovenia. He is joined by his daughter Mateja Gravner, who acts as translator for this interview.
Also in this episode, Erin Scala considers the reemergence of clay amphora in the wine world.
Elin McCoy is a wine and spirits columnist for Bloomberg News and a contributor to other publications, including Zester Daily. She also authored the book The Emperor of Wine: The Rise of Robert M. Parker, Jr. and the Reign of American Taste.
Robert Kacher is the founder of Robert Kacher Selections, a wine import company with a focus on French wines.
Frédéric Barnier is the Technical Director of Maison Louis Jadot, in Burgundy.
Also in this episode, Erin Scala talks Valentine's wine.
At the time of this interview, Amanda Smeltz was the Wine Director of Roberta's Pizza and Blanca, both in the Bushwick neighborhood of Brooklyn. She has since moved on.
Rajat Parr is a partner in the Sandhi winery as well as Domaine de la Côte, both located in California's Santa Barbara County.
Also in this episode, Erin Scala takes a look at Santa Barbara's wine industry.
Oz Clarke is a British wine writer and television personality.
Bertrand Gautherot makes the wine of Vouette & Sorbée, his family domaine in the Côte des Bar region of Champagne.
Also in this episode, Erin Scala traces the history of the Côte des Bar.
Terry Theise is a wine importer who focuses on German and Austrian wine, as well as Champagne for his Terry Theise Estate Selections.
Morgan Twain-Peterson is the owner and winemaker of Bedrock Wine Co. in California.
Also in this episode, Erin Scala discusses Zinfandel.
Alfonso Cevola is the Italian Wine Director for Glazer's distribution in Texas, and the author of the On the Wine Trail in Italy wine blog.
Louis-Antoine Luyt is a winemaker based in Chile.
Also in this episode, Erin Scala talks teeth.
Antonio Galloni of Vinous Media returns to the show.
Jermaine Stone is the Director of Logistics at Wally's Wine Auctions.
Also in this episode, Erin Scala explores wine under the sea.
Robert Mackin is the owner of wine importer and distributor Artisan Wines Inc.
At the time of this interview, Jeff Kellogg was the Wine Director of Maialino restaurant in Manhattan. He has since moved on.
Also in this episode, Erin Scala looks at a part of American winemaking history that is often lost in the history books.
Alessandro Bindocci assists with the winemaking at Tenuta Il Poggione, in the Brunello di Montalcino zone of Tuscany.
Christopher Tracy is the winemaker and a partner at the Channing Daughters winery, on New York's Long Island.
Also in this episode, Erin Scala takes a look at the history of wine production in New York state.
At the time of this interview, Jessie Kiefer was the General Manager and wine buyer of the wine bar Terroir Tribeca, and also a host of The Morning After on Heritage Radio.
At the time of this interview, Margrit Mondavi was Vice President of Cultural Affairs at Robert Mondavi Winery. She was married to Robert Mondavi for 27 years.
Also in this episode, Erin Scala explores the extraordinary impact of the Paris Exposition of 1889.
Giovanni Poggiali is the chief executive of Felsina, in Tuscany, Italy.
Fred Loimer, Jr. is the proprietor of Weingut Loimer and the Fred Loimer label, both based in Austria's Kamptal region.
Also in this episode, Erin Scala recounts the history of the vine in Austria.
Elisabetta Fagiuoli is the proprietor of Montenidoli in Tuscany, Italy. She also founded the Sergio the Patriarch Foundation. Find more information at http://www.sergiothepatriarch.org
Louis-Michel Liger-Belair runs Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair, based in the Burgundy village of Vosne-Romanee.
Also in this episode, Erin Scala traces Burgundy's history back through time.
Susan Kostrzewa is the Executive Editor of Wine Enthusiast Magazine.
Graeme MacDonald is a partner in MacDonald Vineyards, in Napa Valley.
Also in this episode, Erin Scala talks turkey wines.
Shelley Lindgren is a partner and Wine Director at A16 restaurant in San Francisco, SPQR, and A16 Rockridge in the East Bay.
Daniel Ravier oversees the wine production at Domaine Tempier, in France's Bandol appellation.
Also in this episode, Erin Scala charts the wine route once followed by Thomas Jefferson.
Stellios Boutaris is the owner of the Kir-Yianni Estate in northwestern Greece.
Victor Urrutia is the CEO of CVNE (Compañía Vinícola del Norte de España) in Rioja, Spain.
Also in this episode, Erin Scala talks old vines.
Jonas Sandberg is the Sommelier at Fäviken Magasinet in Sweden.
James Millton founded The Millton Vineyards in New Zealand, which he runs today with his family and where he is the winemaker.
Larry Turley is the proprietor of Turley Wine Cellars in California.
Also in this episode, Erin Scala chronicles a history of Petit Verdot.
Thomas Duroux manages Chateau Palmer, in the Margaux appellation of Bordeaux.
Izabella Zwack works for her family's distillery in Hungary, called Zwack, and also owns the Dobogo winery in Tokaj.
Jerome Prevost is the winemaker of La Closerie, his winery in Champagne, France.
Alexandre Chartogne makes the wines at Chartogne-Taillet, the winery of his family in Champagne, France.
Also in this episode, Erin Scala explores the history of the modern Champagne market.
Tim Mondavi is a founding partner of Continuum Estate in the Napa Valley, where he is the head winemaker.
Also in this episode, Erin Scala discusses the uses of wine as medicine.
Pedro Parra is a soil specialist and winery consultant based in Chile.
Mark Sayre is the Wine Director of TRIO Restaurant in the Four Seasons Hotel in Austin, Texas.
Also in this episode, Erin Scala talks about how what preserves wine can also become a part of what we desire wine to be.
Eben Sadie is the winemaker and owner of The Sadie Family winery in South Africa's Swartland.
Also in this episode, Erin Scala digs deep into an exploration of farming with clones and what that means.
Fernando Beteta is the Education & Social Technology Director of Tenzing Wine & Spirits, a distributor and importer based in Chicago.
Nathan Adams is the owner of Red & White Wines, a retail shop located in Chicago.
Also in this episode, Erin Scala leads a rousing show of Price That Bottle!
Auctioneer Michael Davis is a partner in Hart Davis Hart Wine Co., the Chicago based auctioneer and wine retailer.
Liz Mendez is a partner in Vera wine bar in Chicago.
Jeremy Quinn was the longtime sommelier at Webster's Wine Bar and also The Bluebird, both located in Chicago.
Craig Perman is the owner of wine retailer Perman Wine Selections, in Chicago.
Marquis Sauvage is a partner in Illinois wine distributor Maverick Wine, as well as other distributors Classic Wines, Pioneer Wine, and Vin Sauvage in other states. He is also an owner of the winery Burn Cottage in New Zealand, and Koehler-Ruprecht in Germany.
At the time of this interview, Conrad Reddick was the Beverage Director and Service Manager at Alinea Restaurant in Chicago. He has since moved on.
Also in the episode, Erin Scala traces the cultural ramifications of Prohibition.
Andy Pates is a partner in Cream Wine Company, a Chicago-based distributor and wine importer.
Michael Schmelzer is the winemaker at Monte Bernardi, the property in the Panzano portion of Tuscany, Italy that he runs with his family.
Stephan von Neipperg leads Vignobles Comtes von Neipperg, with includes Chateau Canon La Gaffeliere, La Mondotte, and Chateau d'Aiguilhe on the Right Bank of Bordeaux, France.
Also in this episode, Erin Scala discusses the dry wines of Germany.
Josh Adler is the founder of the Paris Wine Company, and works as a broker for French wine producers.
Christoph Schaefer runs Weingut Willi Schaefer, his family's winery in the Mosel region of Germany.
Also in this episode, Erin Scala delves into great literature for wine quotes.
Tegan Passalacqua returns to the show to discuss his Sandlands project of wines from vineyards in California.
Also in this episode, Erin Scala puts a name on sommelier multiples.
Nicolas Glumineau has overseen Chateau Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande, Chateau de Pez, and Chateau Haut Beausejour in Bordeaux, France since late 2012.
Clemens Busch is the proprietor of the Clemens Busch winery in the Mosel region of Germany.
Also in this episode, Erin Scala discusses which beverages are beating the heat.
Patrick Watson is a co-owner of Back Label Wine Merchants in Manhattan, the Stinky cheese stores, and the Smith & Vine wine retail shop in Brooklyn.
Laurence Feraud oversees Domaine du Pegau, as well as Chateau Pegau and Selection Laurence Feraud in the Rhone Valley of France.
Also in this episode, Erin Scala discusses the wines buried beneath our feet.
Andrea Franchetti is the proprietor of Tenuta di Trinoro in Tuscany and Passopisciaro in Sicily.
Also in this episode, Erin Scala talks Flurbereinigung.
Jan Pettersen operates Bodegas Rey Fernando de Castilla in the Jerez area of Spain.
Ric Forman is the proprietor of the Forman Vineyard winery in California's Napa Valley.
Lyle Fass operates Fass Selections, importing wines from Europe and selling them with crafted email blasts.
Also in this episode, Erin Scala shows the strong influence of the Mistral wind of southern France.
Chiara De Iulis Pepe works with her family at the Emidio Pepe winery in the Abruzzo region of Italy.
Johannes Leitz runs his family's winery, called Leitz, in the Rheingau of Germany.
Sebastien Riffault is the winemaker at his family's domaine in Sancerre, inside the Loire Valley of France.
At the time of this interview, Serge Hochar was the proprietor, with his family, of Chateau Musar in Lebanon. He has since passed away.
Kostas Bakasietas is a viticultural researcher and the owner of a vine nursery in Nemea, Greece.
Johannes Hirsch is the winemaker at the Hirsch winery, in the Kamptal region of Austria.
Kevin Pogue is a geology professor and terroir consultant living in Washington State.
Marco Pallanti is the winery director of Castello di Ama, in the Chianti Classico zone of Tuscany, Italy.
Florian Lauer is the winemaker at his family's winery, Peter Lauer, in the Saar of Germany.
Evelyne de Pontbriand oversees her family's estate, Domaine du Closel (Chateau des Vaults), in the Savennieres region of France's Loire Valley.
Also in this episode, Erin Scala takes a look at the history of the sommelier.
Larry Stone is Estates Director of Huneeus Vintners.
Also in this episode, Erin Scala traces the influence of the Dutch on vineyard irrigation.
Fritz Wieninger runs the Wieninger winery in Vienna, Austria.
Renato Vacca is the winemaker and owner of the Cantina del Pino winery, in Italy's Barbaresco area.
Stuart Pigott is the author of the book Best White Wine on Earth: The Riesling Story.
Also in this episode, Erin Scala finds the world's craziest fermented beverage.
Stephane Tissot is the winemaker at his family's domaine in the Jura region of France, Domaine Andre et Mireille Tissot.
Bruce Neyers owns Neyers Vineyards in California with his wife Barbara, and is also National Sales Manager for Kermit Lynch Wine Merchant.
Also in this episode, Erin Scala discusses the French Revolution, and what it meant for wine.
Guillaume d'Angerville is the latest member of his family to care for the Domaine Marquis d'Angerville based within Burgundy in Volnay, and is also a partner in the Jura's Domaine du Pelican.
Christian Binner is the latest generation to run Domaine Binner, originally founded in 1770 in Alsace, France.
Samuel Tinon produces both dry and sweet wines in the Tokaj region of Hungary.
Sasa Radikon works at his family's winery, Radikon, in Italy's Friuli zone.
Also in this episode, Erin Scala explores the connection between (gasp!) taxes and wine.
Silvio Messana runs the Montesecondo winery in Tuscany, Italy.
Mark Hutchens is a partner in Robert Houde Wines, a wine distributor and importer based in Illinois.
Also in this episode, Erin Scala discusses some highly unusual beverages.
Hardy Wallace is a partner in the Dirty & Rowdy Family Wine Company in California.
Pax Mahle produces wine at Wind Gap Wines and Pax Wine Cellars in California.
Also in this episode, Erin Scala recounts the early history of California wine.
Andrea Calek crafts wines in the Ardeche region of southern France.
Willi Bründlmayer runs the Bründlmayer winery in Austria's Kamptal region.
Also in this episode, Erin Scala and Michael Madrigale talk Gin and Juice.
Olivier Leriche, who was previously the winemaker at Domaine de l'Arlot in Burgundy, is now the winemaker at Domaine des Accoles, the winery he owns with his wife in the south of France.
Katie Parla is a Rome-based food and beverage educator and journalist blogging about restaurants in Rome, Italy at www.parlafood.com
Egon Müller is the owner of Weingut Egon Müller, Scharzhof in Germany's Saar Valley.
Also in this episode, Erin Scala explores the world of bogs and mead.
Gideon Bienstock is the owner and winemaker of the Clos Saron winery in California, and was previously the winemaker of the Renaissance winery for many years.
Also in this episode, Erin Scala shares another dad tale.
At the time of this interview, Ryan Sutton was the New York Food Critic for Bloomberg News.
As the restaurant Pearl & Ash celebrates its one year anniversary, Patrick Cappiello returns to the show to discuss how he became a Managing Partner and the Wine Director there.
Also in this episode, Erin Scala discusses the science of flavor perception.
In a first for the show, Abe Schoener interviews Levi about the podcast, writing, working (& not working) as a sommelier, and Orange wine.
Michael Moosbrugger oversees the wine production of Schloss Gobelsburg, in the Kamptal region of Austria.
Also in this episode, Erin Scala describes the world of the ancient symposiums.
Raj Parr talks about his long career as a sommelier working with Michael Mina and others.
Steve Matthiasson runs the Matthiasson winery with his wife and family, and also acts as a vineyard consultant to many wineries in California.
Piero Mastroberardino leads the family winery, Mastroberardino, in Italy's Campania region.
This episode is dedicated to the memory of Antonio Mastroberardino, Piero's father, who died on January 28th at the age of 86.
Whitney Schubert is the French Brand Manager for Polaner Selections, an importer and distributor.
Stephen Henschke is the winemaker at the family winery, Henschke, in South Australia.
Also in the episode, Erin Scala points out that the relationship of oak and wine is perhaps broader than we often recognize.
Jeremy Seysses runs, with his family, Domaine Dujac in Burgundy and Triennes in Provence, France.
Monika Caha is the founder of Monika Caha Selections, a broker of Austrian wines.
Emmanuel Lassaigne runs his family domaine, Jacques Lassaigne, in the Champagne region of France.
Also in this episode, Erin Scala talks with her dad about his last shift as a waiter.
Steve Edmunds is the winemaker at his Edmunds St. John winery in California.
Also in this episode, Erin Scala highlights the role of the wine importer. And we introduce our new retail partner: vine-wine.com
At the time of this interview, Shawn Paul was an Associate Wine Specialist at Christie's auction house in New York.
Talia Baiocchi returns to the show to discuss Punch, the online drinks culture journal, and her forthcoming book focusing on Sherry and cocktails.
Also in this episode, Erin Scala traces back the history of Wassail.
Justin Christoph is a Riesling specialist at Acker Merrall, and the founder of wine importer Crystalline Selections.
Whitney Adams is a blogger, podcast host, and the owner of the Bottle Stock Shop, a wine accessories vendor.
Gaia Gaja is the daughter of Angelo Gaja, and works for the Gaja winery in Piemonte.
Also in this episode, Erin Scala explores the history of the shift drink.
Gavin Chanin is winemaker and partner at Chanin Wine Co. and LUTUM, both in California.
Also in this episode, Erin Scala considers how the Earth's oceans relate to wine.
Jodi Stern is an Austria Brand Manager for Winebow.
Peter Wasserman works with Becky Wasserman Selections, a wine brokerage specializing in French wines.
Also in this episode, Erin Scala's dad recalls the family moonshine business.
Jordan Salcito is the Beverage Director of the Momofuku Group.
Also in this episode, Erin Scala sings about Thanksgiving with a friend.
Peter Weygandt is the founder and owner of wine importer Weygandt Selections.
Frank Cornelissen produces wine from Mount Etna in Sicilia, Italy.
Also in the episode, Erin Scala gets some Thanksgiving pairing ideas.
Alex Moreau is the winemaker at his family domaine in Chassagne-Montrachet, Burgundy, Domaine Bernard Moreau.
Also in this episode, Erin Scala takes a closer look at corn.
Ed Behr is the editor and publisher of "The Art of Eating" and the author of the book "50 Foods: The Essentials of Good Taste."
Jon Bonné discusses his book "The New California Wine."
Also in this episode, Erin Scala explores the history of cranberry juice and cocktails in America.
Antonio Galloni is the founder of Vinous Media.
Also in this episode, Erin Scala gets some Halloween beverage advice.
Jancis Robinson recently coauthored "The World Atlas of Wine," 7th Edition.
Allen Meadows is the publisher of the Burghound.com newsletter and website.
Also in this episode, Erin Scala examines how terroir ultimately came to be.
Roberto Paris is the Wine Director of the restaurants Il Buco and Il Buco Alimentari, both in New York.
Also in this episode, Erin Scala explores the most ancient of wines.
Alder Yarrow is the publisher of the wine blog Vinography.
Bob Lindquist is the founding owner and winemaker at the Qupe winery in California.
And in the Warm Up to this episode, Erin Scala plays a game of wine Balderdash.
Josh Greene is the Editor and Publisher of "Wine & Spirits" Magazine.
Occasionally we might release a track on Fridays, just for fun. Today we feature Sandrine Leccia, the wife of Corsican winemaker Yves Leccia. In this short discussion Sandrine talks about the prominent grape varieties of Corsica, the wines they make, and how to pair those with food.
Nick Mills tends to the vines at Rippon Vineyard, a property his family owns in Central Otago, New Zealand.
Jo Landron is the owner and winemaker of Domaine de la Louvetrie, in the Muscadet Sevre et Maine appellation of the Loire Valley, France.
Also in episode, Erin Scala explores the history of the toast.
Giuseppe Vaira works with his family at the G.D. Vajra winery in Barolo, Italy.
Also in this episode, Erin Scala explores the world of blind hearing.
Bruce Sanderson is Senior Editor and Tasting Director of "Wine Spectator" Magazine.
Matt DeVriendt is the Spirits Brand Manager for Winebow.
And in the Warm Up to this episode, Erin Scala relates the story of New York City's first female sommelier.
Grant Reynolds works as a sommelier at the New York restaurant Charlie Bird.
Also in this episode, Erin Scala gets some friends to try to pronounce famous German vineyard names for the Warm Up.
Daniel Johnnes is the Wine Director for Daniel Boulud's Dinex Group, as well as an importer, and the founder of La Paulee Burgundy themed events in New York, San Francisco, and Aspen.
At the time of this interview, Linda Milagros Violago was the Wine Director of Contra restaurant in New York City.
Mark Snyder is the owner of wine distributor Angels' Share Wines, and also one of the founders of The Red Hook Winery in Brooklyn.
Tom Vanik is a Sales Partner at wine distributor Verity Wine Partners.
Roger Dagorn is Beverage Director of the restaurants Tocqueville, 15 East, and The Fourth, in New York City.
After leaving Crush Wine & Spirits, where he was a buyer, Stephen Bitterolf founded Vom Boden Imports, specializing in German wine.
Thomas Pastuszak is the Wine Director of The NoMad, in New York City.
Johannes Selbach is the owner and winemaker at Selbach-Oster, a winery in Germany's Mosel region.
Bianca Miraglia is the founder and sole employee of Uncouth Vermouth.
Wink Lorch is writing a book on the wines of the Jura, which she intends to self publish in April of 2014.
Tim Kopec was for many years the Head Sommelier at Veritas Restaurant in Manhattan.
Robert Simonson writes about spirits and cocktails for "The New York Times," as well as other publications.
Isabella Oddero works for her family's winery. Poderi Oddero is a producer of Barolo and Barbaresco in Italy's Piemonte region.
Michael Feuerstein is the owner of wine importer and distributor Selection Pas Mal.
Katell Pleven is a co-proprietor of wine importer and distributor The Vine Collective.
David Chapel, the eldest son of a famous French chef, is currently helping to tend the vines of the Lapierre family in Morgon.
Nick Bumstead is a co-founder of the website and mobile app Find. Eat. Drink.
Gernot Kollmann is the owner and winemaker of Germany's Immich-Batterieberg winery, in the Mosel.
Phil Sareil is a salesperson for Jenny & Francois Selections, an importer of Natural Wines.
At the time of this interview, Kevin Pike was the National Sales Director for Michael Skurnik Wines, a national importer and distributor.
Ralf Kuettel is the chef owner of the Trestle on Tenth and Rocket Pig restaurants in New York City.
Yoshi Takemura is the wine director of Japanese internet retailer iwine.jp.
Isabella Pelizzatti Perego helps with her family's winery Ar. Pe. Pe., in Lombardia, Italy.
David Weitzenhoffer is a cofounder and partner in wine importer A.I. Selections.
At the time of this interview, Erin Scala was the Wine Director of Public Restaurant in Nolita.
Klaus-Peter Keller is the owner and winemaker at Germany's Keller winery, in the Rheinhessen.
Tegan Passalacqua is the winemaker at Turley Wine Cellars in California.
Bill Fitch is the Wine Director of Vinegar Hill House in Brooklyn.
Liz Willette is a partner in wine importer and distributor Grand Cru Selections.
John Sellar is the New York Metro General Manager of wine importer and distributor Frederick Wildman & Sons.
Jim Clendenen is the winemaker and owner of the Au Bon Climat winery and also Clendenen Family Vineyards, both based in the Santa Maria Valley of California
Dr. Katharina Prüm collaborates with her father, Dr. Manfred Prum, to make the wines at their estate Joh. Jos. Prum in Germany's Mosel region.
Bobby Stuckey is an owner of the Colorado restaurants Frasca Food & Wine and Pizzeria Locale.
Veronica Stoler is the wine buyer at Despana Vinos Y Mas Market, a Spanish wine shop in SoHo.
Randall Grahm is the founder and winemaker of the California-based winery Bonny Doon Vineyard.
Randall charts his sometimes quixotic path to finding a true vin de terroir. He discusses transposition of terroir, extended reductive elevage, magnetic bâtonnage, radical genetic diversity in the vineyard, and financial challenges to realizing his visions. He also reflects on his accomplishments and reputation over 30 years in the wine business.
Jean-Marie Fourrier runs the family winery, Domaine Fourrier, based in Gevrey-Chambertin.
Matteo Mollo is the owner SelectioNaturel Imports and also a part of The Wine Bottega in Boston, MA.
Jeff Porter talks about his time working in Los Angeles at Mozza and his current role as the wine director at Manhattan's Del Posto Ristorante.
Katherine Moore is the sales general manager at Union Square Wines.
Emanuela Stucchi Prinetti is a member of the the family that owns the Badia a Coltibuono winery in Tuscany, Italy.
Aaron Von Rock is the Wine Director at Lincoln Ristorante at Lincoln Center. I'll Drink to That exclusively sponsored by SevenFifty, the new way to search for wholesale wine & spirits in New York and New Jersey.
Piero Incisa della Rocchetta is the owner of Bodega Chacra in Patagonia, and a member of the family that owns Tenuta San Guido. Tenuta San Guido produces what is arguably Italy's most famous wine, Sassicaia.
In Part 2 of our interview with Richard Betts, he and Levi chat about his Sambra mezcal project, various other wine and spirits he's been involved in over the years, and touch on the heated orange wine topic.
In part one of our interview with Richard Betts, we discuss his entry into the business and career as a sommelier. This episode is exclusively sponsored by SevenFifty, the new way to search for wholesale wine & spirits in New York and New Jersey. Browse a growing collection of complete portfolios from over 80 leading distributors.
On a recent trip to Italy, Levi sat down separately with two winemakers. Here now are those discussions with Marta Rinaldi of the the Giuseppe Rinaldi winery in the Barolo commune and Fabio Alessandria of the G.B. Burlotto winery in the Verduno commune.
Jon Langley stops by the studio to discuss his career as a beer sommelier in New York and his upcoming Greenpoint beer-focused restaurant Tørst, which is opening in early March.
Charlie Woods is the owner of wine importer Bonhomie Wine Imports.
Deirdre Heekin stops by the show to talk about her career as a writer, winemaker and restaurateur. She's the author of "Libation, A Bitter Alchemy" and, along with her husband Caleb Barber, owner of Vermont's Osteria Pane e Salute.
Yannick Benjamin stops by to discuss his career as a New York sommelier and current position as sales associate at Le Du's Wines, a retail shop in the West Village.
John Gilman stops by to discuss his influential wine newsletter "View From the Cellar."
Liz Nicholson was at the time of this interview the Wine Director of Maialino in the Gramercy Park Hotel in New York City.
Jean-Marc Roulot heads up Domaine Roulot in the Meursault commune of Burgundy.
Steve Wildy is the Beverage Director for the Vetri Family of restaurants in Philadelphia, PA. He discusses his Irish roots, love of Italian wine and explains why he won't drink Guinness anymore.
Chris Barnes discusses his career in retail wine at Manhattan's Chambers Street Wines and his current position as the National Sales Manager for Jose Pastor Selections.
Ruben Sanz-Ramiro discusses his career in the wine world, from his roots in Spain to sommelier positions at The Fat Duck, Double Crown and, most recently, Vertias in New York City.
With over 30 years in the New York restaurant business, Chris Cannon is a legend. He discusses everything from giving Paul Grieco his first job to his upcoming projects in Manhattan and New Jersey.
For our 50th episode, Levi chats wit Ryan Ibsen, the Wine Director at Pasanella & Son, a retail wine shop in the South Street Seaport that was affected by Hurricane Sandy. Ryan talks about coming back after that catastrophic event, his career in restaurants and eventual transition to retail.
Matt Stinton came to New York for Broadway. Now he's the beverage director for Hearth in the East Village and all locations of Terroir Wine Bar. He discusses his recent promotion to that role and what it's like to work under Paul Grieco.
Joaquín Simó is a partner in Alchemy Consulting, a group which recently opened the bar Pouring Ribbons in the East Village. He stops by to talk about his career in the cocktail scene and the importance of hospitality behind the bar.
In the midst of Hurricane Sandy, vigneron and wine producer Eric Texier stopped by to chat with Levi about his career making wine in France's Rhone Valley and in the Macon of Burgundy.
Joe Salamone is a wine buyer at Crush Wine & Spirits, one of the best retail wine shops in Manhattan.
Raj Vaidya discusses his career in the restaurant business, including time spent at wine destinations like Cru and Per Se. Since 2009, he's been Head Sommelier at Daniel Boulud's eponymous Manhattan flagship.
Josh Raynolds talks about his job as a critic for the International Wine Cellar. He also touches on the role of retail wine shops in shaping his palate and career.
John Ragan is the Beverage Director of the Union Square Hospitality Group.
Abe Schoener talks to Levi about the destruction caused by Hurricane Sandy at Red Hook Winery, where he's a partner. Abe also discusses his career and work in California under his critically acclaimed Scholium Project label.
Dustin Wilson was at the time of this interview the Wine Director of Eleven Madison Park in Manhattan.
Pascaline Lepeltier was at the time of this interview the Head Sommelier at Rouge Tomate in Manhattan.
Carla Rzeszewski talks about her love of wine and what it's like to be wine director at three of Manhattan's busiest restaurants--The Spotted Pig, The John Dory Oyster Bar and The Breslin. Oh yeah, and she sheds some light on her former career as a nude model.
ChampagneGuide.net scribe Peter Liem returns to the show to discuss his recently released book. Peter is the coauthor of Sherry, Manzanilla & Montilla.
At the time of this interview, Juliette Pope was the Wine Director of Gramercy Tavern restaurant, in New York City.
Lorena Ascencios is the wine buyer at Astor Wines & Spirits in New York City.
Michael Jessen was at the time of this interview the Managing Director at Zachys Wine Auctions.
Giorgio Conterno is the proprietor of the Paolo Conterno winery, a producer of Barolo in Piemonte's Monforte d'Alba.
New York Times chief wine critic Eric Asimov stops by to discueshis new book How to Love Wine: A Memoir and Manifesto, which is being released today (October 16th). Eric first appeared back on the show as our 5th episode and we're happy to have him back!
Patrick Cappiello was at the time of this interview the Wine Director of GILT in New York City. He stops by to talk about his career and speak some truths about the realities of the modern sommelier.
Legendary wine importer and distributor Michael Skurnik stops by the show to share stories from his time as a sommelier at Windows on the World and his 25-year old, landmark company Michael Skurnik Wines.
Dino Tantawi is the owner of wine importer Vignaioli Selection. He also has the best radio voice in the history of our show.
Kevin McKenna stops by to discuss his long career in the wine business, specifically his experiences as a partner at Louis/Dressner Selections.
Charles Prusik was at the time of this interview the Wine Director at the Mario Batali-owned restaurant Lupa Osteria Romana in Manhattan.
Jenny is a co-founder of Jenny and Francois Selections, an importer and distributor of natural wines.
Alice is a wine writer and the author of two books including The Battle for Wine and Love. Soon, she'll release a wine newsletter called "The Feiring Line."
Mark Vlossak, the owner and winemaker at St. Innocent Winery in Oregon, stops by to talk with Levi about the history of wine in the region.
Christy is the owner of Frankly Wines in downtown Manhattan. Christy talks to Levi about getting started in retail and then breaks out a bottle to taste.
Jon Bonné is the wine critic for the San Francisco Chronicle. He stops by to chat with Levi and discuss the history California wines and where they stand today.
Camille Riviere stops by to talk to Levi about her wine import company Camille Riviere Selection.
Ned shares some memorable stories with Levi about his time working in the New York restaurant scene and talks about his current role as a partner at Grand Cru Selections.
Talitha is the owner of Vine Wine, one of several wine shops in Williamsburg that's shaping the Brooklyn retail wine scene.
Michael Wheeler chats with Levi about his long history in the wine distribution scene. He's currently a partner in MFW Wine Co. (NY and NJ) and PDX Wines (Portland, Oregon).
Longtime Rosenthal Wine Merchant sales representative Blake Johnson chats with Levi about his nearly twenty year history with the landmark import company.
Justin Chearno stops by to talk about being a wine buyer at Uva wines in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.
Snooth Media Editor in Chief Gregory Dal Piaz talks with Levi about the past present and future of online wine writing.
Wine importer and distributor David Bowler has one of the most exciting portfolios in the business. Today he recounts his long history in the New York wine scene and talks a bit about where his company is headed.
Wine and spirits importer Zev Rovine talks to Levi about his company Zev Rovine Selections.
Levi sits down with Lee Campbell, wine director at Reynard in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. They chat about Lee's history in wine, working in Williamsburg and some recent criticism about her list.
Levi chats with wine importer Jan D'Amore about his days in an LA rock band and his import company Jan D'Amore Wines.
Levi talks to writer Peter Liem about his online champagne guide, a forthcoming book on sherry and his surprisingly vast knowledge of the world of tea.
Levi chats with Rita Jammet, the woman behind La Caravelle Champagne and a historic figure in the New York restaurant scene.
Levi talks with Mannie Berk, founder and owner of Sonoma-based retailer/importer The Rare Wine Co.
Levi sits down with Laura Maniec, owner of Corkbuzz Wine Studio and the former beverage director of the BR Guest restaurant group.
Levi chats with the anonymous wine blogger Brooklynguy.
Levi sits down with cognac importer Nicolas Palazzi of PM Spirits.
Eric Asimov is Wine Critic for the "New York Times."
Eric describes how he started working for the "New York Times," and the story behind the creation of the restaurant column "$25 and Under." He also discusses the wine panel he convenes for tastings at the "New York Times." He talks about his impact as a wine critic, as well as the availability of wines throughout the world. He provides an assessment of recent changes regarding wine writing, wine lists, and sommeliers. Eric also speaks about those who have inspired him, and divulges what he wants to achieve with his articles.
Michael Madrigale was the Chef Sommelier of Manhattan restaurants Boulud Sud and Bar Boulud at the time of this interview.
Michael shares stories from his trip to Alsace in France, and describes how he fell in love with Riesling. He shares his thoughts on what defines minerality, how someone might get started with Riesling, and what he appreciates about drinking wine with friends. Michael also discusses what he learned from his family while sitting down at the family kitchen table. And he touches on his use of social media in the wine world.
Wines tasted in this episode:
- 2010 Domaine Weinbach Riesling, Alsace
- 2009 Jean-Michel et Laurent Pillot Mercurey, Burgundy
Talia Baiocchi was Wine Editor at Eater.com at the time of this interview.
Talia compares online to print wine writing and describes difficulties in becoming a wine writer. She explains why and how she came into the wine field, and answers questions like: Is food writing dead? And is there a need for wine list reviews? She discusses what a good wine list is, and how wine lists may look in the future. Talia also talks about some recent changes within the wine scene.
David Lillie is a founding partner of Chambers Street Wines, the wine retail shop located in New York City.
David discusses the start of his wine retail business, and the hard moments at the beginning of that opening. He explains how he developed an interest in wine, and what is now important to his wine buying decisions today. David talks about the wine business in New York City in the 1980s, wine pricing, and consumer response to biodynamic and Natural wines. He also recounts his friendship with Joe Dressner, an important wine importer.
Aldo Sohm is the Chef Sommelier of Le Bernardin restaurant in New York City, and a partner in the Sohm & Kracher wine label.
Aldo discusses how he came to be interested in wine and the role that Alois Kracher played in that process. He describes his wine career in Austria, as well as his decision to move to America. He speaks about how he came to work at Le Bernardin, and his relationship with colleagues there. Aldo is frank about his work ethic, and his drive to succeed in wine competitions. Wine and food pairings are also discussed.
