The Grape Nation

Three things drive Valerie Kathawala, writing, Germany and wine. She has melded all three and is co-founder, Editor and Publisher of Trink Magazine, an independent digital publication exploring the wines of Germany, Austria, Italy and Switzerland. Previously, as a student of German language and culture, she began her career as a translator at the United Nations before pursing her three loves. You can also find Valerie’s writing in Noble Rot, Pipette, and Meininger’s, to name a few. Valerie lives and writes in NYC with her family.

Born in NYC to a family of lawyers, Dean Fuerth is a proud Hunter College drop-out. He left school to become a Production Assistant on 30 Rock and Law and Order. To make additional money, Dean worked at some of NYC’s better-known restaurants including Bar Boulud and settling in as a front server at legendary NYC restaurant Bouley eventually becoming a Somm. After time at Betony, he joined Sushi Nakazawa in 2017 as the Beverage Director, now overseeing NY and DC and soon in LA. Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast network. Support The Grape Nation by becoming a member! The Grape Nation is Powered by Simplecast.

Italy, Switzerland, the United States, Spain and now Argentina, Piero Incisa della Rocchetta has traveled the globe. Piero was born in Tuscany around wine royalty, the della Roccchetta family, he did not initially pursue a career in wine, but chose banking. After many years he bagged banking, not returning to his wine family, but to the southern end of Argentina, to grow, of all varietals, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay at his Bodega Chacra in Mainque in the Rio Negra region of Patagonia. Piero makes highly acclaimed, sought after wines in one of the most interesting wine regions in the world. Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast network. Support The Grape Nation by becoming a member! The Grape Nation is Powered by Simplecast.

What happens when two friends, a writer/producer and an artist get together to pursue a passion, you get an innovative, new craft spirits company. Aaron Fox Sing and Daniel de la Nuez started making gin, aperitivos, and amaro in the kitchen sink, transforming into a sought after and admired craft distillery in Brooklyn, Forthave Spirits. Since 2016 they have making spirits from over 200 different types of herbs, roots, barks, flowers, and fruits to name a few, with a commitment to natural and organic ingredients.

Hailing from NYC and born into a prolific legal family, Dan Abrams is an attorney, media personality, media entrepreneur, and author. His background includes Court TV, Nightline, and MSNBC. He is the Chief Legal Analyst for ABC News, a founding anchor on News Nation, host/producer of On Patrol Live, SiriusXM, founder of Mediaite, and now winemaker. Dan is the proprietor of Ev and Em Vineyards on Long Island’s North Fork in Laurel NY. Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast network. Support The Grape Nation by becoming a member! The Grape Nation is Powered by Simplecast.

Jon Fine is the Editor in Chief of “The New Wine Review”. He is an award-winning writer, including a James Beard, and served as Executive/Acting Editor-in-Chief of “Inc. Magazine” along with stints at Business Week, Vanity Fair, GQ & Food & Wine. He has also documented his life as a musician in his book, “Your Band Sucks”. The New Wine Review is a next generation wine publication and has set out with the goal of making it the most interesting place on the internet for people who love wine. Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast network. Support The Grape Nation by becoming a member! The Grape Nation is Powered by Simplecast.

Sophie Menin is a journalist, Editor, and Author, living and working in NYC. With a Masters Degree in Cultural Reporting and Criticism from NYU, a professional degree in the Culinary Arts from the Institute of Culinary Education and an advanced WSET certificate, Sophie is an award-winning writer focusing on how wine connects us with our sense and the rhythms of the natural world. She has written for the NY Times, Wine Spectator, Barron’s, Saveur and Punch, to name a few. Sophie’s new book “A Year in the Vineyard” offers an insider’s look into the yearlong cycle of the vine. The book is on sale June 4th. Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast network. Support The Grape Nation by becoming a member! The Grape Nation is Powered by Simplecast.

Pax Mahle is an old soul in the new California wine establishment. He made his way to wine country in 1997, launching his own winery in 2000, and has been making wine for over 25 years. Pax has changed the way we think about California Syrah and has shown us Chenin Blanc, Trousseau Gris, Gamay Noir, and Vermentino, among others can flourish in California. He has mentored and influenced a generation of winemakers and is now working on Halcon, his new estate grown Syrah project. Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast network. Support The Grape Nation by becoming a member! The Grape Nation is Powered by Simplecast.

For Part 2 of our visit to Blackberry Farm, we check out sister property Blackberry Mountain, a 5200 acre haven nestled in the Smoky Mountains. We speak with Logan Griffin, Director of Food and Beverage at BBM, along with Andy Chabot, to discuss the vast wine program, mixology, and one of the best spirits collection in the country. We further pursue our "Feast for the Ears" wine and food pairing session with Chefs Joey Edwards, PM Exec.Chef at Three Sisters and Joel Werner, Exec. Chef at the Firetower. Logan and Andy selected six wines to pair with our chefs creations. Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast network. Support The Grape Nation by becoming a member! The Grape Nation is Powered by Simplecast.

New Englander and wannabe chef, Andy Chabot attended the Culinary Institute of America at Hyde Park in NY. His love for food turned into a passion for wine. After CIA, Andy headed west to work at wine mecca Little Nell in Aspen, eventually heading back east to settle in at BlackBerry Farm with second generation owners Sam and Mary Celeste Beall. Sam, along with Andy wanted to transform Blackberry Farm into a true wine destination…mission accomplished, two decades later, Blackberry Farm has over 150K bottles in their cellars, is the recipient of the James Beard Award for “Outstanding Wine Program” along with two “Best Chef” awards, and numerous Wine Spectator Grand Awards. Andy Chabot is the SVP of Food and Beverage at BBF and BlackBerry Mtn. We tour the wine cellars with Andy, Asst. Bev. Dir, Kelly Schmidt, and Somm John Schlichting and select wines to pair with our dishes from Exec. Chef Cassidee Dabney, The Barn, and Trevor Iaconis, The Dogwood at BBF. Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast network. Support The Grape Nation by becoming a member! The Grape Nation is Powered by Simplecast.

Growing up in Angola, Luis Seabra returned to Portugal in the 1970’s. He studied viticulture at Vila Real and his obsession with terroir led him to work in soil research in Vinho Verde. He launched a revolutionary still wine program while working at Nierpoort, eventually starting his own small winery in 2013, Luis Seabra Vinhos. To Luis, it is all about making wines he enjoys drinking: elegant, fresh, terroir-driven wines that are also age-worthy. Luis Seabra is the most exciting winemaker in Portugal today. Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast network. Support The Grape Nation by becoming a member! The Grape Nation is Powered by Simplecast.

How the hell does a guy who was a Big Ten defensive lineman, still plays the trombone, loves jazz, got an MBA in Business at Univ. of Chicago, another one at U Cal Davis in Viticulture and Enology, and sometimes bartends during the week…make some of the best wines in the world? That’s Chris Carpenter and he’ll tell us. He is The Drinks Business Master Winemaker of the Year for 2024. He has been working with Jackson Family Wines for decades as the winemaker for Cardinale, Lokoya, La Jota, and Mt. Brave in Napa and Hickinbotham in Australia. Chris is in that rare air of high altitude and highly regarded wines. Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast network. Support The Grape Nation by becoming a member! The Grape Nation is Powered by Simplecast.

Stephen Bitterolf has been on the New York wine scene for decades, morphing from retail to importer. He is the founder of Vom Boden, a wine import company representing and supporting small growers and really, what they do. Stephen has been instrumental in finding and bringing the best growers to the market, specializing in Germany. Think, Keller, Stein, Becker, along with the upcoming and avant-garde, that’s Vom Boden! He is the creator of Rieslingfeir and just wrote his first book, “Vom Boden: Ten Years of Hocks and Moselles”. A personal and informative journey. Purchase book here: https://www.vomboden.com/vom-boden-ten-years-of-hocks-moselles/ Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast network. Support The Grape Nation by becoming a member! The Grape Nation is Powered by Simplecast.

Born in Champagne, Mathieu Roland-Billecart is the 7th Generation CEO of one of Champagnes longest standing family-owned estates. After 15 years working in finance in London, Mathieu came home to the family business in 2018, also the bicentennial year of Billecart-Salmon. He continues to further tradition and innovation at this legendary Champagne house, also loved by critics and Somms. Mathieu leads the charge in philanthropy and sustainability with an eye towards people and the environment. Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast network. Support The Grape Nation by becoming a member! The Grape Nation is Powered by Simplecast.

Hailing from Lake Placid, NY, Grant Reynolds realized it was easier to pursue a career in wine than ski-jumping. After college in Boulder, he wound up in the greatest wine incubator at Bobby Stuckey’ Frasca. He went on to work in Burgundy, Piedmont, and Noma, before settling in NYC to open Charlie Bird as wine director and partner, later opening Parcelle Wine. Grant, is a true entrepreneur and believer of wine and e-commerce. He recently opened a new restaurant near Parcelle called Tolo. Besides being an awarded Sommelier, Grant recently published his second book, “'The Wine List'”, Stories and Tasting Notes Behind the World’s Most Remarkable Bottles”. Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast network. Support The Grape Nation by becoming a member! The Grape Nation is Powered by Simplecast.

Born in Indiana, summers and college in Vermont, dancing their way into each-others hearts, Dierdre met her Husband Caleb Barber at Middlebury. Both loved food, influenced by Italy, opened an Italian restaurant, grew their own produce, then eventually grapes, and practiced farm to table before it was a thing. Loyal to the terroir and indigenous fruits, Deirdre went on to make alpine wines in the mountains and lakes of the great state of Vermont. Her first vintage was in 2010, her innovation, commitment, influence and mentorship has not only put Vermont wine on the map, but how we think about wine, sparklers, and cider. Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast network. Support The Grape Nation by becoming a member! The Grape Nation is Powered by Simplecast.

I recently attended the Union Grand Crus Bordeaux tasting in NYC. Over 125 producers pored the 2021 vintage. We spoke with five different producers including Chateau Clinet, Domaine de Chevalier, Chateau Lagrange, Chateau Guiraud, and Chateau Giscours, from different growing regions on the right and left banks in Bordeaux. We’ll get some insight into the wines, climate, challenges of the vintage, ageability, and more for the 2021 vintage. Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast network. Support The Grape Nation by becoming a member! The Grape Nation is Powered by Simplecast.

Tira Johnson migrated east a decade ago to work in wine and hospitality at some of NY’s best, including Beauty & Essex, Crown Shy, Terroir, and Crown Club at Barclays, to name a few. Along the way she received her Somm certification. Tira is now the Wine Director at Ilis, from Mads Refslund, a Co-Founder of Noma. Ilis’ much anticipated opening in Brooklyn is truly one of the most fascinating and unique dining experiences today. Tira’s love for wine is only superseded by her true love for dogs! Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast network. Support The Grape Nation by becoming a member! The Grape Nation is Powered by Simplecast.

Pepe Raventos’ family has been around for a long time, like since the 1400’s. Pepe is a 21st generation winemaker at Raventos i Blanc in Spain. His family led the development of Penedes into one of the world’s leading sparkling wine regions in Conca del Riu Anoia. Pepe traveled to Burgundy, the Loire, Germany, and the US to hone his craft before settling in to the family winery. Pepe creates pure wines that speak from their origin, making wines with minimal intervention and a focus on minerality. Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast network. Support The Grape Nation by becoming a member! The Grape Nation is Powered by Simplecast.

As the year winds down and we celebrate the holiday season, we want to make sure you are drinking and gifting the right wines and Champagnes. We asked three of our expert friends to guide us through the myriad of wine and bubbly choices out there. We will be talking with Jhonel Faelnar, Katja Scharnagl and Aldo Sohm. Get your pen and paper out for some great recommendations. Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast network. Support The Grape Nation by becoming a member! The Grape Nation is Powered by Simplecast.