The Wine Makers on Radio Misfits

Harvest has begun and Sonoma Magazine has a beautifully put together Harvest Issue featuring many of the "Grand Cru Vineyards" of Sonoma County, their sense of place, history and future. Joining forces with renowned Photographer James Joiner, Abby presents intimate portraits of wine-making and winemakers here in Sonoma Co. Also joining us was Marrielle Tinsley, well-known photographer and winemaker in Sonoma. It's all about sense of place and Sonoma Magazine curates these stunning images 6 times a year. It's a well done publication and you can order this issue and others by emailing Abby at abigail.peterson@sonomamag.com [Ep 337]

Rodrigo's interest in organic farming began at the Universidad Catôlica in Santiago, where he wrote his thesis on organic pest control. This paper led him to work with some esteemed leaders in the world of organic grape growing, including Alvaro Espinoza, Alan York, Ann Kramer, and Paul Dolan and Mike Benziger. After working as Director of Winemaking at Benziger he returned to Chile In 2012. Huneenus Vintners hired Rodrigo to convert four Chilean wineries and vineyards to organic and biodynamic farming. Next working for the Huneenus family at Quintessa in Napa Valley. But his time working in Sonoma made him think about all the mountain vineyards that he wasn't familiar with, which is when Far Mountain was conceived. "Far Mountain, describes the vineyard sites we work with and the greater settings in which those vineyards lie. There is a beautiful symmetry in these places, in that they are not only special sites for wine growing, but places we are physically drawn to because of their splendor." [Ep336] farmountainwine.com @farmountainwine

This week the guys are joined by four farmers fighting for the future of Sonoma County agriculture. A ballot measure has qualified in Sonoma County, sold as ban on “factory farms”, but in reality will have ripple effects that threaten all ag in the county, including grapes and wine. Join us for an inspiring conversation with Doug Beretta from the Sonoma County Farm Bureau, Bronte Edwards from Rainbow Family Ranch, Loren Poncia from Stemple Creek Ranch and longtime friend of the pod Jennifer Reichardt from Liberty Ducks. Why are we talking about cows, sheep, ducks and chickens on a wine show? Because Sonoma County’s farms and farmers don’t exist in their own silos, they are part of an interconnected and symbiotic ecosystem and foodshed. And by golly there’s a shit shortage! Tune in, register to vote and if you’re in Sonoma County vote NO on J! [Ep335] Doug Beretta sonomafb.org @sonomacountyfarmbureau Bronte Edwards rainbowfamilyranching.com @sister_b_loves_food Loren Poncia stemplecreek.com @stemplecreek Jennifer Reichardt libertyducks.com drink.raft.wine @jenniferreichardt No on Measure J Resources- noonmeasurej.com @noonmeasurej foodandfamilyfarms.com/ @foodandfamilyfarms

This week we sit down with Barbara Gorder and Brian Baker, veterans of the wine & spirits industry focused on sales and marketing. We discuss the current state of the U.S. wine industry and the challenges that many of us are facing in a rapidly changing climate. But don't worry, they brought solutions. There is a lot of good info here for business owners and consumers. All of their contact info and assets are listed below so you can reach out and get involved. Remember - Wine is Cool !!! [Ep334] Brian Baker Cultivar Marketing Website: https://cultivarmarketing.com/ Email: brian@cultivarmarketing.com Phone: (707) 363-5931 Barbara Gorder Undisclosed Location Website: www.unlo.com Email:Barbara.gorder@unlo.com Phone: 312.972.2833 (PT) Direct to Consumer Wine Symposium Join us for the best DTC Wine education and networking in the business. https://dtcwinesymposium.com/ January 21-23 Hyatt Regency Monterey, CA Early Bird Tickets on Sale now until November 1, 2024 Pass My Glass Wine Co-op program for 2025 Be a part of raising sales in the wine industry via OTT/CTV. Click Here

Isabella Morano knew she wanted to make wine as a child on a family trip to Italy, identifying with how folks in her ancestral homeland connected over food and wine. However back home in Wisconsin, the only thing keeping teenage Isabella’s wine dreams alive was Anthony Bourdain TV shows. As soon as she was able she moved to California and started working her way up the wine ladder. Now she has several vintages of Isa Wines under her belt, specializing in vibrant Sauvignon Blancs, and a new vineyard planted in Majorca, Spain. Check out drinkisawines and @isa.wines on Instagram. [Ep333]

Marvella Castaneda is a Sommelier and artist from Atlanta that we met in Georgia last year. She had just left a restaurant called Lazy Betty, which received a Michelin star the week we landed. Currently in the middle of opening a new hotel in Atlanta, she took a week off to visit California's newest AVA, the West Sonoma Coast, and spend time with some of the "coolest" growers and wine makers in the AVA. We coaxed her into stopping by to share her experience. As a special bonus, she walked in with Scott Kirkpatrick, some may remember him as the wine maker for Mountain Tides, a project that focused on Petite Sirah. Scott is now the wine maker at Dancing Crow Vineyards in Mendocino County. [Ep332] If you would like to see Marvella's artwork, you can follow her @drawntowine @marvellacastaneda @cellaringscott

Kieran Robinson started his journey in the finger lakes of Upstate New York. He took the opportunity to move to France and work for Pierre Gaillard, cementing his passion for Rhone varietals. Kieran returned to the US and took positions at Cakebread Cellars, Paul Hobbs and Jericho Canyon. He then decided to go out on his own, founding R Five Wines, specializing in Grenache, Syrah and Viognier. Now Kieran and his wife Kristie have opened up a tasting room and wine bar in his hometown Downingtown Pennsylvania, serving California wines with a “Philly” vibe. We tasted through the 2021 wines and they are amazing, truly set apart by their 100% stem inclusion. Available on their website. [Ep331] Rfivewines.com @Kieran_Robinson_Wines

Ross Cobb makes world-class Pinot Noir & Chardonnay from vineyards that are only 3-5 miles from the Pacific Ocean in Northern California. The extreme weather conditions and his numerous trips to Burgundy have definitely shaped his style, along with his previous positions at Williams Selyem and Hirsch. His parents purchased property at the coast in the late 80’s and Ross has since become an expert in cool climate farming. His other passions include skateboarding, collecting vinyl and playing guitar. Cobb wines are featured at the best restaurants in California and New York, we were lucky enough to try the new 21 vintages. [Ep330] If you love Pinot Noir, you gotta check out these wines, available through their website. cobbwines.com @cobbwines @rosskcobb

The Robledo family started farming in Sonoma County in the 1940’s. Hard work and perseverance enabled the Robledo family to eventually purchase their own vineyards and start their own winery. Vanessa has now started her own project with her daughter Jocelyn and mother Maria called Vintner’s Diary. Their first wine is a Rose of Grenache from Napa. Daughter Jocelyn is creating videos that feature her grandmother Maria making traditional Mexican food to pair with their wines. We were lucky enough to get some guacamole and salsa made that morning from ingredients out of her own garden. [Ep329] Vintnersdiary.com @vintnersdiary

The guys sit down with local Sonoma County Winemaker, Mark Lyon this week. Mark is a fixture in Sonoma wine-making circles as he was Winemaker at Sebastiani for years and years. Now he is headlong into his own lifelong passion of his own brand, Eco Terreno, organic and fully regenerative farming, creating beautiful whites and reds from the Alexander Valley along the Russian River. [Ep328] ecoterreno.com @ecoterrenowines

Sam, Bart, and James Joiner sit down with Gundlach Bundschu CEO Jeff Bundschu, Sustainability Manager Meghan Murphy, Winemaker Joe Uhr, and special guest Phil Coturri to discuss how and why the 160-year-old brand pursued becoming fully Regenerative Organic Certified. They delve into the regenerative process and how it has impacted the vineyards, wines, and the company as a whole. The conversation also covers the brand’s rich history and the future of the Sonoma wine region. Along the way, they touch on topics like music, organic farming in Florida, and a scary wildlife encounter Meghan had on her first day on the job. [Ep327] gunbun.com @gundlach_bundschu

This week we focus on hospitality and service in the wine business. Grant Wood works for Bedrock Wine Co. in Sonoma, CA where they focus on highlighting historic vineyards that span the state. He achieved his Diploma in wine and spirits from the WSET as well as passed the Certified Sommelier exam through the Court of Master Sommeliers in mid-2021. Pursuing the MW program with the Institute of Masters of Wine is part of his five-year plan moving forward. His passion for wine and delivering meaningful and bespoke hospitality is what drives him to keep pursuing new challenges that continue to build himself both personally and professionally. [Ep325] @bedrockwines @jazegan

Kia Behnia is changing the wine industry one hexagonal wine bottle at a time. The wine-loving tech entrepreneur always dreamed of owning a piece of wine country. A flat tire led him to what became the Kiatra Estate Vineyard. The fires of 2017 galvanized his ambition to create Neotempo Wines. However, he’s never been satisfied with doing things the way they’ve always been done and questions everything from clones and root-stock to wine shipping. The guys sit down with Kia for a wide-ranging and inspirational conversation that didn’t come close to covering all the innovations Kia has fermenting. Stay tuned for part 2 coming soon! [Ep325]

This week we welcome Devyani Gupta to Sonoma for an in depth conversation about working for an internationally owned winery in Walla Walla. Devyani worked for some of the legendary leaders in the Washington wine industry before settling in to the Winemaker position at Valdemar Estates. The Syrah stopped the conversation as we simply stared at each other and smiled. Everything she is doing right now is inspiring on every level. Welcome the incomparable Devyani Gupta. Enjoy this one. [Ep324] Valdemarestates.com @valdemarestates

This week we welcome Alex Mitchell from MUST Machining & Fabrication to the podcast. MUST grew out of two different Napa Valley winery supplier/fabrication institutions York Machine Works and Burgstahler Machine Works, which had 70 years of experience innovating, leading, and servicing the wine industry. Alex, a former York employee began working with him in 2006, with the intent to purchase the business when York retired. In 2010, Alex and his wife, Michelle, assumed ownership. The Mitchells also met Wayne Burgstahler and told him that when he was ready to retire they were interested in purchasing his company, which came to fruition in late January 2020. The Mitchells combined the two shops and created MUST. Alex grew up in Napa Valley with his family growing grapes and making wine. Check out the show to hear the entire story. instagram.com/mustfabricate

Matt Reid started his career making wine at his house in San Francisco. He fell in love with the process and enrolled at UC-Davis Viticulture Program. He then worked at Seavey, Quixote and Failla. Matt is now the winemaker at Benessere, working with obscure Italian varietals, as well as launching his own brand, Peoples Wine Revolution, bringing affordable wines to daily drinkers. Benesserevineyards.com Pwrwines.com

Todd Alexander has started a new life in Washington. Former winemaker at Grace Family in Napa, he looked at NASA weather models through 2050 and noticed Napa and Sonoma were all in “the red”. He jumped at an opportunity to move north and is now the wine maker at Force Majeure and some other side projects that we discuss on the show. BeatsVinesAndLife Podcast host M.J. Towler joins us on the show, recorded in Walla Walla, and do his hilarious impression of Christophe Baron. [Ep321] @forcemajeurevineyards @beatsvinesandlife

This week we are joined by winemaker Danielle Langlois of Lasseter Family Winery and wine director Christophe Tassan MOF, of Moon Hollow ahead of the second edition of the immersive Reach for the Moon wine event, June 1st at Monte Rosso. They provide expert opinions on the wines and vineyards of one of our favorite AVAs and share some of the great new wines they've made from the very different Moon Mountain District estates they represent. We even busted out a 2013 as a sneak peek into the highlight of the event–the Antonio Galloni-led master class, a celebration of the 10 vintage anniversary of the appellation's approval. We even get a cameo by the winegrower who has become synonymous with Moon Mountain District. Care to guess who? [Ep320] For more information about the event and to buy tickets visit: https://moonmountaindistrict.org/ And try these wines!: https://www.moonhollow.com/ https://www.lasseterfamilywinery.com/ https://www.jambedeboiswines.com/

We sit down with Stacy Buchanan this week in his home town of Walla Walla. Stacy is the creator of the “Blood of Gods” zine, a biannual wine publication that was inspired by his history at Thrasher Magazine and his love for Death Metal. The zine was started a joke to poke a finger in the eye of the stuffy wine publications and draw some pretty cool comparisons between the wine business and the music world. Blood of Gods has now grown into a real resource and inspiration for wine geeks and those initially intimidated by the “old guard” in their ivory towers. The artwork is amazing and the stories approach wine in a way that is much more “palatable” to the casual consumer. Stacy was definitely one of our favorite people we met on our trip to Washington. Listen in and subscribe to the zine. Bloodofgods.bigcartel.com @bloodofgodszine

We are in Walla Walla at the Hospice du Rhone wine event. This morning we drove over to “The Rocks District” to meet up with Sean Boyd at Rotie Cellars tasting room, what Sean calls “the fish bowl”. The wall of windows provides an almost 360’ view of the Grenache and Syrah vineyard. The signature rocks flavor comes through in all of the wines, which are only available through the winery. [Ep318] @rotiecellars Rotiecellars.com