Life Between the Vines

The secrets of a Michelin starred restaurant’s fine wine cellar is the blend of knowledge, experience and creativity. William Simons is the Wine Director and Director of Operations at Albi in Washington DC and I spoke with him on the phone just a few weeks ago. Albi’s Palestinian identity with a broad focus on hospitality [...]

This week on our Vino Lingo segment William Simons, Wine Director & Director of Operations, Albi, Washington DC, defines the term “Spontaneous”.  Learn more by visiting albicd.com

When we say winemakers tell the best stories, we weren’t kidding! Greg Pestoni, General Manager of Pestoni Family Estate Winery does have some of the best stories. His family history goes way back and covers several areas in the Valley. After spending years in the film industry Greg came back to the family winery to [...]

This week on our Vino Lingo segment we feature Greg Pestoni, General Manager, Pestoni Family Estate Winery, Napa Valley, defining the term “Double Plus”.  Learn more by visiting pestonifamily.com

I recently had an opportunity to sit down with three Napa Valley vintners to discuss several law suits which have been in the news. Lindsay Hoopes founded her winery in Yountville in 1983. Heather Brakesman Griffin's family founded Summit Lake Vineyards on top of Howell Mountain in 1971. Stu Smith founded Smith-Madrone on top of [...]

In Dry Creek Valley, the highly regarded Zinfandel grape is king. Clay Mauritson and Mauritson Winery is known for high quality Zinfandel wines in an area where growers thrive on Zin. I met Clay last year at a Sonoma auction and missed a chance to chat with him, but I made up for it earlier [...]

This week on our Vino Lingo segment we feature Clay Mauritson, Proprietor, Mauritson Winery, Dry Creek, defining the term “Bulldogging”.  Learn more by visiting mauritsonwines.com

This is our special podcast of the Sonoma County Barrel Auction 2025 featuring the Vintners/Winemakers telling why Sonoma Wines are special. Cheers! Clay Mauritson/Mauritson Wines Mike Sullivan/Benovia Winery Courtney Wagoner/Martinelli Winery Jessica Gilmore/Williams Selyem miss Caroline Guerra/MacRostie Winery Ben Papapietro/Papapietro-Perry Winery Ames Morison/Medlock Ames Wine Brian Ball/Skipstone Phil Holbrook/Salty Goat Wine SaCha Stewart-Coleman/Twomey & Silver [...]

Around 85% of Sonoma County’s wineries are family owned. That’s a pretty big deal. It’s not easy to take over the reigns of operating a vineyard and winery. But hard work and long hours payoff in highly sought after fine wine. Evan Merriam along with his parents own Merriam Family Vineyards in Healdsburg. I interviewed [...]

This week on our Vino Lingo segment we feature Evan Merriam, Estate Manager, Merriam Vineyards, Healdsburg, defining the term “Alive”.  Learn more by visiting merriamvineyards.com

Paralleling highway 29 in Napa Valley is Silverado Trail, and up on a hill in the famous Stags Leap District you’ll find Silverado Vineyards. The tasting room offers beautiful views and is itself an exceptional structure. I met up with Silverado Winemaker Alison Rodriguez to learn more about this magnificent winery and how she got [...]

This week on our Vino Lingo segment we feature Alison Rodriguez, Winemaker, Silverado Vineyards, Napa Valley, defining the phrase “Listen to Your Wine”.  Learn more by visiting silveradovineyards.com

Sparkling Wine made in the traditional method has followers all over the world, but you may not always think of Napa Valley in that category. Paula Kornell grew up in Napa Valley and spent her early years in the wine cellar as well as vineyards. Sparkling Wine is her passion and you can easily say [...]

This week on our Vino Lingo segment we feature Paula Kornell, Proprietor, Paula Kornell Sparkling Wines, Napa Valley, defining the term “Smiles”.   Learn more by visiting paulakornell.com

There are so many exceptional wine growing regions in the state of California it could fill up our podcast with content for the next couple years. Lake County is one of those incredible areas, growing Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel, Syrah, Sauvignon Blanc just to name a few. Six Sigma Ranch is a very special winery in [...]

This week on our Vino Lingo segment we feature Kaj Ahlmann, Proprietor, Six Sigma Ranch, Lake County, California, defining the phrase “Monday Night Pizza Wine”.  Learn more by visiting sixsigmaranch.com

This week on our Vino Lingo segment we feature Kathryn Finn, Winemaker, Six Sigma Ranch, Lake County, California, defining the term “Integration”.  Learn more by visiting www.sixsigmaranch.com

The beauty of Mendocino county is complimented by the unique tasting room at Barra of Mendocino. Just under 2 ½ hour drive from San Francisco is where you’ll find Proprietor, Martha Barra. I originally interviewed Martha by phone in December of 2022, but this time I made the trip in person. The tasting room is [...]

This week on our Vino Lingo segment we feature Martha Barra, Proprietor, Barra of Mendocino, Redwood City, Mendocino County, defining the term “Biochar”.  Learn more by visiting www.barraofmendocino.com

Family wineries are the best. From family comes the care and focus to make the very best wines possible especially when your name is on the bottle. Merriam Vineyards is found on the edge of Healdsburg and Will Weese is Winemaker. I met up with Will just a few weeks ago to get his take [...]

This week on our Vino Lingo segment we feature William Weese, Winemaker, Merriam Vineyards, Healdsburg, defining the term “Audible”.  Learn more by visiting www.merriamvineyards.com

The last time I interviewed Doug Nalle was back in 2009 so I was way, way overdue to visit Nalle Winery. This time around I met with Doug and his son Andrew with occasional commentary from Doug’s wife Lee. We laughed a lot back in 2009 and we laughed even more in 2025. Nalle is [...]

This week on our Vino Lingo segment Doug Nalle, Owner, Nalle Winery, Dry Creek Valley, defines the term “Zinberry”.  Learn more by visiting www.nallewinery.com

This week on our Vino Lingo segment we feature Andrew Nalle, Winemaker, Nalle Winery, Dry Creek Valley, defining the term “Sweet Tannins”.  Learn more by visiting www.nallewinery.com

When a winery has skilled leadership as well as a sense of humor, the sky is the limit. Pam Starr is Owner and Founding Winemaker and Cyrus Hazzard is Partner and President at Crocker & Starr in Napa Valley. Spirited conversation, exceptional tastings and lots of laughs are at the heart of these two leaders. [...]

This week on our Vino Lingo segment we feature Pam Starr, Founding Winemaker and Owner, Crocker & Starr, Napa Valley defining the term “The Cycle”.  Learn more by visiting www.crockerstarr.com

This week on our Vino Lingo segment we feature Pam Starr, Founding Winemaker and Owner, Crocker & Starr, Napa Valley, defining “The Cycle”.  Learn more by visiting www.crockerstarr.com

Spring Mountain stands to the west of St Helena, growing some of the finest grapes to be found in Napa Valley. Many winemakers on the mountain have been at it for several years and represent Napa from years gone by. Lots of wine history has been made here. I visited Sheldon Richards, Owner and Winemaker [...]

This week on our Vino Lingo segment we feature Sheldon Richards, Proprietor and winemaker, Paloma Vineyard, Spring Mountain, Napa Valley, defining the phrase “Its only just grape juice at the end of the day”.  Learn more by visiting www.palomavineyard.com

Premiere Napa Valley 2025 is now in the history books with $3.3 million made from the auction. This podcast features brief interviews with 70 winemakers and vintners talking about the 2023 lots as well as explaining why wine is important. This is part two.  To learn more visit Napa Valley Vintners as www.napavintners.com Part Two, [...]

Premiere Napa Valley 2025 is now in the history books with $3.3 million made from the auction. This podcast features brief interviews with 70 winemakers and vintners talking about the 2023 lots as well as explaining why wine is important. To learn more visit Napa Valley Vintners as www.napavintners.com Winemakers/Vintners in order of appearance: John [...]

Today’s podcast was recorded about a month ago featuring Lucas Löwi, Estate Director of Terrazas de los Andes in Mendoza, Argentina. Lucas is originally from Mendoza and has returned home with an exceptional background in wine to be part of Terrazas de los Andes. His goal simply is to impart his passion with the end [...]

This week on our Vino Lingo segment we feature Lucas Löwi, Estate Director, Terrazas de los Andes, Mendoza, Argentina, defining the phrase “The Ascension Journey”.  Learn more by visiting www.terrazasdelosandes.com

Mineral Point is a small town located almost halfway between Madison, Wisconsin and Dubuque, Iowa. Charming and full of history, you would never know there was a winemaker there with a background that includes New Zealand and Napa Valley. Erin Rasumssen is the Founder of The American Wine Project and you can find the tasting [...]

This week on our Vino Lingo segment Erin Rasmussen, Owner, American Wine Project, Mineral Point, Wisconsin, defines the term “Foxy”.  Learn more by visiting www.americanwineproject.com

To be a Winemaker in Willamette Valley is really like having the world as your oyster. Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, of course. But much more. Paden West is Winemaker at Benza Vineyards and has an extensive history with wine, winemaking and music as well. How does music fit in? I spoke with Paden a few [...]

This week on our Vino Lingo segment we feature Paden West, Winemaker, Benza Vineyards, Willamette Valley, defining the term “Do Less”.  Learn more by visiting www.approachmentwines.com or www.benza.com

This is not the first time I’ve sat down for an interview with Cary Gott but this time I wanted to dig deeper into his wine background. Cary Gott Vineyard & Winery Estates has a long history in wine and Cary literally grew up in the business. He should really write a book but for [...]

Cole Ballantine is the Assistant Winemaker at William Cole Vineyards in Napa Valley. And he is the 5th generation in wine. Both his parents are 4th generation in their respective families. That is a fantastic bit of history. But history goes deep in the Valley. We’ve been fortunate enough to interview several multi-generational family members [...]

Cole Ballantine is the Assistant Winemaker at William Cole Vineyards in Napa Valley. And he is the 5th generation in wine. Both his parents are 4th generation in their respective families. That is a fantastic bit of history. But history goes deep in the Valley. We’ve been fortunate enough to interview several multi-generational family members [...]

My dear friend Winemaker Henrik Poulsen recently introduced me to Sherrie Cavalari of Red Rover, Charity S.O.S. .   So what does that have to do with wine you might ask? Well, Sherrie is working to stop organized slavery and to raise awareness of this concern by offering an exclusive wine make by Henrik. I [...]

Part Four of our podcast where we once again pose our favorite question to winemakers: What is the one question that you’ve never been asked, that you would like to be asked? This is Part Four. The winemakers in order of appearance: Jennifer Sahara, Owner & Winemaker, Sakura Winery, Livermore Valley Cyrus Hazzard, Executive VP, [...]

For this podcast we once again pose our favorite question to winemakers: What is the one question that you’ve never been asked, that you would like to be asked? The winemakers in order of appearance: Dustin Moilanen, Founder, ACTA Wines, Alexander Valley Lisa Lee, Winemaker, Charles R Vineyards, Livermore Valley Morgan Maureze, Winemaker, Seven Apart, [...]

In keeping with our podcast history of including several aspects of the wine industry, this week we offer an interview with Haydn Adams, Proprietor of Beyond Napa Valley. BNV offers discount benefits to wine lovers visiting Sonoma County and other wine areas. Haydn is a veteran of the California wine scene and I spent time [...]

This week on our Vino Lingo segment we feature Haydn Adams, Founder, Beyond Napa Valley, defining the term “Spit”.  Learn more by visiting www.beyondnapavalley.com

Winemaker Jean Hoefliger has been a guest on our podcast more times than I can count…and that’s for a good reason. Jean has developed a company consulting for wineries in many different parts of the world so his point of view is based on varied experience. Plus he’s fun to talk to. I met Jean [...]

This week on our Vino Lingo segment we feature Jean Hoefliger, Wine Consultant, JH Wine Consulting, Napa Valley, defining the term “Set”.  Learn more by visiting www.jhwineconsulting.com

ONEHOPE Wine is a name that says it all. Their mission is to share wine and give hope. Kristen Schroyer is Chief Impact Officer for ONEHOPE Wine and their winery can be found in Napa Valley. Many wines and many charities is the simplest way to describe ONEHOPE. But its easier to let Kristen tell [...]

This week on our Vino Lingo segment we feature Kristen Schroyer, Chief Impact Officer, ONEHOPE Wine, Napa Valley, defining the term “Sipsters”.  Learn more by visiting www.onehopewine.com

Heading east over Howell Mountain you’ll find Pope Valley. While regarded as part of the Napa Valley AVA, Pope Valley is just east of St Helena and is unlike the busy Valley it parallels. This is part two of our interview with the owners of Pope Valley Winery, this time featuring Vintner and family member [...]

This week on our Vino Lingo segment we feature David Eakle, Vintner, Pope Valley Winery, Napa Valley defining the term “Spile”.  Learn more by visiting www.popevalleywinery.com