The Stories Behind Wine

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The Stories Behind Wine podcast series features the people, places, and history that influence the world of wine. Produced by Napa Valley Wine Academy, America’s premier wine school and a WSET and Riedel Global Wine Educator of the Year.

Napa Valley Wine Academy


    • Jun 30, 2021 LATEST EPISODE
    • infrequent NEW EPISODES
    • 43m AVG DURATION
    • 25 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from The Stories Behind Wine

    Wine Work & Passion Episode 4 – Peter Marks Master of Wine

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 30, 2021 30:50


    In this episode of Wine, Work & Passion, we'll talk to Peter Marks, Master of Wine, Instructor, and partner in Napa Valley Wine Academy.

    Episode 3 – Curtis Mann – Albertsons

    Play Episode Listen Later May 27, 2021 36:34


    In this episode of Wine, Work & Passion, we'll talk to Curtis Mann, Master of Wine, Group Vice President – Alcohol (Wine, Beer & Spirits). Curtis shares insights about working on the retail side of the wine industry and provide actionable advice to help you in pursuit of your wine industry career.  He'll also share his experience as one of only 52 Masters of Wine in the US/Canada.

    Episode 2 – Morgan Bailey -Quintessa Winery

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 6, 2021 36:16


    In this special episode, we'll talk to Morgan Bailey, Hospitality Director at Quintessa Winery, about the surge in available wine jobs as wineries reopen and the busy season approaches. Morgan will share her experience and expertise and offer advice on how you can find and secure a job right now in wine hospitality.

    Episode 1 – The Launch – Wine, Work & Passion

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 18, 2021 35:27


    In this inaugural episode, you'll meet Christian Oggenfuss, the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Napa Valley Wine Academy. He'll inspire you with his amazing journey on his way to becoming the CEO of America's Premier Wine School, and I'll share my story as well. We'll also expert advice on how you can enter our exciting industry.

    Episode 22 – Hugh Johnson – The Story of a Wine Giant

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 16, 2021 42:13


    In this episode, we catch up with wine legend, Hugh Johnson. Hugh has been one of the wine world's most read and influential authors over a 60-year career. He has inspired so many to pursue further wine education and helped transform how we think about wine writing. His story is complex, thrilling, and inspiring much like many of the finest wines of the world.

    Episode 21 – Steven Spurrier – The Story of Bride Valley Sparkling Wine

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 11, 2021 26:05


    In this special episode, We have the opportunity to chat with one of the wine industry's most storied and accomplished figures, Steven Spurrier, perhaps best known for organizing the 1976 Paris Testing that helped catapult Napa Valley onto the world wine stage.

    Episode 20 – Wine and War – The Story of Lebanon

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 14, 2021 44:15


    In this episode, Christian Oggenfuss sits with Michael Karam, the author of Wines of Lebanon and contributor to the new wine documentary Wine and War, about the rich and often war-torn history of Lebanese wines. This is their story.

    Episode 19 – The Story of Franciacorta

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 23, 2020 42:02


    In this episode, Christian Oggenfuss sits down with Giammario Villa an Italian native, Master Taster, sommelier, author, and ambassador for the Consorzio Franciacorta. We discuss Gammario's journey and explore the origins of Italy's premier sparkling wine region. This is their story.

    Episode 18 – Peter Mondavi Jr. – Stories of a Dynasty

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 12, 2020 39:22


    In this episode, Christian Oggenfuss has the opportunity to sit down with Peter Mondavi, Jr. of Charles Krug Winery. Christian explores Charles Krug and the Mondavi family's rich and fascinating history and influences shaping the Napa Valley.  This is their story.

    Episode 17 – Rodrigo Soto – Journey to Biodynamics

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 13, 2020 54:05


    In this episode, Christian Oggenfuss has the opportunity to sit down and reconnect with Rodrigo Soto a native of Chile and a passionate proponent of organic and biodynamic viticulture. Christian explores Rodrigo's early years in Chile and how a chance meeting at a dinner party propelled him to introduce biodynamics in Chile and become one of the most respected Chilean winemakers. Today he is general manager for one of the most well-known winery groups in the US

    Episode 16 – Vanessa Conlin – Journey to MW

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 10, 2020 34:46


    Episode 16, About a month ago, Christian Oggensfuss sat down with Vanessa Conlin, the Head of Wine at Wine Access to record this podcast. Since the recording, Conlin received the biggest news of her life—she had become a Master of Wine, one of just 467 in the world, and one of only 138 women to ever earn the credential. 

    Episode 15 - Paul Mabray - Wine Industry's Digital Godfather

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 28, 2020 41:31


    In Episode 15, we sit down with Paul Mabray, the digital godfather, to the wine industry. We discuss his career and metamorphosis from young beer salesman to one of the leading proponents of the transformation of the wine industry from one that has historically been technology adverse to an industry that needs to embrace the power of digital and social marketing and new routes to the consumer.

    Episode 14 - Dr. Paulo Lopes - Myths and Truths of Cork

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 7, 2019 37:37


    In Episode 14, we sit down with Dr. Paulo Lopes, a Portugues scientist and one the foremost experts on cork closures. We explore his journey from being a forest engineer to studying with some of the most influential wine minds at the University of Bordeaux, leading to his Masters and Ph.D. He has conducted some groundbreaking research that has dispelled some of the myths and long-held beliefs of the role of corks in the aging of wine.

    Episode 13 – Dan Dawson, Recovering Wine Shop Owner

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 25, 2018 41:29


    In episode 13 of our ongoing podcast series, The Stories Behind Wine we speak to recovering wine shop owner, founder of Dawson Wine Advisors, and Napa native Dan Dawson. Dan's story starts with waiting tables, traveling to the midwest to sell Vouvray, to becoming the French Laundry's first sommelier, and founding Napa's most respected wine shops, and ultimately abandoning retail to stake his claim in the digital wine recommendation space. 

    Episode 12 – Lisa Strid, Winemaker

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 17, 2018 40:07


    How did Lisa Strid, a Wyoming native, go from working for a wine industry behemoth to making wine in the high desert of Arizona? Find out on our next Stories Behind Wine podcast as we take you to one of America's unexpected wine regions.

    Episode 11 – Cathy Corison, Winemaker

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 17, 2018 31:14


    Cathy Corison is the owner of Corison Winery in St. Helena, California. An alum of Freemark Abbey, Robert Sinskey, and Chappellet, she's made wine under her eponymous label since 1987. Critic Eric Asimov of the NYT has written, “Corison is one of the greatest producers of Cabernet Sauvignon in Napa Valley today,” and she's been named a “Winemaker of the Year” by San Francisco Chronicle. She talks to us about what it was like being one of the first female winemakers in Napa in the late 1970s, and her impressions of how the industry has evolved in the last 40 years.

    Episode 9 – Dan Petroski, Winemaker

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 26, 2018 66:55


    In Episode 9 of our ongoing podcast series, The Stories Behind Wine, we speak to Dan Petroski San Francisco Chronicle's Winemaker of the Year who makes wines for Larkmead Vineyards and Massican Winery. Dan tells us about his fascinating journey to become a winemaker even though he has no formal winemaking training or education.

    Episode 8 – Mary Margaret McCamic MW

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 27, 2017 49:00


    In Episode 8 of our ongoing podcast series, The Stories Behind Wine, we speak to Mary Margaret McCamic one of only 45 Masters of Wine residing in the United States, of whom just 16 are women. She discusses her journey to becoming one of the wine world's top experts, shares her tips on passing the most challenging wine exam on the planet and what its like to win both the Bollinger Medal for outstanding tasting ability and the Overall Achievement Award for being the top student in her graduating Master of Wine class.

    Episode 7 – Angela Maculan

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 27, 2017 60:34


    In Episode 7 of our ongoing podcast series, The Stories Behind Wine, we speak to Angela Maculan the globe trotting ambassador for her family estate in the Breganze DOC of northern Italy. Angela shares with us what it's like to be a woman in the male dominated wine business and about her family's rich history and how they transform the ancient indigenous Vespaiola grape variety into some of the most revered sweet wines in Italy.

    Episode 6 – Master of Wine vs Master Sommelier

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 25, 2017 53:42


    In Episode 6 of our ongoing podcast series, The Stories Behind Wine, we explore the differences between the Master of Wine and Master Sommelier certification programs. We speak to Peter Marks, Master of Wine and Tim Gaiser, Master Sommelier two of the most influential masters in their respective certifications. If you have ever wondered what the differences are in two top wine credentials, you will not want to miss this episode.

    Episode 5 – Rob McMillan’s Story

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 9, 2017 45:01


    In Episode 5 of our ongoing podcast series, we speak to Rob McMillan an award-winning percussionist, once aspiring oceanographer, and business major, and one of the most influential bankers in the wine business who authors one of the most anticipated annual reports on the state of the wine business. Rob is the EVP & FOUNDER Silicon Valley Bank Wine Division based in Saint Helena, California. Starting in 1992, he developed the Division from the idea and start-up phase, to the point where it's now regarded as the leading and most connected provider of financial services to the US fine wine business.

    Ep 4 - Steve Matthiasson's Story

    Play Episode Listen Later May 11, 2017 53:14


    In this show we learn all about “jihadist winemaking,” skateboarding ethics, the Tour-de-France racer's sandwich, and the wine region Steve considers the Punk Rock of wine region.There is more to his story...

    Episode 3 – Interview with Ian Harris

    Play Episode Listen Later May 1, 2017 40:58


    In Episode 3 of the Stories Behind Wine, we sit down with Ian Harris the CEO of the WSET (Wine & Spirit Education Trust) to talk about the growth of the world's oldest and largest wine education body and how Ian came to hold his position and grow the reach of the WSET. There is more to his story...

    Ep2 -Joel Aiken - The Stories Behind WIne

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 6, 2017 48:08


    In Episode 2 of the Stories Behind Wine, we sit down with renowned vintner and winemaker Joel Aiken. Joel shares with us what it was like to be the youngest winemaker at Beaulieu Vineyard (BV) and what it's like to have worked with legendary winemaker André Tchelistcheff and with Michel Rolland. There is more to his story...

    Ep1 -An interview with Richard Mendelson

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 15, 2017 55:04


    In Episode 1 we interview Richard Mendelson about his role in helping establish some Napa Valley's 16 AVA (American Viticultural Areas) and his book "Appellation Napa Valley: Building and Protecting an American Treasure" Richard shares his personal stories about all of the intrigue, hard won battles, and how he helped craft one of the world's Premier wine regions.

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