Podcasts about Robert Mondavi

Amid news of oversupply and decreased demand, the wine industry has an opportunity to adapt to the changing market. Audra Cooper, Director of Grape Brokerage, and Eddie Urman, Central Coast Grape Broker at Turrentine Brokerage, discuss key grape and wine industry trends, from oversupply and vineyard removals to the growing necessity of sustainable certification. They explore regional dynamics, bulk wine market shifts, and future trends, emphasizing innovation, industry collaboration, and better marketing to stay competitive. 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Learn more at www.vineyardteam.org.   Transcript [00:00:00] Beth Vukmanic: Amid news of oversupply and decreased demand, the wine industry has an opportunity to adapt to the changing market. [00:00:11] Welcome to Sustainable Wine, growing with the Vineyard team, where we bring you the latest in science and research for the wine industry. I'm Beth Vukmanic executive director. [00:00:22] In today's podcast, Craig McMillan, critical resource Manager at Niner Wine Estates. With Longtime SIP Certified Vineyard, and the first ever SIP certified winery speaks with Audra Cooper, director of Grape Brokerage and Eddie Urman, central Coast Grape Broker At Turrentine Brokerage, [00:00:41] they discuss key grape and wine industry trends from oversupply to vineyard removals to the growing necessity of sustainable certification. They explore regional dynamics, bulk wine market shifts and future trends. Emphasizing innovation, industry collaboration, and better marketing to stay competitive. [00:01:01] If you love infield education and are on California Central Coast on April 25th, 2025, please join us at the fungicide spring tailgate hosted at Cal Poly. In San Luis Obispo, California, Dr. Shunping Ding will share updated results from a 2024 study on fungicide programs using bio fungicides and their impact on grape yield and berry chemistry. Then we'll visit the Cal Poly Vineyard to explore new powdered mildew management technologies and discuss fungicide spraying programs. With farmers from throughout the central coast to register, go to vineyard team.org/events or look for the link in the show notes. [00:01:44] Craig Macmillan: Our guests today are Audra Cooper. She's Director of Grape Brokerage with Turrentine Brokerage. And also, Eddie Urman, who's Central Coast Grape Broker with Turrentine Brokerage as well. And thanks for coming back. This is part two of a, of a, of an episode here. So, I really appreciate you folks making time to come back. [00:02:00] Audra Cooper: Thank you for having us back. We're excited to join you once again. [00:02:04] Eddie Urman: Yeah, thanks for having us. [00:02:05] Craig Macmillan: So Audra, let's start with you. In our last conversation . [00:02:17] And that was kind of where we left it that then started a conversation amongst the three of us afterward. We were like, okay, there's a lot more to talk about here. So let's do it. [00:02:24] Can you give some examples of what you mean by getting ahead of changes? [00:02:30] Audra Cooper: I think it's a sound business strategy to always try and stay ahead of the curve regardless of what component of business or what industry you're in, right? It's just a, a good strategy to have and a good philosophy to have. It's really important in this industry to continue to stay relevant and in order to stay relevant, you have to stay within the trend or ahead of the trend. [00:02:51] Being behind the eight ball is, never a good thing . You need to be ahead of the curve. A good example of that is sustainable certification. And we still have these discussions on the daily and Eddie, you can talk to this too about how often we have to talk about if you're not sustainably certified, you are cutting your buyer pool, probably roughly in half, as I mentioned in the previous podcast, and you're limiting yourself. [00:03:18] And the majority of the practices, most growers are probably already doing, and they're just not going through the certification process and getting that done. And if you look back a little over a decade ago, it was something that wineries were paying, you know, 25, 50 per ton more for, they were paying a premium. [00:03:36] And then it became more of a, this is really nice to have. And so more and more growers We're doing it as a point of differentiation in their marketing. And now today it's almost a necessity. It's no longer something that's necessarily going to get you a premium price for your grapes. It's also not necessarily a point of differentiation any longer. [00:03:55] It's a need to have. [00:03:57] Craig Macmillan: Yeah, Eddie, do you have anything to add to that? [00:03:59] Eddie Urman: No, I think that's a great example. , Audra offered up. [00:04:02] Craig Macmillan: So there's, trends around that, and there's a lot of certifications now, and I agree, I think a lot of folks don't need to be afraid of whatever the certification is, because you're probably doing a lot of those things already, a lot of common practices. [00:04:13] I think that's an interesting insight that now it's kind of becoming expected or certainly a requirement for a lot of wineries. [00:04:19] Let's talk about changes in acreage. That's where we left off last time when we were talking about the difference between vineyard removals, which have been suggested, recommended, et cetera, by a number of folks in the industry as we just are in oversupply period I've heard estimates that we may have 30 to 35, 000 acres of grapes, more than we need based on current demand. [00:04:40] how accurate do you think that is? , how bad is it on the supply side? [00:04:45] Audra Cooper: Well, I think you have a couple parts to that question, right? Let's dissect that a little bit and start with, we just got back from the Unified Wine Grape Symposium in Sacramento, and of course, during the State of the Industry, Jeff Bitter gave his annual synopsis of the nursery survey that they do annually on how many vines were sold, and they do a, A lot of data work in regards to what were removals and his number that he reported over the last two years was 37, 500 acres have been removed from the state of California. [00:05:15] He believes based on their research that another 50, 000 acres need to be removed to reach the point of balance, assuming that consumption stays at its current rate or drops just a tiny bit. [00:05:29] And when we look at our information internally, now we don't do a survey like Allied does, but we're tracking a lot of information, both with our winery partners as well as our grower partners in regards to who's doing what, and our number's a little bit higher, but we also go back four years technically going back to 2022, our number for the state of California is closer to about 50, 000 acres that have been removed, and, you know, I would argue that If consumption stays flat, certainly there will need more removals, but I don't know about 50, 000 acres more. [00:06:04] That seems like an awful lot of acres that need to be removed. If his numbers are right, that would put us back to Basically global recession numbers, which would be around 500, 000 acres bearing.  [00:06:16] Craig Macmillan: right. in the Grape Crush Report, which is an annual report that's put out by, uh, California Department Of Food and Agriculture and the National Agricultural Statistics Service, there is a non bearing acres section in there, which I always find very interesting. Are we able to glean anything from that data in terms of what's been sold, what we think's gonna go back in, et cetera? [00:06:39] I want to put a timestamp on this. So this is being recorded first week of February, 2025. So the unified was in 2025. The report that's coming out is going to be for the 2024 year. [00:06:48] What can we learn from that non bearing acreage report?  [00:06:51] Audra Cooper: So there's two different reports. the acreage report will be coming out a little bit later in the year. We're going to have our crush report come out on February 10. I think you can glean two pieces of information, but both are very similar. And that is how much acreage has actually been removed and how light the crop truly was, particularly in the coastal regions for 2024. [00:07:10] And so when we look at, for example, a 23 bearing and non bearing acreage information from the state of California they're reporting 446, 000 acres of bearing wine grapes. And if you take that at, say, 7 tons an acre, that's 3. 12 million tons. And we know with certainty at 7 tons an acre, That acreage seems pretty low. [00:07:35] It doesn't seem realistic. So unfortunately, because it's a voluntary report when it comes to bearing versus non bearing acres, I do think that the state's probably about two years behind on real data trends. And so unfortunately right now, if you were to use that report as, you know, an analysis of the industry, you'd probably be a bit off. [00:07:54] Craig Macmillan: got it, got it. Are there trends in what varieties are coming out and what varieties are going back in? Because that's often been the driving force for removals and replants, is chasing the marketplace. Are we seeing that kind of thing in California? [00:08:11] Audra Cooper: Yeah, you know, I'll I'll touch on this a little bit and then turn it over to Eddie. It's, it's really difficult to predict in our industry how and what and when to plant, right? Because you are following a trend and a trend that you're going to be lagging behind in trying to meet because of the amount of time it takes to get a crop and a crop that is productive. [00:08:31] And so oftentimes we're abridged, Yeah. Yeah. too far behind in regards to consumer trends. When we look at the central coast as a whole, there's certainly some segmented dynamics on what's being removed versus planted. And, you know, a good place to start, of course, is Paso. Eddie, do you want to talk a little bit more about that? [00:08:51] Eddie Urman: Yeah we do see some trends of, varieties, being pushed out more frequently than others. You know, for the Central Coast, a couple that come to mind are, Zin, Pinot Noir Merlot is one that historically came out. If it's still there, still going out, and then more specifically, old vines is probably the more specific categories. You are seeing a lot of Cab being pushed, that are old vines, but likely to go back into Cab if it gets replanted. [00:09:17] Audra Cooper: that's an interesting trend, because when we're looking at what was purchased based on the survey numbers that Jeff Bitter reported, he was talking about 12, 000 acres being planted based on their survey in 2024, and an overwhelming percentage was still red varietals, which really bucks the trend on what we're seeing observing boots on the ground. [00:09:41] What we've mainly been seeing planted are more alternative whites and niche whites like Grenache Blanc, Pinot Grigio Astrotico, you know, very specific alternative whites in which they're trending with DTC and kind of smaller producers. Certainly we still see some redevelopment of Cabernet as well as Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, not so much on the red blender side or Merlot. [00:10:06] Those seem to be being pulled out and not redeveloped. [00:10:09] Craig Macmillan: Are we seeing any changes or trends around Okay, I'm pushing out Cabernet. I'm going to replant Cabernet. , am I going to replant the same amount of Cabernet? Am I using this as an opportunity to plant new ground? Do we have any information about that kind of thing? [00:10:24] Audra Cooper: Yeah, I mean, to give you hard data would be challenging. I don't know that anyone really has, a hard, fast calculation of what they do and don't do in regards to, the varietal makeup of a redevelopment. And I do want to clarify, I think there's a common misconception, particularly in the coastal regions that This is new net acreage. [00:10:43] It's not new net acreage. A lot of this is redeveloped acreage, but it will be higher in productivity based on, you know, better vines, healthier vines, better spacing, new farming technology, and so forth. And so we'll have new net supply based off that acreage. In full production. When you look at the new developments, though, and it was save paso cab, for example, it's really difficult to say, Oh, well, let's do 50 percent cab and 50 percent red blenders. [00:11:14] I mean, that's a tough decision to make. And you're really making a a pretty risky bet. I think for most people, they're going to plant to the site and also to the trend in the market. And so oftentimes, for example, again, Paso Cab, you're still going to have Cabernet largely go back in on those redevelopments. [00:11:31] When you look at Santa Barbara County, I think they're diversifying a little bit more than they had been in the past. You're not largely just Chardonnay Pinot Cab. You're also seeing alternative reds and whites being planted in that area. Monterey County, when you look at that region, it tends to be a little bit more mixed bag, but still largely chardonnay then in the southern Monterey County area, cabernet and red blenders. [00:11:54] Craig Macmillan: Do you have anything to add to that, Eddie? [00:11:56] Eddie Urman: As far as the rate of what's going back in the ground, you know, in acres. I think as far as East Paso goes Monterey County, Santa Barbara County, we're seeing contraction as far as more acres coming out that are going back. The only area we do see more plantings that are new, it is in the West side of Paso. And it's substantial. I think there's a good amount of acres that have gone in the West side. [00:12:17] Being from the growing side, I think we always wanted to diversify away from Cabernet and Paso Robles specifically, but the reality is the majority of people still want to buy Cabernet. So if anything, I'm worried that growers expect other varieties to try to diversify their portfolio that might not match the demand. [00:12:37] Craig Macmillan: Right, right. And speaking of demand. , we're talking about land and grapes, what's the current state of the, the bulk wine market where you'd expect a lot of the sovers to go where are we kind of at and what do you think are going to be the impacts on the bulk wine market with the replanting? [00:12:53] Audra Cooper: currently right now, listed available with us is about 28 million gallons. We anticipate that it will climb to probably 30, maybe past 30 million gallons at the peak of listing this year, which is typically early summer. In large part, that's still 2023 vintage. However, we do still have some 21, 22, and of course now new 24 is being listed. [00:13:18] The rate of listing is not being eclipsed by the rate of, you know, attrition decline in regards to bulk wine being removed from the market, whether that's through sales or higher and better use internally for those who are listing it. So we still have an off kilter balance there and certainly dramatically an oversupply and that dynamics likely to continue for the next couple of years until we see consumption increase and, and therefore increasing demand for new products. [00:13:45] Typically when we've seen these large increases in availability, what's gotten us out of it is the negotiants who are developing new brands, particularly when we look back to the premiumization sector. We saw a lot of middle tiers, you know, the likes of Duckhorn and Joel Gott and several others who were growing programs that they may have had for a couple of years, but they were very small and they've broadened those to other Appalachians or California and went to the bulk market first to kind of grow those programs before they started grape contracting. [00:14:16] So we're going to need to start seeing that trend in order to clean that market up. [00:14:19] Craig Macmillan: And so that's, that's basically good news, you think, for the bulk wine supply going down the road. [00:14:23] Audra Cooper: I think. In the future, it is in the short term. It's rather painful to have that amount of availability, right? We've been tracking this for the better part of three decades, and there's never been a single calendar year in which we've carried this amount of inventory, particularly going into last harvest, it was the highest inventory we'd ever seen in our tracking. [00:14:44] Keep in mind that this is what's listed available for us. This is not going out and taking inventory of what everyone has in tank that they're not necessarily going to bottle or they don't have a program for. So you can easily maybe double that number and that's what the likely availability is. [00:15:03] Craig Macmillan: Eddie what do you think is going to happen with pricing on on bulk wine? Yeah, I know that you're a specialized in grapes. But obviously those growers are concerned about what's going to happen to those grapes. From the grower side, how attractive is it right now to turn product into bulk wine, do you think? [00:15:21] Eddie Urman: I would say it's very, very, very much not attractive. Uh, we would. Not advocate for that in most scenarios for growers at this time regarding bulk pricing, you know, bulk wine, obviously we have bulk people who have better insight than Audrey, but in general, it's not going to be good. We don't, we don't foresee an increase in price as. we're obviously seeing an increase in supply of bulk wine, that typically is going to still have more downward pressure on price. And as far as growers bulking wine, it's, I think, a very risky game right now. You know, bulk wine does have a life expectancy, to Audra's point earlier. And, know, if you bulk it now, you have to sell it eventually to make your money back. [00:16:02] And then on top of that, you have to carry those costs with today's interest rates.  [00:16:06] Craig Macmillan: Right, right. So, prices for bulk wine right now, I'm guessing have been on the decline for probably a couple of years. Is that accurate? [00:16:13] Audra Cooper: Yeah, that's an accurate statement. If I were to really think about how long they've been on the decline, I would say probably mid, mid calendar year 2023 is when we start to see the downturn of the market be very, you know, impactful on pricing and overall demand. And of course, increasing inventory is really when that trend started. [00:16:34] I want to kind of go back to what Eddie was talking about regarding you know growers making bulk wine and and how risky that is, you know, we have a saying internally and it's so Elementary, but it's so applicable to these times. Your first loss is typically your best loss or your least loss and so it's really important when you're looking at alternative to market Whether or not you're actually going to be able to optimize how much investment you have in that product, and more often than not, when you're making grapes into bulk wine as a grower, you're not going to have the wherewithal to compete with a competitive set, other wineries, or large growers whose business models incorporate making bulk wine as a producer. [00:17:15] So you really end up being on the losing end of that game. [00:17:19] Craig Macmillan: Eddie, do you see price pressure on growers? Are prices being negotiated down or contracts being changed or not renewed? And if so, does that vary by region, do you think? I know you specialize in the Central Coast, but just from what you know. [00:17:34] Eddie Urman: I think for the Central Coast, it's easy to say that there's still unfortunately more cancellations or evergreens being called and their contracts being executed. There is some activity of people being willing to look at stuff and even make offers, which is good news, but typically it's at a lower pricing. [00:17:51] Craig Macmillan: This is for both of you if I'm a grower and I'm facing this situation both what I can get for my price and then also what the chances are of me selling my stuff on the bulk market, is this a situation where we're maybe better off not harvesting all the crop or mothballing some vineyards for the short term? [00:18:08] Eddie Urman: Yeah, I mean, I think in general, the less we pick this upcoming season that doesn't have a home, you know, the better off if it's picked for, uh, a program where it's actually needed, that's great, but bulking one on spec or taking in more fruit because it's cheap or very, you know, very low cost is not going to be a good thing. good overall thing for the industry. [00:18:30] As far as mothballing, we've talked a lot internally. This is where the conversation came in last time about making tough decisions and being intentional about how you're going to farm or you plant going into the season as a grower is, you know, mothballing is very controversial. [00:18:45] I think for our team, as far as whether it truly works and can you truly come back after it's done, if you're mothballing a Vineyard that's at the end of his life expectancy. You're probably just delaying your pain one more year. Cause it probably will not come back. If you're mothballing a five year old vineyard, maybe it's something that's a different story, but a real tough decision. [00:19:06] Mothballing a young producing vineyard most people are not in that situation. [00:19:12] Audra Cooper: Yeah, I mean, I want to expand a little bit on the, the mothballing and not harvesting fruit. I think it's really important that, you know, while this is a rather negative time in the industry and it's really easy to be very pessimistic. I do want to be optimistic about the needed outcomes and the solutions and the pain that's still rather prevalent in our industry to get kind of to the other side of being healthy. [00:19:36] I do want to be optimistic about some of the newer plantings that we've seen basically since 2012. There is a lot of new to middle aged vineyards that I really hope continue to stay in the ground. They need to stay in the ground because they are the highest and best fit for some of the newer style products in wine. [00:19:54] And we need to be able to continue to keep our wine quality elevated. And so while certainly there's vineyards that need to be removed or, or mothballed and taken out of production, there's also the flip side of that where there's a huge need for some of the. better vineyards and the more sought after vineyards or the vineyards that are priced right for the program that they're going into. [00:20:16] So this is kind of a double edged sword in the sense that yeah, we need plenty of production to be pulled out of the supply chain, but at the same time there's a huge need for very specific supply. So I want to be very careful in classifying those items. [00:20:30] Craig Macmillan: Right. And that brings me to my next question Audra there must be regional differences. Yeah. Yeah. In these patterns, I would assume some areas maybe are a little bit more protected from this kind of contraction or, or expansion over supply and others probably really bearing the brunt. I would guess. Do you see patterns at the state level? [00:20:48] Audra Cooper: I see patterns at the state level, but I can even bring it down to the central coast, even so far down to like even Paso right now. And Eddie and I have been talking about this a lot. You know, we saw a huge uptick in available inventory for east side AVA Cabernet and red blenders and even some of the white. Over the last two years, particularly last year in 2024, [00:21:11] and now we're seeing that dynamic shift from the east side climbing and available inventory. And now the west side is where we're seeing most of our listings come from over the last couple of weeks. And so we're now seeing it kind of push into more of the premium luxury tiers as far as this oversupply and the contraction and the kind of the pain points. [00:21:29] And so we are moving through the channels. Which I know again is, is difficult to hear and it's a very negative position to be in the industry, but it's also a sign that the market and the supply chain is moving through what it needs to move towards in order to come out the other side of this thing on a healthier end. [00:21:48] We comment on this a lot where. You know, it's going to get worse, dramatically worse for a short period of time before it gets better. And we're starting to see kind of the beginning of that position. [00:21:58] Craig Macmillan: What about the San Joaquin Valley? San Joaquin Valley? [00:22:02] Audra Cooper: is actually typically leading the charge in regards to our market, particularly our supply aspect of things, both in grapes and bulk wine. And so when we see A retraction in our industry or oversupply. We typically see it in the interior of the central valley first And when we see kind of a new, Growth stage we see it over there first as well And so they're ahead of us by one to two years Currently and then it kind of follows into the central coast and then up into the north coast and what i've seen Historically when you look back at markets and you look at kind of the time horizons of these things how? Long they live and what pushes the momentum of these markets. You'll typically see it last longer in the Central Valley, tiny bit shorter in the Central Coast and a lot shorter in the North Coast. The North Coast usually doesn't see quite as long of a pain period as the other two regions do. And there's, there's a lot of reasons that we probably shouldn't get into today because it would be a whole nother topic of conversation. [00:23:00] But I do think that the Central Coast right now has got another challenging year ahead of it. But also I think that the on ramp to a more positive industry is a little shorter than what I think people are giving credit for too because a lot of the work is being done, we just got to get through these major pain points first. [00:23:19] Craig Macmillan: We know that consumers drive demand for wine and hence wine grapes but are there other economic forces or political forces or regulatory forces that put pressure on this grape market aside from just consumer demand? [00:23:32] Eddie Urman: again, but 1 of big 1s is, put, it could put pressure to the positive or negative on our industry. We don't really know yet. It's still to be determined. when I read this question, the other thing came to mind to me is, is from a grower's perspective ensuring that you're growing. The compatible correct grapes for your region or varieties or it's staying within where you need to be. If the market for, for example, Chardonnay went through, went to the moon, it doesn't mean everyone in Paso should plant Chardonnay, [00:24:00] even though that's the hot variety, right? [00:24:02] It wouldn't be the best variety for most areas of Those are some of the quicker things that come to my mind. I'll probably elaborate. [00:24:10] Audra Cooper: I think to expand upon that, certainly regulations regarding, you know, water usage and irrigation is is a huge factor. And, and Eddie, you could probably do an entire podcast on that particular topic. And I'm sure that you guys have actually, Craig in addition to that, you really look at the economic environment in which people are growing grapes and producing wine. [00:24:32] And the economy of it is getting, you know, more and more difficult. The margins are getting much smaller. You can argue that more often than not people are taking losses year over year. And that puts a ton of pressure on their cash flow. In addition to that, when you look at the lending environment as well, that's become a lot more say, non conducive to being able to continue with business. In a lot of cases, [00:24:57] we have a handful of clients, if not more, who are questioning, do I prune because I don't necessarily have the same operational loan that I've had over the last couple of years and I've been taking low grape prices in order to survive to the following year, but you can only do that so long before it catches up to you. [00:25:14] And then we have another group or another segment of clientele who will prune, but may end up having to throw in the towel sometime, you know, mid summer or sooner because they don't have enough capital to continue with the grapes or you know, not sold. And then you look at the producer side on the winery side, and, and they too are getting crunched. [00:25:32] You know, we often talk about how low grape prices are, but we forget that, you know, wineries are getting crunched on their bottle price as well in order to nationally distribute. You know, what you see on the shelf as a price point does not necessarily mean that that's a price point to that producer. So the economies of this industry are getting more and more difficult every single year. [00:25:52] Craig Macmillan: Eddie, especially, are you seeing trends towards things like mechanization to try to keep costs down? [00:25:58] Eddie Urman: Yeah, absolutely. I mean mechanization and then automation and the vineyard or two, the , you know, hottest topics so here. And people were definitely making the efforts to try to implement those as they come available. The difficult thing can be oftentimes it's investment in equipment. That's very expensive and you have to truly consider is it going to, is it economically feasible to invest in that equipment and what's the payout time going to be based upon the amount of acres you're farming or how many passes you can do with that piece of equipment. So we're, we're seeing it happen, which is great. [00:26:31] It's innovation and it's heading us in the right direction, but at this point, a lot of it is still quite expensive and not everyone could participate for cost reasons. Yeah. [00:26:41] Craig Macmillan: Going forward, we've talked about this a little bit in terms of how different regions are kind of more paying for longer and some a little bit less and et cetera. And this then translates into the wines that are out there. Audra, you'd mentioned you know, the potential of negotiants to come in and help to alleviate the market. [00:26:59] That's definitely what happened in the nineties from my memory. We saw a lot of negotiate brands pop up because there was a plentiful supply for some of those years. Are there things that companies or government or grower associations, are there things that organizations could do to advise growers or help move people in the right direction in terms of kind of what they need to do? Is the viticulture consulting community? Taking these things into account Eddie, let's start with you, [00:27:29] Eddie Urman: that's a big question. there are plenty of people giving good advice in the industry and growers do have resources to reach out to, but it's very difficult to hear information that doesn't. Align with what you would like to do, right? So taking out our emotions from this from the equation and say, okay, does it really make sense to do this or to do that? Where where's that going to leave us and is that going to be in a position? To move forward in a better, know in a better new industry or new, you know New time in this industry when things rebound there's information out there, but it is difficult extremely difficult right now for growers and wineries to make decisions [00:28:09] Craig Macmillan: Yeah. That's the challenge when you have something like this, where it's individual decisions that lead to mass outcomes. It's hard for me as an individual to say, okay, well, I'm going to do my part. I'm going to keep these 10 acres out of production. Especially when I can see that I could sell to somebody. It's a tough go. Go ahead, Audra. [00:28:24] Audra Cooper: So I'm gonna go off on a tangent here a little bit. [00:28:26] Craig Macmillan: do. [00:28:28] Audra Cooper: I don't know, you might not welcome this one. So, you know, some people know this about me. I'm a pretty big Tony Robbins fan. And, You know, for some of you who don't know who that is, he's a self help guru that does a lot of different events and has written a lot of books and he has a philosophy and a saying that he utilizes through most of events, which is where focus goes, energy flows. [00:28:51] And unfortunately, we have not done the best of jobs being positive about ourselves in the industry, out there in the media, that ultimately is consumed by the masses. And so, I've been on this huge bandwagon about, when we're talking to the media, obviously we need to be rooted in reality, but we need to be as optimistic as we can about who we are and what our why is. [00:29:16] And I think oftentimes when we have these downturns, and this one's a pretty deep one, admittedly. That's the rooted in reality, right? But in these downturns, we tend to turn very, very pessimistic and we fail to remember that to some degree or another. We've been here before, and there have been a lot of innovations and activities and work and leadership that have pulled us out of it, and so we need to remember our history a little bit, I think would be my recommendation there, and I think a lot of the associations do a great job In reminding everyone what the historical background is and in some of our why Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance is a great example of what an association can do for a region on a national and international level. [00:30:03] I will continue to sing their praises because I think they've done a beautiful job in what they've done over the last 15 years. When you look at You know, what's happening from a government and regulation standpoint, you know, we have to band together as a community and be loud voices. We can't just rely on our neighbor or our representative to be our representative voice. [00:30:25] We need to make sure that we continue to be out there and loud. The other thing too is. We have a community, but we have a tendency to not keep collaboration consistent, and I would love to see our industry collaborate a little bit more, particularly on social media. I know that there's a lot of people probably listening to this right now thinking, why is social media even a remote solution? [00:30:48] But the amount of consumption from the younger generation that are now of drinking age that have not adopted wine as a beverage of choice, consume a huge amount of social media, more than they do TV, more than they do reading, more than any other culture. aspect of information gathering or any other platform that's available to them. [00:31:10] And we have an opportunity to band together and collaborate and change the algorithm regarding wine on social media. And I love to see us do that. We haven't done it. And there's various methods of doing that. And again, could probably be another podcast. I'm by no means the foremost expert on that, but our collaborative efforts. [00:31:27] We'll just drop that because I don't even remember exactly [00:31:30] Craig Macmillan: I think that's sound advice And it's always been a challenge. We do have some statewide Organizations that have that mission. They have a lot on their plate But I agree with you. I think that that is definitely the route or it seems to be the route There's more more research coming out that's showing that Not just the time but also like where people get their news You know, it shows you how important that is to them, how important , that venue is to them. [00:31:55] Eddie Urman: 1 of the things for me to extrapolate on that a little bit. What Audra was talking about is unified at the industry hot topics. Um. Rock mcmillan talked for a minute. The ceo of silicon bank about the wine industry Not itself and taking market share from itself, but taking market share from wine from beer from spirits They've clearly done that to us. [00:32:18] I mean It's a competition. It is what it is, and we've not done a great job marketing To younger, younger generations, everybody knows that everybody repeats it, but what are we going to do about it? And how can we as an industry figure out how to do a better job getting people exposed to wine, getting people to enjoy wine? [00:32:37] Audra Cooper: Yeah, I like that, Eddie. It's time to get aggressive and it's time to re enter wine in the conversation of culture and being part of the daily lifestyle. We've let it kind of fall by the wayside and it's time to get aggressive about what wine can be and was and should be here in the near future. [00:32:57] Craig Macmillan: right. You'd mentioned, you know, what's happened in the past. Audra, are there lessons that we learned that we are forgetting from 20 years ago or lessons that we should have learned 20 years ago that might help us now? [00:33:11] Audra Cooper: it's, that's an interesting question, and I think it is a great question of merit, because history does tend to repeat itself I think we need to get better about predictive trends, and I don't know what the answer is to that, I just know that we need to do that and again, we, we kind of talked about it early in the podcast here that, you know, it's really hard to plant a trend, because you're usually behind the eight ball on it. [00:33:38] And I think that we need to get better about how we plan for the future. I think we forget that, you know, Robert Mondavi and the Gallo's and, and countless others who came before us really went out. To the masses and marketed wine, not just their brands or their programs. They were out there to make sure that they were representing the wine industry and the product that we produce first and foremost. [00:34:06] And so I think there's that element. It's not necessarily missing, but it's not loud enough and it's not aggressive enough. And so we definitely need some leaders to come forward in that regard and really push the initiatives. That we fought so hard to stay in business for. When you look back historically to, I think we have a tendency to kind of do the blame game a little bit. [00:34:28] Like, you've planted too much over there on the coast and you've removed too much of the northern interior and you're charging too much up there in the north coast. And the reality is there's a place. For everyone to play and instead of being the competitive set that we are, again, to Eddie's point that Rob McMillan made as state of the industry, we should be looking at how do we take market share from our competitors, which are beer and spirits, RTDs, and so forth, not from each other. [00:34:57] Craig Macmillan: Yeah, that makes a lot of sense. It sounds like it's a time when we need to see some new leadership step up or some folks to take leadership roles which is always kind of scary. [00:35:08] Audra Cooper: It is. It's, it's, you know, here's the, the beautiful thing about emotion though. It's usually a call to action. So if we get scared enough. Someone will do something and I think we're just about there, and, and there's probably people working in the shadows that we're not aware of that will probably come forward here soon, you know, there's great leadership at CAWG level with their association as well as the Wine Institute, they're working hard every single day to be lobbyists , for our industry and to be making sure that they're representing our issues and finding solutions, solutions. [00:35:40] You know, one of the big things that I've learned over the last couple of years, particularly this last year, is, is that we are all responsible for our future and making sure our future is compelling. And so we need to be supporting those associations and paying attention to the relevancy of the information that's out there. [00:35:55] Craig Macmillan: Yeah, that's excellent. This is a, again, kind of a, kind of a tangent and it may not lead anywhere, but I, I just had this thought. You were talking about sustainability certifications and how important they are for growers now. Do you think that communicating the sustainability story of wineries and probably done at an individual level and then spreading out from there do you think consumers would respond to that? [00:36:17] Eddie Urman: Yeah it's hard to say because marketing is not my forte, but I, it sure seems like with the trends as far as health conscious and all this, I think it would resonate with them. It really should. And it's something we should probably capitalize on more as an industry in general. Yeah. [00:36:33] Craig Macmillan: That's interesting. Well do you have, does anybody have like a final message or one thing you would tell growers on this topic? Audra, [00:36:40] Audra Cooper: Well, we covered a lot of topics today, and I think I'll leave everyone with the same thing I said earlier, Where focus goes, energy flows, and if we're focused on the negative, and we're focused on how tough the industry is right now, that's where we're going to be. If we're focused on solutions, we'll find one that works, and it's going to be different for everyone. [00:37:04] Everyone's solution may look a little bit different. This is both an individual and industry wide issue that we're facing currently. with the downturn in the industry and the extreme oversupply. But I have faith that the work that's already being done will pull us out of this. We just need to get innovative in how we market to new consumers. [00:37:26] Craig Macmillan: That's great. Where can people find out more about you folks? [00:37:29] Eddie Urman: on our website. , you can get our information on there and reach out and contact us. Anything else Audra. Right. [00:37:44] Audra Cooper: Year you can go to our social media Turrentine Brokerate or you can find me at GrapeBroker on Instagram. You can also call us or email us or text us if you'd like, or smoke signal us too, although please don't carry fires. [00:37:50] Craig Macmillan: Anyway, right. Well, thank you so much. I guess today we're Audrey Cooper she is a director of great brokerage at Turrentine. Brokerage and Eddie Urman, who is the central coast, great broker Turrentine. Thank you both for being here and having such an interesting conversation. It's an important topic with a lot of question marks, lots and lots of questions, but I think we had some good things come out of it and I really appreciate it. [00:38:11] Audra Cooper: All right. Thank you.  [00:38:17] Beth Vukmanic: Thank you for listening. Today's podcast was brought to you by wonderful laboratories. Wonderful laboratories. Operates two state of the art high throughput laboratories to support pathogen detection and nutrient analysis. The team provides full service support to customers with field sampling, custom panels, and special projects. Their customers include pest control advisors, growers, consultants, seed companies, backyard gardeners, researchers, and more. [00:38:45] Make sure you check out the show notes for links to Turntine brokerage. Their previous interview on the Sustainable Winegrowing podcast, that's number 259, wine Grape Market Trends for 2024, plus other sustainable wine growing podcast episodes, including 265. How to stand out on social media in 2025 and 268 how to tackle leadership transitions successfully.   [00:39:10] If you'd like this show, do us a big favor by sharing it with a friend, subscribing and leaving us a review. [00:39:16] You can find all of the podcasts@vineyardteam.org/podcast and you can reach us at podcast@vineyardteam.org. Until next time, this is Sustainable Winegrowing with the Vineyard team.   Nearly perfect transcription by Descript

In this episode, we have a conversation with Kurtis Ogasawara, the Director of Winemaking at Robert Mondavi Winery. Kurtis shares his expertise into the challenges and successes of managing such a prestigious winery in Napa Valley. The discussion covers the winery's rich history, including the legacy of Robert Mondavi.  Listeners will gain a deeper understanding of the art of blending, extended maceration, and the evolving techniques in winemaking that balance tradition with innovation. The episode also highlights the winery's diverse portfolio, focusing on the elegance and complexity of their Cabernet Sauvignons and Chardonnays, and the current remodel of the Robert Mondavi winery and visitor center in Napa Valley.   Winemaking Class Offers and Show Notes for all episodes at https://www.insidewinemaking.com/ Resources from this Episode Robert Mondavi Winery - https://robertmondaviwinery.com/ This episode is sponsored by  the video course, Fundamentals of Winemaking Made Easy.  Use code INSIDEWINEMAKING  for $25 off the course.   https://www.learndesk.us/class/6006374003638272/winemaking-fundamentals-made-easy Follow and Review: We'd love for you to follow us if you haven't yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We'd love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com. Let them know we sent you.

In today's episode, we continue our Phil Merson inspired, Wine is Like Music series. Maybe our most challenging, this episode is with drummer, Kevin Olsonberg who is with Odom Corporation, one of the area's largest wine distributor. This is a fun one for sure even with the background noise that comes from a bar! #HappyFriday! #ItsWineTime! #Cheersing #PleasingAstringency #MoreBass #GiveMeMyTotsWines this episode:2019 Sauvion Sancerre ($43 at Pilgrim's Market)2020 Termes España ($41 at Pilgrim's Market)2021 Olianas Cannonau ($22 at Pilgrim's Market)A HUGE thanks to our sponsors: Terraza Waterfront Grill, Naked Wines and J. Bookwalter Wines!Terraza Waterfront Grill is serving up global-inspired dishes in a vibrant atmosphere. With a focus on fresh ingredients and unmatched culinary excellence, Terraza offers something for every taste. Come experience exceptional food, cozy ambiance and top-notch service at this stunning waterfront grill. Visit https://terrazacda.com/ for more information or call 208-758-0111.Naked Wines: Straight from the winemaker right to your door, premium wine without the premium pricing is what Naked Wines is all about. Save big on wines from the world's best winemakers! Visit https://us.nakedwines.com/winetimefridays to get $100 off your first 6 pack case. With Naked Wines, discovering new wines is truly risk-free!J. Bookwalter: Celebrating their 40th year of producing award-winning wines crafted from the finest Columbia Valley vineyards, J. Bookwalter wines bring excellence and quality to every glass. Visit https://www.bookwalterwines.com for more information or simply call or 509-627-5000.And of course, a HUGE thank you to Tod Hornby who wrote and recorded our official Wine Time Fridays theme music. Please visit https://todhornby.com to see what Tod is up to!The Elsom Cellars Wine Words of the Week - Timbre In Music: In music, timbre (pronounced "tam-ber") refers to the unique tone color or "voice" of a musical instrument or sound, including drums. In Wine: When describing wine, timbre refers to the unique tone or "voice" of a wine. It's a poetic way to capture the distinctive character or personality of a wine.At Elsom Cellars, goood times are meant to be shared and so are great wines! Since 2006, Elsom Cellars has been producing brilliant Washington wines. For more information about Elsom Wines, please visit http://www.elsomcellars.com Some wines we've enjoyed this week: Castelli del Grevepesa Clemente VII Rosso di Toscana, Tenimenti d'Alessandro Vioginer, Waterbrook Chardonnay, Krutz Chardonnay and Artesa Cabernet Sauvignon.Mentions: Moose Lounge North, Phil Mershon, Tod Hornby, Barry Aiken, Chris Cochran, Theresa Edwards Band, DeLille Cellars, Le Dessein (formally Métier), Sara Lane, John Cleese, Robert Mondavi, Rodney Strong, Michel Rolland, Vicino Pizza Neapolitan Style Pizzeria, Naomi Boutz, Elvin Jones, Daniel Glass, John Bonham, Phil Collins, Bonnie Raitt and John Freeman.Please find us on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/WineTimeFridays), Twitter (@VintageTweets), Instagram (@WineTimeFridays) on our YouTube Channel, https://www.youtube.com/@winetimefridays and on Threads, which is @winetimefridays. You can also “Follow” Phil on Vivino. His profile name is Phil Anderson and will probably “Follow” you back! © 2025 Wine Time Fridays - All Rights Reserved

The Podcast is heading to arguably the most important winery in North America, Robert Mondavi. My guest is the Kurtis Ogasawara, the Director of Wine Making for Mondavi.

Anya chats with Vancouver International Wine Festival executive director Harry Hertscheg about everything from the history of the festival, wine-cations, supporting Bard on the Beach, aha moments, the interconnectivity of wine regions north and south of the border, the BC wine industry's current challenges, and supporting BC wines. Later, winemaker Kurtis Ogasawara from Robert Mondavi Winery in California joins to chat about the winery's history at the wine fest, current growing challenges, the origins of fumée blanc, Chardonnay in the post-ABC world, and "salty" wines (not really, but kind of, yeah...).

Tamber Bey's founder and vintner, Barry Waitte, first fell for wine as a college student in San Luis Obispo, Ca., where he worked in a bottle shop and came across a life-changing bottle of 1974 Beaulieu Vineyard Georges de Latour Private Reserve. As a young professional, Barry began collecting Grand Cru wines of Bordeaux. After a successful career in high tech that spanned two decades, he was ready for a change. He wanted to get into the wine business, so he moved to Napa Valley and purchased two vineyards. Barry sought out the mentorship of grape growers he had long admired from afar, including Robert Mondavi, Andy Beckstoffer and Ren Harris.Connect with Barry Waitte:Website: https://tamberbey.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/barry-waitte-838ba210/ TurnKey Podcast Productions Important Links:Guest to Gold Video Series: www.TurnkeyPodcast.com/gold The Ultimate Podcast Launch Formula- www.TurnkeyPodcast.com/UPLFplusFREE workshop on how to "Be A Great Guest."Free E-Book 5 Ways to Make Money Podcasting at www.Turnkeypodcast.com/gift Ready to earn 6-figures with your podcast? See if you've got what it takes at TurnkeyPodcast.com/quizSales Training for Podcasters: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sales-training-for-podcasters/id1540644376Nice Guys on Business: http://www.niceguysonbusiness.com/subscribe/The Turnkey Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/turnkey-podcast/id1485077152

Brandi, Dan, Steve and Mike. Mike Carpenter, The Redd Collection owner is back on California Wine Country with Steve Jaxon and Dan Berger. His last time on the show was this episode on November 3, 2023. Dan Berger has brought a magnum of a wine that he himself made 33 years ago. It is a 1991 Cabernet from the Napa Valley. Its aging was in an old French oak barrel. It was a project for his family, when his sons were young, the youngest was 4 that year. They opened it last night and it was still really good. Mike Carpenter from the Redd Collection is back on California Wine Country. The Redd Collection is a wine retail business that is built on a stock of old, rare and collectable wines. There are some rare wines, such as an old vine Chablis, from 2020. Dan Berger says this is French style Chardonnay “to beat the band.” This drinks like a $100 bottle but sells for $45, says Mike. The Redd Collection began with a large inventory acquired from a single collector. His name was close to Redd, and the client did not want his own name on it, so the name Redd is a derivation from that. Visit Chigazola Merchants online to shop their unique selection of fine Italian wines. Mike used to work in a wine store in LA, where there was a stock that is boring and overwhelming. “150 feet of the same varietal.” He wanted wines that were unique, old and rare. Dan points out that these wines are already aged, so the wines have the mature character that you cannot get from underaged wines. Also, it is expensive to store wine properly. Dan also mentions that these wines have been carefully vetted, for origin and quality but also for how they have been kept. The first thing that goes in the fruit, when a wine has not been aged properly. The Zelma Long collection He is currently offering private collection of a famous Napa Valley winemaker named Zelma Long. There is a wide selection of wines that go back to the ‘50s and '60s. The oldest is a half bottle of 1929 wine. Zelma Long was a great collector of wine. She was a winemaker at Robert Mondavi. He wrote in his book that losing Zelma Long from his staff was his biggest regret. She became the winemaker at Simi for a long time. She became the president at Simi which made her the first woman top executive at a major winery.

This week, we welcome Dana Lee Harris to the podcast. Dana Harris was born in California, and grew up in both Hawaii and Vancouver, BC. She developed an interest in the hospitality business very early and gained front-of-house experience as a server while taking sales, marketing, business, and event management courses. Her father's hobby wine import business gave her a great introduction to the field of beverage sales, and she worked briefly with his company before it was sold to an agency that she worked with for 13 years. Subsequently, she became the Regional Manager for Robert Mondavi in 2002 and then started her own marketing, PR and events business in 2006 along with being the executive Director of the BC Hospitality Foundation for 3 years. She gives back as a volunteer on many levels... as a fitness instructor, a member of Les Dames d'Escoffier, a board member with the BC Hospitality Foundation and on several hospitality-related committees. She has been married To Dean for over 24 years and is a new grandmother of Charlie, who was named after her father. She loves to golf, workout, entertain and be entertained.  Exchange Quotes: “No matter our circumstances, no matter our challenges or trials, there is something in each day to embrace and cherish. There is something in each day that can bring gratitude and joy if only we will see and appreciate it.” – Dieter F. Uchtdorf “Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping,” – Fred Rogers “Giving thanks, expressing our gratitude to others, and giving back in even the smallest of ways all add a true richness to our lives.” – Kathy Davis Exchange Links: Join the Epic Exchanges Story Circle We are @epicexchanges on Facebook and Instagram www.kellysniderauthor.com

During this episode of ROCKnVINO, hosts Coco and Michelle talk with Judd Wallenbrock, CEO of Priest Ranch Winery. Judd talks about working in the wine industry, learning about the synergy of wine, food and the arts from his time as global vice president of marketing at Robert Mondavi, president of Michel-Schlumberger, and president and CEO of C. Mondavi & Family. He founded his own label, Humanitas Wines in 2001, using the "Newman's Own Model" of making stuff and giving away the proceeds. In this case it was delicious wines, in a great setting featuring rock photography on the walls, and high level molecular gastronomy on the plates. After retiring, Judd discovered that he wasn't very good at being retired, so when the opportunity arose, he signed on as CEO of Priest Ranch Winery and Somerston Estate. He was delighted to work with a team that already were doing fantastic things, and so now Judd gets to help the brand work on those wow experiences, like innovative wine and food pairings (a bacon tasting! a chocolate "dirt" tasting!), and music and wine pairings. There are a few more dates this season to enjoy Thursday Night Live! at Priest Ranch. And you can also enjoy delicious food at The Kitchen at Priest Ranch! Learn more at priestranchwines.com   ROCKnVINO is sponsored by American AgCredit.

【本集由Kim Crawford 金卡佛酒廠 #全美第一紐西蘭葡萄酒品牌 贊助播出】 吃起司要配紅酒居然只是迷思？ 白葡萄丟到野外會變紅！？ 這支酒跟鹹酥雞和滷味超搭，瘋掉！！！！ 千元以內葡萄酒這樣選就不會踩到地雷 用星座選出命定酒！ 酒後最雷行為你中幾個？？？ 中秋烤肉趴帶「金卡佛」，全對！ ♥本集有抽獎活動，詳情請至阿路八官方IG ＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿ 星坊酒業自1987年正式引進葡萄酒，是台灣最大的葡萄酒進口代理商之一。代理引進全球最具代表性的葡萄酒莊品牌超過80間，如ROBERT MONDAVI, CAYMUS ,GAJA, MASI, BOLLINGER、VEGA SICILIA, KIM CRAWFORD等，產品多元化且涵蓋多數葡萄酒產區，專業酒杯則引進來自奧地利以專業葡萄酒杯著稱的RIEDEL品牌。 更多資訊： www.sergio.com.tw 阿路八推薦，分享葡萄酒知識的頻道「威爸喝果汁」 https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCaumP8cHEri_73j1Obg8ISA ＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿ 片頭Jingle by 金毛城武 片尾曲 by 蔡侑良心事業 ＊＊＊《阿路八》季外不定時更新＊＊＊

When it comes to California Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, few names command as much respect as Sonoma's Kistler Vineyards. Kistler president and winemaker Jason Kesner joined Straight Talk host James Molesworth to tell us about growing up in the Napa wine industry—including where Robert Mondavi bought the weekly staff donuts—and how he strives to do a little bit less in the vineyard and winery with each passing year.Wine Spectator senior editor for news Mitch Frank joins the program as well, shedding light on a recent health study that's made big waves in the mainstream media, for all the wrong reasons.And don't forget, there's always more free content at WineSpectator.com!• 2024 New York Wine Experience Tickets and Info• Kistler's Dark Side: Jason Kesner's Pinot Noirs• 2020 Top 10 Wines of the Year: Kistler Chardonnay• Health News: Wine Does Not Raise Risks for Healthy Older Adults• Vintage Wine Estates Bankruptcy• California Pinot Noir Tasting Report• Wine Spectator's Sept. 30, 2024, issue• Latest News and Headlines• Ask Dr. Vinny• Sign up for Wine Spectator's free email newsletters• Subscribe to Wine SpectatorA podcast from Wine SpectatorMarvin R. Shanken, Editor and PublisherHost: James MolesworthDirector: Robert TaylorProducer: Gabriela SaldiviaGuests: Jason Kesner, Mitch FrankAssistant producer, Napa: Elizabeth Redmayne-Titley Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Join us for a special program in which vintner Tor Kenward shares a lifetime of great wines, famous friends, deep knowledge and insider insights. Kenward will draw from his book Reflections of a Vintner, which recounts the lessons learned, relationships forged and observations made from an insider's nearly 50-year journey through the burgeoning wine industry in Napa Valley. From the mid-seventies, when there were fewer than 50 wineries, to the present, with more than 800, Kenward shares his recollections as the region became a world-class wine destination. Kenward also has great stories about his friendships with legends of the modern American food and wine scene, including Julia Child, André Tchelistcheff, Andy Beckstoffer, and Robert Mondavi, among others. Kenward's hard work as a vintner was acknowledged and celebrated at the October 2021 Judgment of Napa, held 45 years after the historic Judgement of Paris. The TOR Cabernet was judged to be number one, outscoring legendary Bordeaux châteaux, Napa Valley, and international peers by leading critics and sommeliers. TOR wines, coveted by connoisseurs worldwide, received seven perfect 100-point ratings from leading critics for their 2018 Napa Valley wines. How does he do it? An iconic winemaker, Kenward has written, taught and lectured on wine most of his adult life. What he is most often asked about are not facts or numbers about his wines, but the stories behind them. These are stories of inspiration and wisdom that shaped his journey. With Kenward's impressive connection to Napa Valley and his legacy of creating inimitable wines, he has entertaining insights into an often intimidating and complex but highly enjoyable world.   This program is part of our Good Lit series, underwritten by the Bernard Osher Foundation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Melissa Galliani, Dan Berger & Justin Seidenfeld. Justin Seidenfeld, Rodney Strong head winemaker, joins Steve Jaxon and Dan Berger on California Wine Country. Justin Seidenfeld has been on CWC a few times, most recently on this episode of April 27, 2022. They begin tasting a brand new wine that they just launched on June 1st. It is a single vineyard 2023 Sauvignon Blanc from one of their estate vineyards called Bud's Ranch. Justin modelled this wine after a Bordeaux style, it is richer than the usual SV. 55% made in large oak barrels, then the rest is done in stainless steel. Dan says it is aimed at being ready to drink now and also to be held in the cellar. 2023 was an interesting vintage, it was cooler than average, which gives the wines structure without being tart. There is just enough acidity to have balance. They also use a rotating egg-shaped vessel for mixing during fermentation, which gives it lees contact. Justin started in 2005 at Iron Horse Vineyards while still going to school at UC Davis. Then he worked at Robert Mondavi before coming to Rodney Strong. Rodney Strong had the thirteenth bonded winery in California. He did a lot of firsts, like planting Chardonnay in Chalk Hill and makin the first Alexander Valley single vineyard Cabernet. He was also a founder of the Russian River Valley and Chalk Hill AVAs. Justin Seidenfeld helped drive the approval of the Petaluma Gap AVA. Dan Berger started writing about wine in 1976, working for the Los Angeles Herald-Examiner. He had a very informative 2-hour lunch interview with Rodney Strong that year. 1158 Acres of Vineyards Rodney Strong winery is now owned by the Klein family and now owns 12 vineyard sites with 1158 acres total. It is critical to their success to have control over the vineyards as well as production. Dan Berger notices the flavor of fresh-cut new-mown hay in this Sauvignon Blanc which makes it unique. Rodney Strong is famous for its Cabernets and for its Chalk Hill Chardonnay. They also make a very good Pinot Noir, all from Russian River Valley. Their Alexander Valley Estate Cabernet retails for about $20. Justin says it punches above its weight, at that price. They literally buy their barrels as trees in France. That and the fact that they own their vineyards means their retail price is modest, they can focus on quality and evolve. They have just finished rennovating their vineyards and are ready for generations in the future. August 24 is the Single Vineyard Dinner, when they release their top wines. They taste one that is a 2019 100% single vineyard Cabernet, which is a demonstration of terroir. The 3 wines to be revealed on August 24 are similar except for their vineyard location so they taste differently. As Justin describes, Rodney Strong's intention is to surprise and delight.

Wine isn’t scary. Wine is fun and it’s healthy (heck Robert Mondavi lived to 94). So for this podcast I asked 24 winemakers and vintners during the week of the Sonoma County Barrel Auction “Why is wine so misunderstood”. Here is what they said: Winemakers & Vintners in order of appearance: Olivia Wright, Winemaker/Rodney Strong [...]

Richard Sanford co-founded the Sanford and Benedict Winery and planted the Sanford and Benedict Vineyard. He founded the Sanford Winery, and he founded the Alma Rosa Winery, all in the Santa Barbara County of California.Richard discusses his sailing career, working in the merchant marine, racing boats recreationally, and as an officer in the United States Navy. He talks about his travels around the globe, both before and after his service in the Vietnam War. He reflects on his short time working in business and education, and then his segue to planting a vineyard in what became the Sta. Rita Hills appellation of California. That vineyard became known as the Sanford and Benedict vineyard, and Richard co-founded the Sanford and Benedict Winery with Michael Benedict to produce wine from that vineyard. They had realized that Santa Barbara County, with a transverse mountain range, offered opportunities for growing vines in areas cooled by winds coming off the Pacific Ocean.Richard remembers his introduction to wine and a bottle of Volnay, and his desire to plant Pinot Noir in the Sanford and Benedict Vineyard. He talks about the early days getting the vineyard going, in an area where Pinot Noir had not been planted previously. He discusses the geography and geology of the place, as well as the history of ownership there. Richard recalls converting a small barn into a winemaking facility, building the fermenters, and inviting his friends to harvest the first grapes from Sanford and Benedict. He also recalls the subsequent visit from the local sheriff. Besides the attention of the police, the activity at Sanford and Benedict also attracted interest from wine writer Robert Lawrence Balzer, who wrote about the wine being made near Lompoc.Richard talks throughout this interview about both the agriculture aspect and the business side of making wine. He notes that tax write offs were an impetus for the planting of many of the vineyards in Santa Barbara County in the 1970s. He talks about the difficulties of dry farming and of organic viticulture in that area. Richard recalls meeting his wife Thekla during a fun sail. And he talks about the tough breakup with his business partner Michael Benedict that would eventually lead Richard to found the Sanford Winery near to the original Sanford and Benedict Vineyard.Richard recalls the Small Winery Technical Society, and the other winemakers in the group, such as Dick Graff and Josh Jensen. He talks about the role that that group played in his own development as a winemaker, and the camaraderie that he found amongst a group of friends who were also competitors in the wine business. Richard thinks on that period with a lot of fondness. He also has a fondness for the period of time where he felt he was at the forefront of wine and food in California, meeting and sharing time with people like Julia Child and Robert Mondavi.Richard shares his memories of visiting Burgundy and meeting vigneron and winery owners like Vincent Leflaive of Domaine Leflaive, Jacques Seysses of Domaine Dujac, and Aubert de Villaine of Domaine de la Romanee-Conti. Richard notes specifically what he learned while tasting in Burgundy, and what he brought back to his own winemaking work in California.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

“If you were stuck with only Australian wine to drink, you would never be bored,” claimed guest Mark Davidson—who has been championing Australia for the better part of 2 decades. His book “The Wines of Australia” focuses on this new world region—which has some of the oldest vines in the world, nearly every grape and style of wine on the planet, and some of the best values in the wine world. Plus, we give you the scoop on the major Burgundy hail storms and discuss why Robert Mondavi is teaming up with an unlikely collaborator. Your savvy wine buying guide to Australian wine starts now. Wine Featured on This Episode: 2021 The Story "Super G" Grampians, Australia Producers/Wines Mentioned: Tolpuddle Chardonnay House of Arras (Sparkling) Clonakilla Mayer (Pinot Noir) Leeuwin Estate (Art Series Chardonnay) Tyrrell's (Vat 1 Semillon) Grosset (Riesling) Henschke Unico Zelo Ochota Barrels Shaw & Smith Vasse Felix Join the Unfiltered Podcast Wine Club 4 bottles per shipment hand selected by Amanda Delivered every 2 months (1 wine/episode) / 6x per year $120 + tax Shipping Included Cancel anytime 10% off all Wine Access purchases Links and Mentions Nothing Left to Say? By Karen MacNeil Men's Journal Wine Column Wine News in 5 on IG by Samantha Cole Johnson (Senior US Editor , Jancis Robinson) Follow us on social! IG: @wineaccessunfiltered Twitter:  @wineaccesspod Host: Amanda McCrossin Shop all the wines at Wine Access

This time, we welcome Kristi's favorite cousin, Kohlie Frantzen, for a journey through the originally brutal - but now charming - history and modern dynamics of the town of Fredericksburg, Texas. As descendants of the town's founding families, we reminisce about our childhood, sharing stories of our ancestors' grit as this once-dangerous outpost became a flourishing 21st century destination for families, and the visiting enthusiasts for its expanding wine industry. Texas wine now rivals Napa Valley for its quality and production.Kristi and Kohlie swap childhood stories. Then, moving to the present, we hear how Kohlie has helped his college-age children navigate the application maze, weighing the merits of military service against traditional education in a post-COVID world. 00:00 - Start00:11 - Introducing Kohlie 01:24 - Kohlie's family original settlers in Fredericksburg late 18th century03:19 - Luckenbach 04:03 - "If you grew up in Fredericksburg, you did something wrong"04:09 - "But now, it's in the top destinations in Texas" especially for wineries09:24 - "The place is so welcoming, when you show up there, you're family"09:35 - Matthew McConaughey and Camila Alves "the authenticity of Texas"10:55 - Frisco TX and the original box ranch (in the TV Show, Dallas)12:32 - Going back for the Eclipse13:30 - "Kristi and I were like the runts of the litter, but she was the Rodeo Queen"14:15 - "I only fly jets, but it looks like a nice plane to me" 16:58 - "I missed my calling"18:36 - Patience - the girl in the pick-up truck with a pistol20:15 - The camp out before the eclipse, and the gunpowder in the shed21:00 - "If you're a parent, your job is to become obsolete"24:06 - "I hear how hard life was, when I go back to Fredericksburg"25:15 - "Back then Germans were blamed for the war, nobody wanted them"25:36 - The Fredericksburg Smokehouse and the sausage26:20 - "There was all kinds of crazy stuff going on, on those farms in the middle of nowhere"27:25 - Working in the oil business was a risk29:06 - How much of our mothers' qualities are passed on to our girls?29:50 - The college application process and "gamesmanship"32:35 - Getting up at 2 a.m. to launch college applications, and changing questions post COVID35:04 - Military Service - 4 years of tuition36:18 - Michelle Obama's Foundation and leveling the college "playing field"38:05 - "I'm named after a gas station" 

Robert Drouhin and his family own Maison Joseph Drouhin in the Burgundy region of France, as well as Domaine Drouhin in the Willamette Valley of Oregon.Robert describes moving to Burgundy as a child, and his experiences around Beaune during World War 2. His adoptive father, Maurice Drouhin, owned the Maison Joseph Drouhin winery, and began instructing Robert in the specifics of wine. Robert remembers Maurice as a sales agent for the wines of the Domaine de la Romanee-Conti, as well as a Vice President of the Hospices de Beaune. Maurice was a wine producer, making wines from vineyards near Beaune. Robert recalls Maurice hiding from arrest by the Nazis during the war years, taking shelter for months in the Hospices de Beaune. Upon Maurice's death, Robert assumed control of the Maison Joseph Drouhin winery.Robert discusses the notable Burgundy vintages of the 20th century, from the 1930s through the 1990s. He also talks about his decision making after taking control of Maison Joseph Drouhin at the age of 24. He recalls traveling to California and meeting Robert Mondavi. He then describes the development of enology and new techniques for wine in the 1950s, his experiments, and eventual response to the wines produced with new methods. Robert talks about the wave of vine replantings that took hold in Burgundy after World War 2, and what that meant for the wines. He expanded the Drouhin vineyard holdings in the Cote d'Or and in Chablis, and Robert talks about the characteristics of famous vineyards like Le Montrachet, the Clos des Mouches, Griotte-Chambertin, Musigny, Bonnes-Mares, Chambolle-Musigny Les Amoureuses, and Vosne-Romanee Les Petits Monts.Robert talks about his children, and their roles in the Drouhin businesses today. He remembers hiring Laurence Jobard at Drouhin in the 1970s. He talks about the style of the Drouhin wines, and takes up the question of tannins and extraction in red Burgundy wines. He also speaks about the changes in the Drouhin winemaking in Burgundy since the 1960s, touching on topics like temperature control, filtering, fining, new oak, and the timing of bottling. Robert experimented in the 1980s with vinifying wine by hand destemming and natural fermentation, utilizing a sixteenth century press and adding sulphur in the old way. He compares the results of those methods to the Drouhin wines made in the contemporary way. He shares his reflections about what makes for a good wine, and at what stage it may be drunk at its best.In the 1980s, Robert Drouhin purchased vineyard land in the Willamette Valley of Oregon, and he speaks about what led up to that purchase and the formation of Domaine Drouhin in Oregon. He talks about exchanging experiences and ideas with grape growers in Oregon, and divulges what he learned there. He also recalls the blind tastings that launched his interest in Pinot Noir from Oregon. He then describes the differences of the wines from the divergent vineyard parcels Drouhin owns in Oregon today, and mentions that further knowledge of the different growing areas of Oregon is something that is still in development. Robert contends that organic farming is easier in Oregon than it is in Burgundy, because of the different weather patterns in those places. He also speaks about the introduction of organic practices in some Drouhin vineyards in Burgundy. He gives an overview of the vineyard practices of Drouhin in Burgundy.This episode features commentary from:Jason Lett, The Eyrie VineyardsSteve Doerner, Cristom VineyardsSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A recent Gallup Poll shows that Gen Zers are drinking less than previous generations and they appear to especially be shying away from wine. Gallup says while the percentage of Americans who drink has been around the low 60% range for the past four decades, the number of younger adults who drink has dropped 10% over the past twenty years. Constellation Brands, which owns several spirit companies including Robert Mondavi here in the Bay Area, is trying to turn things around.For more on this, KCBS Radio news anchor Holly Quan spoke to Bloomberg's Tiffany Kary in today's Tech and Business Report.

The crew reviews Huber's Pops Double Barrel Reserve, Robert Mondavi and The Federalist Barrel Aged Wines while discussing our favorite pours of this year.  

本集由【星坊酒業】贊助播出 歡迎最懂葡萄酒的朋友：星坊酒業總經理須家昌 不能不提加州葡萄酒之父 Robert Mondavi 阿路八驚呆！最帥最專業開瓶法 近期喝到最好喝的蘇維濃白酒：金卡佛 葡萄品種四紅四白知道就無敵 一種像強尼戴普的酒，一種像薇諾娜瑞德的酒 先天口感 V.S. 後天口感 用什麼形狀的杯子喝酒最容易喝醉！？ 歐洲可以邊喝酒邊看戲，台灣連喝水都不行？ 金卡佛白酒是麻辣鍋最棒搭擋 須總幫你為各種場合挑選最適合的一瓶酒 看得懂的酒、有故事的酒、好喝的酒 喝醉會咬客戶聽過沒 ₍₍٩( ᐛ )۶₎₎♪ 須總說了一個關於酒的冷笑話 ＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿ 星坊酒業自1987年正式引進葡萄酒，是台灣最大的葡萄酒進口代理商之一。代理引進全球最具代表性的葡萄酒莊品牌超過80間，如ROBERT MONDAVI, CAYMUS ,GAJA, MASI, BOLLINGER、VEGA SICILIA, KIM CRAWFORD等，產品多元化且涵蓋多數葡萄酒產區，專業酒杯則引進來自奧地利以專業葡萄酒杯著稱的RIEDEL品牌。 更多資訊 http://www.sergio.com.tw 阿路八推薦，分享葡萄酒知識的頻道「威爸喝果汁」 https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCaumP8cHEri_73j1Obg8ISA ＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿ 片頭Jingle by 金毛城武 片尾曲 by 蔡侑良心事業 ＊＊＊《阿路八》週三更新＊＊＊

Tor Kenward founded TOR Wines in 2001 after a 27-year career with Beringer Estates where he established Beringer's School for American Chefs with Madeleine Kamman and the American Institute of Wine & Food with Julia Child and Robert Mondavi. Kenward's memoir, "Reflections of a Vintner," spans his 50 -career from the 1970s when Napa had less than 50 wineries to today with more than 400 wineries and 1000 brands. TOR Wines embodies Kenward's vision to work with Napa's top growers and vineyards.The Connected Table is broadcast live Wednesdays at 2PM ET.The Connected Table Radio Show is broadcast on W4CY Radio (www.w4cy.com) part of Talk 4 Radio (www.talk4radio.com) on the Talk 4 Media Network (www.talk4media.com). The Connected Table Podcast is also available on Talk 4 Podcasting (www.talk4podcasting.com), iHeartRadio, Amazon Music, Pandora, Spotify, Audible, and over 100 other podcast outlets.

For our 100th episode, we take a road trip to New York City to talk with the legend himself, Chef Daniel Boulud, of Restaurant Daniel, Café Boulud, DB Bistro, and more. In this 100th episode, Eli has the opportunity to ask Chef what it takes to stay on top of the mountain for 30+ years as his restaurant celebrates its own incredible milestone. Chef Daniel graciously opens his dining room up to us as we sit down and talk about the early years that shaped him and the people along the way who mentored him to become the great chef that he is. As someone who is a direct disciple of chef Paul Bocuse and who worked in some of the great houses of French cuisine, Chef Daniel has seen this industry transform itself over the years into the diverse, multicultural industry it has become. Here's what else was discussed: Perspective and why it's so important to maintain it Chef gives gratitude and credit to all the people who helped make his dream come true Eli talks about the many chefs that he's worked for who have come up through Chef Daniel's kitchens Chef takes us back to the farm that he grew up on outside of Lyon, France The incredible tradition of taking a plate of “fricassee” to the neighbors after slaughtering a hog Making goat cheese and selling it at the farmers market in Lyons with his father The importance of understanding the circle of life and why growing up on a farm helps you appreciate the animals that you are cooking How Chef Daniel got his first apprenticeship at a two-star Michelin restaurant The legendary chefs that he worked for who shaped him How Chef Paul Bocuse became his mentor and took him under his wing The reason Chef Daniel came to the United States and the legendary chef that he worked for at the Watergate in DC The incredible influence that the famous winemaker, Robert Mondavi, had in bringing French chefs to the US Chef talks about his 30th birthday, where chef Jean-Louis Palladin cooked a dinner of live animals, including a live lamprey that he brought to the table Working at Le Cirque with the famed Sirio Maccioni The beautiful practical joke that was played on him when leaving Le Cirque Looking back on 30 years and the incredible perspective chef still has The current threat to profitability in our industry  How to maintain a culture among many different restaurants with many different partners The importance of creating upward mobility in his company and how building out the new Café Boulud will allow some of his key players to move up A huge shout out to our sponsors, Maxwell McKenney and Singer Equipment, for their unwavering support, which allows us to be able to bring these conversations to you. Check out their websites for all the amazing equipment they can supply your restaurant with to make your team more efficient and successful. Welcome to our newest sponsor, Meez, which is one of the most powerful tools you can have as a cook and chef because it allows you to have a free repository for all of your recipes, techniques and methods so that you never lose them. Meez does way more than just recipe development though, it's an incredibly powerful tool that any chef or restaurant would benefit from. Check out and follow us on Instagram Email Eli with any comments, concerns, criticisms, guest requests or any other ideas or thoughts you might have about the show. eli@chefradiopodcast.com

In today's episode, Shelley and Phil start their Paso Robles journey with a delicious lineup at Tablas Creek Vineyard. Tablas Creek wines are known for their elegance, complexity, and balance and today we'll taste six of their wines while we learn about the unique history and philosophy behind this winery with Wine Consultant, Lisa Rainey. #HappyFriday! #ItsWineTime! #Cheersing #PasoTarantula Wines featured this episode:2022 Tablas Creek Marsanne ($40 at the winery)2022 Tablas Creek Lignée de Tablas Grenache Blanc ($35 at the winery)2022 Tablas Creek Patelin de Tablas Rosé ($28 at the winery)2021 Tablas Creek Côtes de Tablas ($40 at the winery)2020 Tablas Creek Esprit de Tablas ($70 at the winery)2020 Tablas Creek Tannat ($45 at the winery)To check out all of the delicious wines of Tablas Creek Vineyard, please visit https://tablascreek.comA HUGE thanks to our sponsors:  Elsom Cellars and Naked Wines!Elsom Cellars: Good times are meant to be shared and so are great grapes and great wines! Since 2006, Elsom Cellars has been producing brilliant Washington wines. For more information about Elsom Wines, please visit http://www.elsomcellars.com or call them at 425-298-3082.Naked Wines: Straight from the winemaker right to your door, premium wine without the premium pricing is what Naked Wines is all about. Save big on wines from the world's best winemakers! Visit https://us.nakedwines.com/winetimefridays to get $100 off your first 12 pack case. With Naked Wines, discovering new wines is truly risk-free!And of course, a HUGE thank you to Tod Hornby who wrote and recorded our official Wine Time Fridays theme music, which is ANYthing but average.  Please visit https://todhornby.com or contact him at veryaveragemusic@gmail.com The CDA Gourmet Wine Word of the Week - Dry FarmingDry farming is a method of crop production in arid or semi-arid regions that relies on the efficient storage and use of limited moisture in the soil. In other words, it's growing crops without irrigation, or with very little irrigation. Dry farming is a sustainable and climate-resilient way to grow food in regions with limited water resources.CDA Gourmet  Are you looking to elevate your kitchen? You need to check out CDA Gourmet! Located in Midtown Coeur d'Alene, CDA Gourmet offers a diverse mix of flavor enhancing product as well as the tools to make it all happen. Make every meal a special event. Visit https://www.cdagourmet.com for more information or  call 208-551-2364. CDA Gourmet: Your kitchen elevated.Wines we enjoyed this week: Equoia Pinot Noir, 7Cellars Elway's Reserve Chardonnay, Elephant Seven Syrah, Bledsoe Family Winery Elizabeth Chardonnay and Lindsay Creek Chardonnay.Mentions: Robert Haas, Jean-Pierre Perrin, Jason Haas, Robert Mondavi, Liberty Lake Wine Cellars.Please find us on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/WineTimeFridays), Twitter (@VintageTweets), Instagram (@WineTimeFridays) on our YouTube Channel, https://www.youtube.com/@winetimefridays and on Threads, which is @winetimefridays. You can also “Follow” Phil on Vivino. His profile name is Phil Anderson and will probably “Follow” you back! Check out all of our current sponsors by visiting our Wine Time Fridays Resource Page by visiting https://winetimefridays.com/wine-time-fridays-resources/© 2023 Wine Time Fridays - All Rights Reserved

BOB'S BEST BUYS  Wine: Robert Mondavi 2021 Private Selection Buttery Chardonnay, California $21.99  Why I chose it:  - Popular style  - Buttery character is a by-product of malolactic fermentation  What does it taste like?  - Smooth, soft-textured chardonnay in a “big and buttery” style with spicy oak, vanilla. Mellow wine with a little heat on the finish. A crowd-pleasing style that lives up to its description. Not my kind of chardonnay.  Why it's a bargain:  - Offers great value if you like the big and buttery style.  Where can you buy it?  - New World $21.99 (on special)   - Whisky and More $20.99 (six-pack $119)  Food match?  - Rich chicken dishes  Will it keep?  - Drink it up See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Listen in to hear the remarkable life story of Eduardo Chadwick, the man who put Chile on the fine wine map. John Stimpfig talks to him in our series “Great Wine Lives” about how he joined his father to run the family winery as a young man, the difficulties he faced in getting the critics to acknowledge Chile could make fine wine, and the one tasting which changed the world's perception. Discover how he took Robert Mondavi around Chile and created their joint venture, SENA, and how he pioneered coastal Chilean wines. A frank and fascinating conversation.More information at wine-conversation.com

Another week of baseball is in the books and another bottle of wine for the viners. This week Sarah and Scotty Mo try a popular red - 2019 Robert Mondavi Private Selection Cabernet Sauvignon. While they sip, they interview very special guest, SVP of Baseball Operations for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Bryan Stroh; recap week twenty-one of Major League ball; and discuss vibes around the vineyard. As always, grab a glass and join them along the Foul Vine, where everything wine and baseball is in fair territory. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/foul-vine/message

Saviez-vous que les Etats-Unis étaient le 4ème pays producteur de vin au monde (derrière l'Italie, la France et l'Espagne) et que la Californie représentait  80% de sa production ?  Avec 13 500 domaines

Is there ever a case where living vicariously through your children is good for them?   For today's guest, Laura Carney, living out her dad's dreams changed her life. Her dad passed away before he could complete his own bucket list, so she completed it for him. She's a writer and copy editor for publications like The Washington Post, People, GQ, the Associated Press, Good Housekeeping, and more.   Listen in to hear beautiful stories full of synchronicities and serendipitous moments that aided Laura in completing the list and the lessons she learned along the way. Topics We Discuss:   [0:48] What happened to Laura's father? He was killed by a distracted driver on their phone when Laura was 25. She found his bucket list 13 years later.   [2:11] How finding the list affected Laura's grief. Before finding the list, Laura equated grief with depressive episodes as she'd grown up with depression and ADHD. The list helped her reframe her dad's death and process the trauma and pain of losing him.   [4:50] Completing the list. Out of 60 items, her dad had only successfully completed 5 of them. When she found it, she felt spiritually called to complete it and took it as literally as possible. She started with running items since she was a runner and would try to combine them as much as possible. It took her 6 years to complete and taught her how to fail.   [12:23] Synchronicities lead to talking with the President. A sequence of synchronistic events begins with being tipped off about a President who still teaches Sunday school most weeks. Then happening to meet one of this President's biographers the night before and running into him again leading up to her being able to exchange some words with this President. This type of sequence kept happening over and over and it was undeniable to Laura and the people around her that there was some kind of intervention helping to make this happen. Laura felt like she and her dad worked together.   [18:24] List items & lessons along the way. Corresponding with the Pope and owning a large house and land and a tennis court. Laura marked off some of the items in a more poetic way and with many of them realized that it was less important to do specific items in a certain way, and more important to focus on the feelings to be achieved and the growth it pushed her towards.   [23:36] Recording music & reliving childhood. Laura's dad was a singer and doing this was more emotionally hard because she sang songs her dad used to sing to her and her brother. Much of the list gave her a way to re-experience her dad's energy through others, and for this one, she ended up alone.   [25:23] Singing at Laura's wedding & dancing at his grandchildren's wedding. Laura married her husband before they found the list. They honored him at the wedding by opening a bottle of 1974 Robert Mondavi cabernet he'd set aside 38 years before the day. Laura purchased a 2018 bottle of the same wine to set aside for her niece's wedding.   [27:43] Universal lessons from the list. Let go of what doesn't matter, listen to your intuition, remember that being alive is a gift, stop caring how you measure up to other people, and give to others.  ***********************************************   SUPPORT DR. AMY ROBBINS:   If you're enjoying the podcast and finding value in guest interviews, ghost stories, and the content I share, please consider supporting the show by becoming a Patreon member for as little as $5 a month at Patreon.com/DrAmyRobbins   As a member you'll get more say in the content we cover and exclusive access to behind-the-scenes goodness!   Stay Connected with Dr. Amy Robbins:   Instagram YouTube Website Facebook   *********************************************** FOLLOW LAURA CARNEY: Find Laura on her website, Instagram, or Twitter.   Laura's book, “My Father's List: How Living My Dad's Dreams Set Me Free” is available on Amazon. (affiliate) Life, Death and the Space Between is brought to you by: Dr. Amy Robbins | Host, Executive Producer PJ Duke | Executive Producer Extrassaus.com | Audio & Video Editing | YouTube Mara Stallins | Outreach & Social Media Strategy Claire | Claireperk.com | Podcast Cover Design

Christi & Alex are at it again, this time with a classic American "rags to riches" success story! However, like so many stories, it was not all wine & roses, but hard work, determination & the unshakeable confidence of one man that almost destroyed a family. And somewhere in there, two brothers found themselves in the middle of vineyard, screaming and coming close to blows over a mink coat. THIS is what makes wine so interesting! So Pop in the Earbuds, Pour yourself a Glass, & let's Drink Something AMAZING!.......Robert Mondavi Napa Valley Merlot 2018Napa Valley, California 97% Merlot1.5% Petit Verdot1% Cabernet Franc0.5% Cabernet Sauvignon15% abv$26.99 average priceBuy This Wine!Winemaker NotesPurple plum jam and blackberry are prominent on the nose, with hints of black pepper, vanilla wafer cookie, and earthy coffee bean. On the palate, sweet fruit notes of plum with touches of blueberry and dark chocolate, as well as velvety tannins and a beautiful salinity that begs you to take another sip.ROBERT MONDAVI WINERYFounded in 1966 by winemaking pioneer Robert Mondavi, whose vision was to create Napa Valley wines that could stand in the company of the world's finest. It was the first major winery built in Napa Valley in the three decades following the repeal of Prohibition, Robert Mondavi Winery created the foundation for the modern-day California wine industry. Mondavi chose to situate his estate next to To Kalon Vineyard, one of the most coveted wine growing parcels in the world, known for producing award-winning Cabernet Sauvignon and for its Sauvignon Blanc.The first vintage (1966) of Robert Mondavi Winery's Cabernet Sauvignon is released. A shot heard throughout the Valley, it would inspire the waves of pioneers to follow. In time, the path Robert Mondavi cleared would lead to the creation of some of the finest Cabernet Sauvignons, Chardonnays, Merlots and Sauvignon Blancs in the world.Support the showLike the Show? Every Coffee Helps!https://www.buymeacoffee.com/DrinkSomething

Calling all GRÜN GOONS! Dieter Hübler, Founder of Laurenz V, joins us this week to tell us about his mission to Grünerize the entire world! If you've never tried a Grüner Veltliner before, this episode is a great place to start. Grab a bottle and learn about the bright and elegant style of Grüner Dieter makes, with an emphasis on lees aging (aging the wine on the dead yeast cells in stainless steel, to add beautiful complexity and a creamy mouthfeel). Why the Pairing Works:  You've boldly chosen to take a first date to a nice Sushi restaurant. Taking your date to get sushi shows your dedication, sophistication, and spare-no-expense attitude. Add a bottle of Laurenz V Grüner Veltliner to all of that sophistication, with its distinctive flavor profile of green apple, pear, citrus, and white pepper. The wine delivers a refreshing and harmonious taste experience that pairs beautifully with any roll, even those with capsaicin heat. What Makes this Grüner Special: In 2004, winemaking legend Robert Mondavi yelled "Grüner is YOUR grape: just F*!?NG do it!" at Dieter & his partners. Ever since, the Laurenz V have been on a mission to share their Austrian grape, Grüner Veltliner, with the world. The winery only produces this grape, and the main difference in their 3 main offerings ("Singing," "Friendly," and "Charming") is the length of time the grapes spend on the lees. Tasting all 3 is a great exercise in the way lees aging adds complexity, creaminess, and elegance to wine. Laurenz V "Singing" in Emoji's:

One name kept on coming up in the cult wine episode, so the biddies decided to investigate! Robert Mondavi helped influence a lot of California's influential winemakers, helped basically invent the wine style that is known as Fume Blanc and helped to both elevate Californian wine and make some super affordable wines for everyone. Tune in to learn more! For the full show notes: boozybiddies.com/128

Are you curious about the most important historic tasting that put California wines on the map? What unique challenges did pioneer winemakers face in California? What would surprise you about how the California wine industry developed? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with author Mark Gudgel. You can find the wines we discussed at https://www.nataliemaclean.com/winepicks   Giveaway Three of you will win a copy of Mark's new book, Rise of Napa Valley Wineries: How the Judgment of Paris Put California Wine on the Map. To qualify, all you have to do is email me at natalie@nataliemaclean.com and tell me that you'd like to win a copy. I'll choose three people randomly from those who contact me. Good luck!   Highlights When did Mark realize he wanted to write about wine? How did Mark develop his professional interest and expertise in genocide education? What has been the worst moment of Mark's writing career so far and what did he learn from it? Which moments have created the best memories in Mark's writing career? What's the significance of the “Judgement of Paris” and why was Mark drawn to the story? What will you learn in Mark's new book, Rise of Napa Valley Wineries? Who were some of the early pioneers of Napa Valley wineries? How were the Judgement of Paris reenactments done? What are aged California wines like? What are some of the inaccuracies in the movie Bottle Shock? Why was Robert Mondavi instrumental in transforming the California wine industry?   Key Takeaways I didn't realize how pivotal the 1976 Paris tasting was not only for California wines but also for other New World wines around the globe. With Mark's explanation, I can see how its ramifications spread. What was so amazing was that these wines were tasted blind. No one knew the identity of the wines, and they were judged by French experts. It was the French experts saying California at the top. It was fascinating to hear about the unique challenges pioneer winemakers faced in California. It's a wonder that they persevered in the face of such huge obstacles. I also enjoyed hearing about the surprising way the California wine industry developed.   About Mark Gudgel Dr. Mark Gudgel is an eighteen-year veteran of teaching high school English and presently serves as assistant professor of education at the College of Saint Mary in Omaha. After honeymooning in Wine Country, Mark and his wife, Sonja, began a wine blog and soon after he was recruited as a regular correspondent for American Winery Guide. From there, Gudgel went on to write for Food & Spirits, Dine, Edible Omaha, and numerous other publications. His book, The Rise of Napa Valley Wineries: How the Judgment of Paris put California wine on the map, focuses on the wine industry and issues that surround it, and was released from History Press in May of 2023.       To learn more, visit https://www.nataliemaclean.com/236.

Fred Davis only ended up in politics due to a family tragedy and then a family connection, and yet has become one of the most creative and controversial ad makers in America. His clients include a who's who of Republican elected officials...from Bush to Dole to McCain to Schwarzenegger among dozens of others. And despite electing Presidents and numerous Republicans up and down the ballot, he's most famous for his unique perspective on advertising that has led to some of the most memorable and controversials spots of the last few decades...the McCain '08 ad comparing Senator Barack Obama to Paris Hilton, introducing soon-to-be Michigan Governor Rick Synder as "one tough nerd", "Demon Sheep" in California, and introducing the phrase "I'm Not a Witch" into popular culture. Fred is a natural story teller with a great story of an accidental path and unconventional approach to politics.(To donate to support The Pro Politics Podcast, you may use this venmo link or inquire by email at mccrary.zachary@gmail.com)IN THIS EPISODEHow family tragedy propels Fred into the PR at 19 years old & ultimately the ad business…The Senate race that put Fred on the national political map…Fred's connection the rise of Napa Valley wines…The stories behind some of Fred's most famous ads…- The “celebrity” ad against Barack Obama in 2008…- A colorful device for Governor Schwarznegger's 2006 re-election…- Branding Michigan Governor Rick Synder as “One Tough Nerd”…- The story behind the infamous Demon Sheep spot for Carly Fiorina's 2010 Senate race…- Fred's concept behind the Christine O'Donnell “I'm Not a Witch” ad from the 2010 Delaware Senate race…- The Jon Huntsman “motorcycle” announcement video…- Fred talks one of his favorite current clients, Louisiana Senator John Kennedy…- The story behind Fred's first viral video for Sonny Perdue against Georgia Governor Roy Barnes…How a high-profile conservative ad-maker is received living in liberal Hollywood…AND Jason Alexander, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, bell bottoms, the Beverly Hills Hotel, Bon Van Inc, David Boren, Bottle Rocket, Barbara Boxer, Tom Campbell, Chateau Montelena, cheese boards, Bill Clinton, Robert Davi, Gray Davis, Dan Duckhorn, family disagreements, the Freitas Brothers, Gateway computers, good luck charms, gotcha ads, Kelsey Grammer, half-way houses, Mark Halperin, Jim Inhofe, large-format cameras, Rush Limbaugh, Lippincott, Mitch McConnell, Dave McCurdy, Dan McLagan, mirrored pedestals, Robert Mondavi, Sam Nunn, the NRSC, Ogilvy & Mather, Sarah Palin, pink tutus, Steve Schmidt, selling fishing bait, K. Wortham Smith, Steven Spielberg, J. Walter Thompson, Chuck Todd, Trinity University, True Lies, weathermen, the West End Grill, Meg Whitman, Wine Spectator & more!Links to ads cited in this episode: Prison dancing (Inhofe '94)Big Spender (Inhofe '94)Bug Zapper (Inhofe '98)Celebrity (McCain '08)Schwarzenegger Re-election ('06)One Tough Nerd (Rick Synder '10)Demon Sheep (Fiorina '10)I'm Not a Witch (Christine O'Donnell '10)Huntsman Motorcycle Presidential Announcement ('12)King Roy (Sonny Perdue '02)

Burgundy's legendary Aubert de Villaine of Domaine de la Romanée-Conti joins us for an exclusive rare interview covering his auction-darling Pinot Noirs, his first encounter with Robert Mondavi, and his role in the 1976 Paris Tasting. Plus, southern France wine star Gérard Bertrand and NBA Hall of Famer turned (multiple) winery owner Tony Parker.Straight Talk host James Molesworth is joined by podcast director Rob Taylor and Wine Spectator senior editors Bruce Sanderson and Kristen Bieler, and we unravel a little bit of the mystery behind the mysterious Dr. Vinny.Thirsty for more? Check out this related content• May 31, 2023, issue of Wine Spectator• Bruce Sanderson Tastes the 2020 DRC Lineup• More on Tony Parker• Latest News and Headlines• Ask Dr. Vinny• WS website members: More on James' Sneak Peek PickA podcast from Wine SpectatorMarvin R. Shanken, Editor and PublisherHost: James MolesworthDirector: Robert TaylorProducer: Gabriela SaldiviaGuests: Aubert de Villaine, Gérard Bertrand, Tony Parker, Bruce Sanderson, Kristen Bieler, and MaryAnn Worobiec as Dr. VinnyAssistant producer, Napa: Elizabeth Redmayne-Titley

The story of Robert Mondavi, a genius who did more to create Napa than anyone else and flew so close to the sun he almost owned it.  Join Jason Wise and writers Ray Isle and Kelli White as well as Robert himself to tell one of the great tales in life and wine.  Don't forget all new subscribers and members who gift somtv.com will receive a large signed original SOMM poster until they run out, so act fast. 

Tor Kenward has been a part of Napa's growth from the beginning, seeking advice from Robert Mondavi, getting tips from André Tchelistcheff, and collaborating with Julia Child. We share a couple bottles of wine with him at his house in Napa Valley to discuss his start at Beringer, his current label Tor, and his new book “Reflections of a Vintner”. There is a lot of history here. Enjoy [EP268] Torwines.com @torwines

#CharcWeek, a weeklong celebration of Charcuterie and great wine, is upon us - can you believe it?! This week legendary winemaker Tony Coltrin of Oberon wines helps us build the perfect Charcuterie Board to pair with his iconic Oberon Napa Cabernet. Tony recently celebrated his 50th vintage and worked for the likes of Robert Mondavi & the Mondavi family. His "old school" style of Napa Cabernet is all about balance (and usually less ABV) which makes for a versatile wine to pair anything during #CharcWeek. Oberon Napa Cabernet Tastes Like:

How does deepening your understanding of wine help you maintain a healthy relationship with it? Why do memoirs help us to connect with characters even more deeply than fiction? Which moderation tools and techniques can you use when drinking wine?   In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm being interviewed by journalist Jaime Lewis for her podcast, CONSUMED.   You can find the wines we discussed at https://www.nataliemaclean.com/winepicks   Highlights What does “day in the life” writing look like? How does deepening your understanding of wine help you maintain a healthy relationship with it? How will my third book, Wine Witch on Fire, differ from my first two? Why is a well-written book able to change your life? What do I love about memoirs and the reader's ability to transition the characters into the real world? Which moderation tools and techniques do I use when drinking wine? How did a combination of therapy and medication help me to manage my depression? What steps did I take to build my own platform with intention? Who can benefit from my Wine Smart online food and wine pairing course? What do I do to take care of myself daily? How do I define being an introvert? What would I eat and drink, and who would I invite if it was my last day on Earth?   Join me on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube Live Join the live-stream video of this conversation on Wed at 7 pm ET on Instagram Live Video, Facebook Live Video or YouTube Live Video. I want to hear from you! What's your opinion of what we're discussing? What takeaways or tips do you love most from this chat? What questions do you have that we didn't answer? Want to know when we go live? Add this to your calendar: https://www.addevent.com/calendar/CB262621   About Jaime Lewis Jaime writes, speaks and podcasts about the good life. After an arts management career that included employment with Architecture New York Magazine, the San Francisco Symphony and the San Luis Obispo Symphony, Jaime chose to follow her nose (and palate) into the wine industry. Jaime has participated in nearly every moment of a wine's life, from planting and bottling to selling. In addition to blogging about her personal year-long journey through the world, Jaime has written product, promotional and web copy for acclaimed wineries including Robert Mondavi, Firestone, Tantara, Herman Story, Laetitia, and Sans Liege.     To learn more, visit https://www.nataliemaclean.com/214.

How can tasting rooms help you enjoyably expand your knowledge of wine? Which experiences led me to perfect the art of the outsider at a young age? Why does capturing our experiences in words have such a profound impact on us? What can you learn from side-by-side tastings?   In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm being interviewed by journalist Jaime Lewis for her podcast, CONSUMED.   You can find the wines we discussed at https://www.nataliemaclean.com/winepicks   Highlights Which experiences led me to perfect the art of the outsider at a young age? How did my mother influence my love for writing? What was Jaime's inspiration for becoming a wine writer? Where do writing and computer programming have a lot of parallels? What role did California play in my love for wine? How can tasting rooms help you enjoyably expand your knowledge of wine? What can you learn from side-by-side tastings? How did a bottle of Brunello transform my perception of wine? Why is it so powerful to capture our experiences in words? What it means to “call up” and how did that help me to kick-start my writing career? How has the freelance writing landscape changed in the years since I started?   Join me on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube Live Join the live-stream video of this conversation on Wed at 7 pm ET on Instagram Live Video, Facebook Live Video or YouTube Live Video. I want to hear from you! What's your opinion of what we're discussing? What takeaways or tips do you love most from this chat? What questions do you have that we didn't answer? Want to know when we go live? Add this to your calendar: https://www.addevent.com/calendar/CB262621   About Jaime Lewis Jaime writes, speaks and podcasts about the good life. After an arts management career that included employment with Architecture New York Magazine, the San Francisco Symphony and the San Luis Obispo Symphony, Jaime chose to follow her nose (and palate) into the wine industry. Jaime has participated in nearly every moment of a wine's life, from planting and bottling to selling. In addition to blogging about her personal year-long journey through the world, Jaime has written product, promotional and web copy for acclaimed wineries including Robert Mondavi, Firestone, Tantara, Herman Story, Laetitia, and Sans Liege.     To learn more, visit https://www.nataliemaclean.com/213.

In todays episode, Shelley and Phil push the Joe Rogan model of podcast length while they visit with former neighbor, Laureen Betts, as she shares her stories and experiences from her many years of working at the Robert Mondavi Winery and how Robert Mondavi helped shape the California wine world. You'll also learn about the proper way to dry wine glasses so you won't break them. This is a long one with loads of great stories. Pour yourself a glass (or bottle?) of Robert Mondavi wine, sit back and enjoy! #HappyFriday! #ItsWineTime #Cheersing #WineNot #Skullduggery #Boinking #EasterEggWines this episode:2018 Robert Mondavi Napa Valley Chardonnay ($40 at Bottle Joy)

In todays episode, we have two guests that have gone from game day to grape day, Damon Huard of Passing Time Winery and Drew Bledsoe of Doubleback Winery and Bledsoe Family Winery. You may recognize them from their earlier careers when both were quarterbacks, having great college and pro careers. Drew played for the Cougars of Washington State and Damon played for the Huskies of Washington. They had successful careers playing football in the NFL, too (combined 26 years!) and now have used what they learned in the ultimate team sport to transition into having successful careers in the world of wine, historically an enormously competitive industry. In this episode you will find SOME trash talking over the annual Apple Cup game and the rivalry between the two cross-state schools, but you will also find the respect over each others wine is genuine.#HappyFriday! #ItsWineTime! #Cheersing #NoPuntIntended #BringDownTheSnow #EasterEggWines this episode:- 2019 Bledsoe Family Winery Cabernet Sauvignon ($70 at the winery)

Host James Molesworth takes us on a deep dive into the Robert Mondavi legacy, with exclusive interviews with Wine Spectator editor and publisher Marvin R. Shanken, Continuum Estate co-founder and Robert's son Tim Mondavi, international winemaking star and Mondavi winery alum Paul Hobbs, Mount Veeder winery founders and former Mondavi winery tour guides Arlene and Michael Bernstein, and Robert Hanson, President of Constellation's Wine & Spirits division, which now owns the Mondavi winery and its esteemed To Kalon Vineyard. Plus, we page Dr. Vinny, and much more!Thirsty for more? Check out:• Wine Spectator's Nov. 30, 2022, issue• Latest News and Headlines• Ask Dr. Vinny• WS website members: More on James' Sneak Peek PickA podcast from Wine SpectatorMarvin R. Shanken, Editor and PublisherHost: James MolesworthDirector: Rob TaylorGuests: Marvin R. Shanken, Tim Mondavi, Paul Hobbs, Arlene and Michael Bernstein, Robert Hanson, and MaryAnn Worobiec as Dr. VinnyAssistant producer, Napa: Elizabeth Redmayne-Titley

After spending two decades promoting the wines of Washington State, Allen Shoup founded Longshadows, a collective of partnerships leveraging internationally renowned winemaking talent to express the best of the Columbia Valley. Director of Winemaking, Gilles Nicault, describes how the partnerships work from both a business and winemaking perspective; what he's learned from making wines with the likes of Michel Rolland to Randy Dunn; and how Washington State's wine profile has been elevated from this concept.  Don't forget to support the show on Patreon!Detailed Show Notes: Allen Shoup founded LongshadowsHe was CEO of Ste Michelle Wine Estates (“SMWE”) for 20 yearsHis mentor was Robert Mondavi, who founded Opus One, a collaboration between the old and new worldAt SMWE, Allen started collaborations with Eroica (Dr. Loosen) and Col Solari (Antinori)Wanted to build partnerships for Longshadows - showcase the Columbia Valley, which is east of the Cascade Mountains and has very dry terroir (~6 inches of rain/year), enabling great diversity of grapes to be grown (Bordeaux, Rhone, Italian, Spanish varieties)The name “Long Shadows” refers to renowned winemakers casting long shadows over the Columbia ValleyPartnershipsPoet's Leap, a Riesling w/ Armin Diel (Schollsgut Diel in Nahe, Germany)Saggi, a Super Tuscan (Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah blend) w/ Ambrogio & Giovanni Folonari (Tuscany)Pedestal, a Merlot w/ Michel Rolland (Pomerol)Pirouette, a Bordeaux style blend w/ Agustin Huneeus, Sr and Phillipe Melka (Napa)Feather, a Cabernet Sauvignon w/ Randy Dunn (Napa)Sequel, a Syrah w/ John Duval (Barossa Valley, Australia)Gilles crafts his own Cab / Syrah blend with 30 months in French oakAll partnerships were established when Longshadows was founded in 2003 except Folonari, which came in 2004All are true partnerships - each partner owns 25% of their labels, which are separate companies. They are not consultants and are not paid any other feesLongshadows does the sales & marketing for the winesWorking relationships w/ partners varyJohn Duval can be there during harvest (Southern Hemisphere)Partners did not give any recipes for wines but pitched in and developed styles togetherFruit sourced from across Columbia Valley and its 15 sub-AVAs through acreage contractsSource both old vines and can work with growers to plant specific clones (e.g., German clones for Poet's Leap Riesling vineyards)Volume of wines set by Allen Shoup and Dane Narbaitz (current President and Allen's son-in-law), choose quality over quantityWines that don't make the main wines go into 2nd label Nine HatsEach winemaker is so different. Gilles learned there are many ways to make winesE.g., Randy Dunn wants the jacks of the fruit in the wine, whereas Michel Rolland wants all of them outWinemakers are interested in what each other does but do not work togetherEach winemaker has their own allocation of vineyards and blocks for their winesSelling LongshadowsThe wine club “Key Club” is a big part of sales2 tasting rooms - at the winery (Walla Walla) and in Woodinville (near Seattle)Some distribution in the US and a few international marketsLongshadows was honored to be selected 4x to be served at the White HouseThe future - partners are getting older, and many are on the verge of retirement. Gilles to carry the flame forward with lessons he's learned from them Get access to library episodes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Some weeks ago one of my avid podcast listeners said to me “I don't know how to be a mom…I have nothing in my life to give to my little child”.Listen to this episode as Christine M Bright dissected this conversation in a way that is enlightening, enriching and inspiring. Click here to listen to the full episode: https://www.thebeautifullybrokenme.com/podcast.In this episode of 'The Beautifully Broken Me Podcast', we discussed the topic: "I Don't Know How To Be A Mom" (Winning The Parenting Game). This topic was the heart-cry of a mom

The Texas wine scene is growing by leaps and bounds, and Hill Country as a destination continues its growth at a record pace. In this episode, we change up our format to introduce you to some of the leaders of the Texas wine industry. You’ll meet the Executive Director of the Hill Country Wineries Association, Cliff Bingham of Bingham Vineyards, and Michael McClendon, a winemaker/owner at the custom crush facility, Sage’s Vintage. Check out our guests and some other great links at:Texas Hill Country Wineries: https://texaswinetrail.com/Bingham Family Vineyards: https://binghamfamilyvineyards.com/Michael McClendon and Sage’s Vintage: https://www.sagesvintage.com/Texas Winemakers Docu-Series: https://www.youtube.com/c/TexasWinemakersShelley Wilfong’s “This is Texas Wine” Podcast: Visit our website at www.VitiCulturePodcast.com, and don’t forget to share with your friends via all major social media platforms @VitiCULTUREPodVisit Bellangelo Winery and Missick Cellars at www.Bellangelo.com and www.MissickCellars.com.My first taste of wine from Texas, was actually a little more than seven years ago. One of the things many people don’t know, is the Finger Lakes international wine competition is largely a fundraiser for a place called Camp Good Days and Special Times, which serves as a retreat for children that are fighting cancer. An additional fundraising stream for Camp Good Days through the competition, is a large banquet that follows the end of the competition.  A component of that banquet is a silent auction of many of the remaining wines.  In 2015, I was invited by Scott and Ruth Osborne, owners of Fox Run Winery, to be their guest for the dinner. Scott, if you recall from our first show, the subject of our very first viticulture interview nearly a year ago, has been called the Robert Mondavi of the Finger Lakes.The Finger Lakes International Wine Competition is one of the largest in the country, and entrants come from all over the world.  Texas wines have done well in that competition, and one of the lots I had bid on was a case of Gold medal winning reds.  Fortunately for me, many of them came from Texas producers.  Within this box were several Texas producers, one of which I had heard of at the time, but many of which were still new names for me. The Pedernales Tempranillo was a wine I had some vague acquaintance within my mind, probably from reading about it in a magazine or seeing something online. In the weeks after winning that auction in 2015, I tasted two of the Texas wines that were in that lot. I enjoyed them, and at the time, if I recall correctly, they were of the 2013 and 2014 vintage, and I remember thinking that these wines simply needed a bit more time. Periodically, throughout the years, I would enjoy a bottle or two, to see how they had come along and each time I was impressed. It was sometime around Thanksgiving in 2021, that I discovered a YouTube series called Texas winemakers. This 11 part series of shorts was impressively produced, and followed a handful of Texas producers from throughout the state as they tended their vineyards, made their wines, and discussed their philosophy and their tasting room experiences. The docu-series, produced in 2020-21, captures what was a very difficult period for the Texas wine industry. Inclement weather including freezes, a pandemic, and a difficult business environment throughout the entire country was a headwind. Despite the challenges, the community of Texas winemakers seemed optimistic, tight-knit, and focused on making Texas one of the premier wine states in this country. Between the high quality of production of the series, and the larger than life characters that were featured, there was a sense that there is a momentum and energy to Texas wine that reminded me of what I first felt in the Finger Lakes in 2009.  It convinced me that I needed to visit. I also headed down to my own cellar after watching the series, where I pulled out a 2013 Hye Meadow Winery Malbec.  Eight years in, that wine was tasting delicious.My trip to North Carolina, was planned sometime between Christmas and New Year’s of 2021, and before I knew it I was on a plane visiting the Yadkin Valley. I had a little bit more time when it came to planning for Texas, as I figured I would visit in the third week of January. I had contacted one of the winemakers from the Texas winemakers docu-series, Chris Brundrett of William Chris Vineyards. Within a day of telling him I was planning on visiting the region, he had responded that it was actually going to be an excellent time to visit if I wanted to meet many of the folks in the community. He told me that the Texas Hill Country Wine Symposium, an event that you’ll find in many winemaking regions around the world where local producers come together to discuss their challenges, achievements, and generally just build their local winemaking community, was scheduled to take place the first three days of my planned visit. It seemed fortuitous, and got me really energized at the opportunity to meet many of the folks behind the wines I had seen, and by this point, read so much about. For anyone who has never been to a symposium like this, it is also one of the very best opportunities to taste a wide range of wines produced. These symposiums always offer opportunities to engage in deep dive tastings, generally with between four and six wines, while the winemaker is on stage discussing everything about the vineyards, and the vinification. In addition to that, there are almost always social hours, where you have the chance to share your own wine while tasting many of the wines the members of your community have made.  Since most symposiums happen at a convention center with a hotel attached, the evening social tasting is usually a great time where people don’t have to worry about driving home. Upon hearing about the symposium, and booking my ticket that day, I decided I would need to extend my trip by a few more days if I was going to enjoy the symposium, but also have a chance to see what the Texas Hill country was all about.Before I go too far, I have to make sure that of a big shout out to Shelly Wilfong and her podcast This Is Texas Wine. With a catalog of nearly a year of shows, Shelley is meticulously documenting the Texas wine scene as it grows and develops, and does an amazing job exploring the lines and the businesses of producers in the state of Texas. I had the chance to meet her at the conference, and she is just as pleasant in person as she is on the show. You’ll learn a lot about Texas wine with every episode.Texas is a huge state. And winemaking in Texas is not quite as simple as picking a region and understanding that the grapes that you’ll be tasting in that region or from that region. 80% of the fruit grown for fine wine making in Texas is actually grown in the High Plains, up near Lubbock Texas. The High Plains is a vast flat area, but one whose elevation helps to promote a diurnal shift in temperatures, and to grow some exceptionally good fruit.  The High Plains is far enough inland so that hurricanes from the Gulf are no longer a worry, and the range of temperatures means there is an enormous variety of different grape varietals that can be grown. In the early days, the focus was on Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Cabernet Sauvignon, and in more recent times the focus has shifted to varietals that are more associated with southern France, Spain, and Portugal. That is not to say there aren’t some growers that can grow Riesling - they can.  And yet others, are able to grow Rhone varietals that reach a peak of ripeness similar to the Rhone.  Here, it is about elevation, and planting varietals that match the site.  Unlike state like New York and California, where you go to taste wine where the grapes are grown, Texas wine tourism isn’t actually located around the core of its viticulture country.  The states premier wine tourism destination is within the AVA known as the Texas Hill country. For those who think of Texas, and think of vast desert planes and tumbleweeds, this is a totally different concept of what Texas geography has to offer. Gentle Rolling hills, beautiful winding roads, lined with her insert the type of trees here, offer a rugged back country feel that reminded me i’m visiting Provence. My wife is from Toulouse, but much of her family is spread out throughout southern France. From the seaside village of La Teste de Buch, near Arcachon on the Atlantic, and clear through Provence, I’ve had the opportunity to see most of this South of France through the eyes of locals. Driving through Texas Hill country, brought was an otherworldly reminiscence of Provence.The Texas Hill country itself is a vast AVA, with nearly 9,000,000 acres. It has a major advantage in that the Hill country starts as you exit Austin to the east and San Antonio to the south. It is a beautiful region, but has a Normas population centers just outside of its smaller towns. These populations create a massive pool of potential visitors for tasting rooms. In all, Texas Hill country has a population of nearly 28,000,000 people within about a 3 Hour Dr. of wine country.  When you combine that fact, with the fiercely loyal nature of Texans to all things Texas, you have the potential for growth unlike almost any region I’ve ever visited.With my cameras and my recording equipment in hand, I was prepared to tackle many more interviews than I was actually able to complete. I was in Texas in January, just as the omicron variant of Covid was spreading quickly throughout the country. During my last three days I felt like I was coming down with a little something, but thought that it could have just been allergies as the Hill Country cedars were in the midst of their pollination cycle.  In any event, I opted to stay away from going to too many public places, and meeting with any more interviewee‘s. I had my at home test kits with me, and they continued to show I was testing negative. It wasn’t until I returned home to the Finger Lakes region, that I eventually tested positive. What that means is, there are a lot of personalities and winemakers I didn’t have the opportunity to interview while I was visiting Hill Country. This series will be a little shorter than I had anticipated, but I have plans to make sure we hear from many of those outstanding folks in the future.  Some of them will include Seth Urbanik of Wedding Oak Winery, Sam Jensen of Bingham Vineyards, Ron Yates of Spicewood and Ron Yates Winery, Regan Meador of South+Hold, the good folks at Turtle Creek, Bénédicte Rhyne at Kuhlman Estates, and so, so many others.  Wineries like Lost Draw, Hye Meadow, Grape Creek, Farmhouse, Becker, Crawson, Kerrville Hills, and Bending Branch, also have so much to offer - and I haven’t even scratched the surface of wines in Texas you need to taste.  Our abbreviated Texas series will consist of two episodes and four interviews. In this first episode, we will be talking with January Wiese, Cliff Bingham, and Michael McClendon. There is a logic to this series of interviews.  I wanted to spend this first episode exploring Texas Hill Country through the eyes of the executive Director of Hill Country Wineries, the member-funded marketing association in the Hill Country, headed up by January. Next, I wanted to talk with a grower, and a grower with a winery and tasting rooms throughout the entire state, including one in Fredericksburg in the heart of Hill Country. Cliff Bingham brings an amazing amount of insight to growing grapes in Texas.  And finally I wanted to talk with a winemaker, and showcase the work of Michael McClendon. Michael is one of the cofounders of Sage’s Vintage, a custom crush facility that operates out of Nacogdoches in eastern Texas. Michael has built up an excellent reputation with growers throughout the state, and his custom crush operation helps new wineries get off the ground, and existing wineries maintain their current inventories. Working with fruit from all over the state, means Michael has a broad view of what is happening with Texas. He’s a great winemaker too, as I tasted many of his wines and they were absolutely delicious. As I mentioned in the interview, he may have found the secret spot in winemaking, as you get to do what you love in making wine, but can maintain relatively low overhead and not have to deal with any of the additional stresses this industry can bring.I really can’t say enough positive things about my Hill Country experience. Although the state of Texas has a wonderful history in wine grape growing, I don’t think it is unfair or uncharitable (even to the pioneers that have been at work here for decades) to describe Hill Country as a new region. That is not to take anything away from the pioneers like Dr. Becker, at Becker Vineyards, who many decades ago witnessed Robert Mondavi tasting in his tasting room.  Mondavi was effusive as to the quality of the wines, and himself realized that the future of Texas wine was incredibly bright.  In fact, I think that thee still hidden aspect of Hill Country, and Texas, for those outside of the state, is a blessing for Hill Country producers.  There is just so much energy, and so many new pockets of landscape and terroir to discover.  I think that we may be on the cusp of entering one of the most exciting times for this region. That is not to say that there aren’t some enormous headwinds off in the distance.  I allude in my conversation with Cliff Bingham, to the major issues that are impacting vineyards in the High Plains due to the use of dicamba, an herbicide that is applied on genetically modified cotton to kill the weeds, but not the plant. They farm nearly 3 million acres of cotton in the High Plains, so you can only imagine what that impact may be.  I’m hoping to do a deeper show in the future on the topic, as I think that it is an extremely important issue in the context of discussing how we should be properly farming in this country.  Out of nearly 40 shows, I’ve probably talked about my emphasis on respecting, honoring, and building soil in nearly half of them.  The health of our communities from volatilized particles, and how that may harm not just our plants but ourselves and our children, can not be ignored.   As a final note, time constraints have prevented me from having the chance to edit and produce the video versions for the last few shows.  For the time being, we will continue to move forward with the audio podcast, and temporarily suspend the video version of the show.  We will continue to film interviews, and hopefully, when time permits, complete the editing and release them on the channel.And now, without further delay, here’s the show. Get full access to The Viti+Culture Podcast Newsletter at viticulturepodcast.substack.com/subscribe

---> Subscribe to the Causeartist Newsletter here.Check out noissue - Sustainable packaging for all brandsCheck out DoneGood - Shop 200+ social impact brands on the DoneGood marketplace ---> Check out more Causeartist Partners here.In episode 135 of the Disruptors for GOOD podcast I speak with Carlo Mondavi, Co-founder of Monarch Tractor, on making sustainable farming economically superior and cleaner with fully electric and autonomous tractors.Carlo Mondavi is a 4th generation farmer & winegrower and grandson of the legendary Robert Mondavi. In addition to making wine, Carlo is co-founder & chief farming officer of Monarch Tractor founded in 2017. He is currently an active sustainable farmer and leads the delivery of the world's smartest, fully electric, autonomous tractor which is being deployed around the world to farmers.In 2013 he formed RAEN Winery with his brother Dante. He has also put the Monarch Tractor to work at RAEN winery. RAEN stands for “Research in Agriculture and Enology Naturally,” which speaks to the core ethos of Carlo's farming & winemaking practices: to farm at the highest level and in unison with nature. RAEN implements permaculture, biodynamic and organic.In 2017 he started the The Monarch Challenge. The Monarch Challenge is set to enlighten, encourage and connect our communities to farm and thrive in unison with nature and give back to the delicate circle of life---Basically cleaner farming.The challenge was inspired by the dwindling Monarch butterflies that used to be in the millions and have dramatically been reduced to thousands. The butterflies are very important to the farming ecosystem in Napa and Sonoma but impact other regions too.The name ‘The Monarch Challenge' comes from the fact that since Roundup's introduction into the market in 1974, the Monarch butterfly population has declined by 90% and is currently under threat of extinction. The environmental impact goes beyond the Monarch to frogs, bees, other pollinators and even on to our human health.In 2020 he was co-founder of Monarch Tractor leading the electrification of agriculture.Carlo states, “The true definition of sustainable is all over the place, blurring the root meaning of what sustainable is. With that said, truly sustainable farming is leaving the soils and environment farmed as good if not better than before to allow for life and farming to continue on healthily. This means no herbicides, systemics and a basic regenerative practice to help build soil health and biodiversity on the farm. Once this balance is found on a farm there is the opportunity for a healthier farm team meaning healthier community and most importantly a better and healthier product to share and sell.”What is the Monarch Tractor?Monarch Tractor is making sustainable farming economically superior with the MK-V -- the world's smartest, fully electric autonomous tractor and with a world-class leadership team that have accelerated vision to product delivery in three years.What are the benefits of the Tractor?Monarch's fully electric tractor helps eliminate the 35 percent of carbon emissions developed by current diesel tractors used in agriculture farming. Monarch projections suggest its tractor can directly reduce 1% of GHG emissions, while regenerative practices enabled by Monarch can reduce 4% of GHG emissions.Farmers today face numerous challenges including labor shortages, effects of climate change, safety concerns, increased customer scrutiny for sustainability demands, government regulations, and more. Monarch Tractor addresses these issues by combining electrification, automation, machine learning, and data analysis to enhance farmer's existing operations, increase labor productivity and safety, and maximize yields to cut overhead costs and emissions.Monarch Tractor has helped customers cut their carbon footprint, improve field safety, streamline farming operations, and increase their bottom lines. Monarch Tractor will be the template for all future tractors in terms of an all-electric, driver optional and actionable intelligence features.---> Check out the Causeartist Partners here.---> Subscribe to the Causeartist Newsletter here.Listen to more Causeartist podcast shows hereFollow Grant on Twitter and LinkedInFollow Causeartist on Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram

In this episode, Amber covers the stalking and murder of Alice Ruggles. Alice was a 24-year old recent college graduate. She was beautiful, vibrant and energetic. In 2015, she met army soldier Harry Dhillon through a mutual friend on Facebook and a romance blossomed. Alice found Harry to be charming and attentive in the beginning, but it didn't take long for Alice to start seeing concerning red flags in Harry. Alice reached out for help from law enforcement on more than one occasion, but unfortunately little help was offered to her.Amber was drinking a Stephen Millier 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon and thought it was like the best thing she ever tasted, so you know CHECK IT OUT!!! Sources:www.talkmurderwithme.com / “The Murder of Alice Ruggles” January 22, 2021  www.chroniclelive.co.uk/ Sophie Doughty / Crime Reporter / June 19, 2021www.alicerugglestrust.org  Audio Clip Source: The Scottish SunThen Erika covers the story of George Waterfield Russell Jr, a.k.a. "The Charmer"; "The East Side Killer"; "The Bellevue Killer" who resided in Bellevue, WA in the 90's.  He was a lover of nightclubs and the bar scene but a hater of women.  He brutally murdered 3 young women, in such heinous ways that even the police were besides themselves during the investigations.  Russell was able to fly under the radar for over a year, due to him having built a sort of relationship with the police department. He was valued as an informant, errand runner and was even able to befriended some of the officers.Erika was drinking a Robert Mondavi 2018 Chardonnay, courtesy of Jason.  It was wonderfully delicious.  Erika pulled her sources from:www.enyclopedia.com/ George Russell, Jr. Trial: 1991 / B. J. Welbornwww.oxygen.com / “Serial Killer Posed Victims' Bodies 'For Shock Value' After Brutally Murdering Them” / BECCA VAN SAMBECK / APRIL 14, 2021 www.apnews.com / “Man Charged In Deaths of Three Women In Serial Killing Case” / March 5, 1991www.en.wikipedia.orgwww.murderpedia.org

How often are you using your stories to help lead your team? A great leadership story narrative can inspire others to follow and commit. Rodney Williams, President and CEO of Belvedere Vodka, knows what it takes to tell a great leadership story, and he shares them in his interview on The CEO Sessions. You don't need fancy words -- all you need is a good understanding of the core concepts of storytelling theory and some practical tips on how to develop your own stories. And, with those two things in place, anyone can be an effective leader who inspires people around them. Rodney was named global head of the world's first super-premium vodka in 2017. He encourages consumers to understand Belvedere's origins, ingredients and craft in order to understand the unique taste and character of Belvedere Vodka. This is the story of Polish rye and purified water, distilled by fire. He was most recently the CMO for Moet Hennessy USA's storied portfolio of iconic luxury champagne, wines and spirits brands. Rodney's tenure at Moet Hennessy began as Senior Vice President for Hennessy, where he led the brand out of decline and into record growth with a groundbreaking new strategic campaign.  Prior to that he was in the wine business where, as SVP of Classics Brands, Jackson Family Wines, he launched the most successful new product in the company's history; and as SVP of Robert Mondavi, Constellation Brands, oversaw the turnaround of Woodbridge. Rodney's LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rkw1115/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/rkw1115/) https://www.belvederevodka.com/ (Belvedere Vodka)  WHAT YOU WILL DISCOVER FROM THIS EPISODE: Going to Dot Com to Dot Bomb to Robert Mondavi. His surprising story of mistaken identity with Robert Mondavi. The cocktail you can make to impress any business guest. How you can describe vodka like a fine wine. How the spirits industry was challenged most during the pandemic. The BIG pandemic pivot he led Belvedere through, that boosted sales. Increasing cocktails with no bartender? How to use storytelling as a leader. Advice for storytellers who want amp up their game. Belvedere Vodka's Amazing Story. Starting your story with humor. The pros and cons of being a Determined Optimist! Where optimism comes from. Discovering an empathetic perspective. Staying connected as a remote team. Belvedere's innovative approach to clean energy! The true passion that drives his career... problem-solving. How he led the charge on Batman and OnStar! How they are approaching the cost of employee turnover. How they leverage executive coaching to reduce turnover. A humorous story of his first week at Moet-Hennessy! QUOTES: “The fodder for great stories is already there.” “Storytelling is less about invention and more about excavation.” “The best story telling is authentic and real.” “If you are really passion-led, you will find a path.” ------------------- https://www.benfanning.com/the-ceo-sessions/ (Apply to be on the show) ------------------- https://www.benfanning.com/the-ceo-sessions/ (Connect with Ben:) https://www.linkedin.com/in/benfanning/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/benfanning/) https://www.instagram.com/benfanning1/ (https://www.instagram.com/benfanning1/) https://twitter.com/BenFanning1 (https://twitter.com/BenFanning1)

In this episode of Before IT Happened, Donna chats with Carlo Mondavi, a descendant of Napa Valley wine royalty and a leading advocate for sustainable agriculture and organic and biodynamic farming. Carlo's grandfather Robert Mondavi founded the family winery in 1966 in Northern California and passed on his passion for wine and organic farming. Today Carlo is dedicated to The Monarch Challenge, a program to educate, encourage and connect communities to farming without chemicals. In 2013, Carlo also opened Raen Winery with his brother Dante, where they specialize in their grandfather's favorite grape, pinot noir. Listen now and be inspired by Carlo's passion for great wine, fruitful farming, and a healthier earth.   Before any world-changing innovation, there was a moment, an event, a realization that sparked the idea before it happened. This is a podcast about that moment — about that idea. Before IT Happened takes you on a journey with the innovators who imagined — and are still imagining — our future. Join host Donna Loughlin as her guests tell their stories of how they brought their visions to life.   JUMP STRAIGHT INTO: (01:23) -  Robert Mondavi's story and the wine legacy of his family: “Even though my family has been making wine for a hundred years, the challenges that we have faced, like prohibition, kept us very humble.” (07:04) - A brief detour: Leaving the California vineyards for snowy mountains: “I went to a school in Colorado where during the wintertime there was a snowboard team. That was where I started with the snowboard.” (10:37) - Anne-Claude Leflaive, biodynamics and a life-changing trip to Burgundy: “I remember her talking about farming, about this connection to the land, and about biodynamics and biodynamics at the time was a crazy idea.” (17:13) - The problem with the chemical industry and getting involved with Monarch: “I got involved in this so that we could bridge those divides and we could solve these major pain points for farmers, farms, and agricultural communities.”  (26:45) - The Monarch Challenge and introducing the Monarch Tractor: “There was a massive pain on so many levels that we needed to solve. We needed to automize, electrify and clean up our carbon footprint with farming.” (35:52) - A farmer-first company: Creating technology for all farmers' benefit:  “We want to be a solution to making farmers safer, healthier, happier, and more profitable at the end of the day, so that we can continue to do what we love.” (43:06) - Leading this movement through technology: “I see a really bright future in agriculture, and it's not just in getting rid of the chemicals, it's in making farms more successful and more profitable.” EPISODE RESOURCES: Connect with Carlo through https://www.linkedin.com/in/carlo-mondavi-063792a0/ (LinkedIn) and https://twitter.com/CarloMondavi (Twitter) Join https://www.themonarchchallenge.org/ (The Monarch Challenge) Read https://daily.sevenfifty.com/why-organic-winegrowing-can-be-more-profitable-than-conventional/?utm_content=175992737&utm_medium=social&utm_source=linkedin&hss_channel=lcp-20330166 (Why Organic Winegrowing Can Be More Profitable Than Conventional) featuring Carlo https://youtu.be/xcpi4vR-_44 (See the Monarch Tractor in action) and learn more about https://www.monarchtractor.com/ (Monarch Tractor) Follow Monarch Tractor on https://twitter.com/MonarchTractor (Twitter) and https://www.instagram.com/monarch_tractor/?hl=en (Instagram)  Learn more about https://www.raenwinery.com/ (Raen Winery) Before IT Happened is produced by Donna Loughlin and https://www.studiopodsf.com/ (StudioPod Media) with additional editing and sound design by https://nodalab.com/ (Nodalab). The Executive Producer is Katie Sunku Wood, and all episodes are written by Jack Buehrer. Thank you for listening! Follow Before IT Happened on https://www.instagram.com/beforeithappened/ (Instagram) and...