Podcasts about vineyards

In this episode, we are talking with Julia Moore, Communications Specialist at Bosman Family Vineyards, a South African winery at the forefront of ethical wine production and regenerative farming. With a 26% worker-ownership model, award-winning viticulture, and deep investment in education and inclusion, Bosman is redefining what sustainability in wine truly means. We explore the impact of shared ownership, the challenges and beauty of farming as a community, and the power of giving future generations opportunities beyond the vineyard. From vine nurseries to old vine Chenin Blanc, this conversation is rich in knowledge and purpose. Two wines are tasted during the episode: the affordable Generation 8 Chardonnay, supporting early childhood education projects, and the prestigious Optenhorst Chenin Blanc, sourced from the third-oldest Chenin vines in South Africa. Whether you're interested in equitable business models, viticulture innovation, or wines with purpose, this episode delivers inspiration in every sip. Episode Guide (Chapters) [02:30] - How Julia approaches wine storytelling as a communicator [04:47] - How the land shapes the vines [07:51] - The role of climate and vine age [09:30] - Ethical working and community impact [11:35] - Shared ownership: transforming life on the farm [14:25] - Vision for youth and long-term opportunity [17:32] - How many people live on the farm as a community [18:57] - Tasting Generation 8 Chardonnay — a fresh, unoaked white wine with expressive fruit and minerality. Available at Sainsbury's £9 (UK). [21:20] - How its sales support Bosman's education projects [26:19] - What happens in the vine nursery during winter [30:46] - Clonal selection and rootstock combinations [33:23] - Bosman named Winery of the Year in the Platter's Wine Guide [36:08] - Tasting Optenhorst Chenin Blanc 2023 — from 72-year-old dry-farmed bush vines. Around £25-30 per bottle. [38:59] - The story and power of old vines [41:06] - Pricing and exclusivity of Optenhorst; why it's a rare and age-worthy wine [49:01] - What the wine industry must do for equity and representation [51:46] - Bosman Family Vineyards and more information

This week on our Vino Lingo segment we feature Chris Benziger, Vintner, Benziger Family Vineyards, Glen Ellen, defining the term “Geological Lasagna”.  Learn more by visiting benziger.com

Way back in the early days of Life Between the Vines, the first interview I recorded in Sonoma was at Benziger Family Vineyards, Glen Ellen. Biodynamic way back then, it was a huge education for me in wine making.. So finally 16 years later I met up with family member Chris Benziger at the very [...]

St. Andrew Lutheran Church, Farmersville, OhioJuly 13, 2025Fifth Sunday after PentecostAnnouncementsPreludeOpening Hymn - "O Day of Rest and Gladness" - LBW #251Brief Order for Confession and ForgivenessApostolic GreetingKyrieHymn of Praise - "This is the Feast"Prayer of the DayFirst Lesson - Zechariah 12:7-10Second Lesson - Galatians 3:23-29Hymn - "Oh, that the Lord Would Guide My Ways" - LBW #480Gospel - Luke 9:18-24Sermon - "Clothed with the Daily Cross"Hymn - "O Master, Let Me Walk With You" - LBW #492Nicene CreedPrayers of the ChurchOfferingOffertory - "Let the Vineyards"Offertory PrayerGreat ThanksgivingWords of Institution and Lord's PrayerDistributionPost-Communion LiturgyBenedictionExodus Hymn - "Lead On, O King Eternal!" - LBW #495DismissalFor the video version of today's service, please visit https://youtu.be/b-aZNmG0mpkMay God bless you now and always!

At a recent Cabernet Sauvignon tasting in Los Angeles at the famed Republique restaurant, I spied this cool cat pouring off some aged wines. In that I fancy myself as a off-beat jacket guy, I had to engage Ron as to the provenance of not his wines, but of his jacket. And that is when the story began to unfold. Naturally, on the next trip to Napa, I had to get the whole story on the podcast. And here it is. Ron Nicholsen is the kind of vintner who makes you wonder if patience truly is a virtue—or just a wild gamble in the wine world. In this episode, you'll uncork the remarkable journey of a winemaker who dares to hold back his Cabernet for a full decade before release and whose devotion to authenticity runs deeper than sediment at the bottom of a hand-aged bottle. You'll hear how Ron's childhood, shaped by a grape-growing family and the steady, idiosyncratic hand of his stepfather, set the stage for an unconventional, legacy-driven pursuit: crafting age-worthy Napa Valley wines that aren't just tasted, but experienced. From his first steps at Camus under suspender-clad Charlie Wagner to the invaluable lessons at Spring Mountain and Cane Cellars, Ron's story is one of grape-to-glass transformation, family dynamics, and taking risks most wouldn't dare. Paul Kalemkiarian guides the conversation with the insight of someone who's seen a hundred thousand wines cross his glass, probing the economic and emotional weight of aging wines for years while resisting the fruit-forward trends dominating Napa's mainstream. Listeners will come away with an understanding of what it means to champion an “unblended, independent product” and the philosophy behind refusing to rush a wine to market—all while weathering personal and business upheaval. Expect to learn how terroir, tradition, and a stubborn sense of pride fuse into a singular tasting experience, why Ron believes fine wine is a three-dimensional, not a two-dimensional, pleasure, and how legacy can be bottled, aged, and passed down—one thoughtful vintage at a time. Some thoughts:

Exploring Velvet Buck Wine with Blake Pederson from Velvet Buck Vineyards In this episode of the Okayest Cook Podcast, host Chris Whonsetler, broadcasting live from the BHA Rendezvous in Missoula, chats with Blake Pederson from Velvet Buck Vineyards. Blake shares his journey into the wine industry, starting from his first harvest job at 17 in Northern California to studying wine and viticulture at Cal Poly. They discuss Velvet Buck's unique branding, its vision of targeting the outdoor community, and their mission for conservation by partnering with organizations like Backcountry Hunters and Anglers and Meat Eater. The conversation delves into the wine's composition, pairing suggestions, and the process of creating a versatile wine that complements various dishes, including wild game. Blake emphasizes the importance of quality in both cooking and enjoying wine and shares plans for wider distribution of Velvet Buck. Find Velvet Buck Vineyards: Web: https://www.velvetbuckvineyards.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/velvetbuckwine/ ~ Support Okayest Cook by shopping with our favorite brands ~ Anova: We love their Precision Cooker 3.0 & vac sealers - https://bit.ly/3WT36ZR MEAT!: Powerful meat grinders - https://bit.ly/4ho5a4r Hedley & Bennett: Quality Aprons - https://hedley-and-bennett.sjv.io/EEzBq2 Yeti: The king of coolers - https://yetius.pxf.io/a1NJXq Lodge: Cast Iron cooking - https://lodgecastiron.pxf.io/zxe7dr ~ 00:00 Introduction and Setting the Scene 00:31 Meet Blake from Velvet Buck Vineyards 02:41 The Story Behind Velvet Buck Vineyards 06:10 Wine Pairing and Tasting Notes 12:48 Exploring Velvet Buck Wine Pairings 13:16 Santa Maria Style Grilling 14:05 Cooking with Quality Ingredients 15:56 Making Wine Approachable 17:00 Velvet Buck's Market Expansion 20:02 Shoutouts and Future Plans 20:39 Final Thoughts and Farewell More at OkayestCook.com Connect with us on Instagram @Okayest_Cook And facebook.com/AnOkayestCook Video feed on YouTube.com/@OkayestCook Crew:  Chris Whonsetler Email: Chris@OkayestCook.com Web: ChrisWhonsetler.com Instagram: @FromFieldToTable & @WhonPhoto

Simon Nash & Jill Upton chat with sisters Jaimee-Lee and Kailee about their new range of wines, they are 4th generation winegrowers and now they are starting to build a brand and a range of wines.@thewineshowaustralia @ledsonvineyards

Beckstoffer Vineyards, Iconic Vineyards, a Farmer at Heart, the 4th of July and interview with Dave Michul, President & COO of Beckstoffer Vineyards in the Napa Valley. ON THE ROAD with mrCAwine is about California's cool, aspirational lifestyle and awesome wines hosted by Chuck Cramer, a California native, living in London and is the Director of European & Asia sales & marketing, Terlato Wines. This is a wine journey covering the hottest topics in the business of California wine, chatting along the way with the people who work in wine, and make it all happen. This week's episode includes an interview with Dave Michul, President & COO of Beckstoffer Vineyards, Farming Services Company. 

Gabriel Geller the Director of Advertising and Public Relations for PSAGOT Wineries joins Enterprise Radio. Gabriel is a WSET Level 3-certified wine industry professional … Read more The post Pour Your Heart Out This Summer and Beyond with the Most Passionate Wines from Psagot Jerusalem Vineyards appeared first on Top Entrepreneurs Podcast | Enterprise Podcast Network.

Her name is spoken with reverence and respect—across the region, and throughout the country. She has either won or been nominated for nearly every major winemaking award, and she carries it all with quiet elegance and grace. I am, of course, talking about Jen Parr of Valli Vineyards, where she crafts wines so deeply rooted in place, they feel like they could shake the earth beneath your feet. https://valliwine.com SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER FOR EXCLUSIVE ARTICLES, NEWS, GIVEAWAYS AND BEHIND THE SCENES https://deepintheweeds.us6.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=d33e307cf7100cf947e2e6973&id=d17d8213f5 Follow Over a Glass https://www.instagram.com/overtheglasspod  Host Shanteh Wale https://www.instagram.com/shantehwale/?hl=en Executive Producer Rob Locke https://www.instagram.com/foodwinedine/ Executive Producer Anthony Huckstep https://www.instagram.com/huckstergram/ LISTEN TO OUR OTHER FOOD PODCASTS https://linktr.ee/DeepintheWeedsNetwork Over a Glass is a wine & drinks podcast with Shanteh Wale exploring the personalities, stories and landscape of the wine and drinks business. An Australian Wine and Drinks Podcast from the Deep in the Weeds Network.

Send us a textFore warning this episode is unedited so there is some stuff of random talking off topic!This is episode 100!! Thank you for everyone who has contributed to the success of this podcast!I was able to to sit down and talk to Nicole, Walt and August about what all has changed with their winery since we came out almost 2yrs ago. What we found out was awesome! Also catch the video on our You tube Channel 4R Ranch Vineyards and Winery

Fluent Fiction - French: From Cubicles to Vineyards: Étienne's Bold Pursuit of Happiness Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/fr/episode/2025-06-29-22-34-02-fr Story Transcript:Fr: Le soleil de juillet frappait sans relâche sur la ville.En: The July sun relentlessly beat down on the city.Fr: Dans un grand immeuble de bureaux, Étienne était penché sur son ordinateur, ses doigts tapant sur le clavier à un rythme rapide.En: In a large office building, Étienne was hunched over his computer, his fingers typing on the keyboard at a rapid pace.Fr: La lumière blanche et artificielle de la lampe de bureau se reflétait sur ses lunettes, et le bruit incessant des imprimantes retentissait en arrière-plan.En: The white, artificial light of the desk lamp was reflected on his glasses, and the incessant noise of printers echoed in the background.Fr: Étienne était un manager de niveau intermédiaire dans une grande entreprise.En: Étienne was a mid-level manager in a large company.Fr: Cette semaine, il devait terminer un projet crucial.En: This week, he had to complete a crucial project.Fr: Son patron, Marc, attendait le résultat avec impatience.En: His boss, Marc, was eagerly awaiting the result.Fr: Étienne avait un rêve secret.En: Étienne had a secret dream.Fr: Il voulait quitter ce monde d'ordinateurs et de réunions.En: He wanted to leave this world of computers and meetings.Fr: Il voulait acheter un petit vignoble à la campagne, sentir le parfum des raisins mûrs et produire son propre vin.En: He wanted to buy a small vineyard in the countryside, smell the scent of ripe grapes, and produce his own wine.Fr: Mais pour cela, il avait besoin de sécurité financière.En: But for that, he needed financial security.Fr: Un jour, il espérait obtenir une promotion.En: One day, he hoped to get a promotion.Fr: Cette promotion apporterait le confort dont il avait besoin pour changer de vie.En: This promotion would bring the comfort he needed to change his life.Fr: Cependant, aujourd'hui, tout semblait contre lui.En: However, today, everything seemed against him.Fr: Une migraine douloureuse battait dans sa tête comme un marteau.En: A painful migraine pounded in his head like a hammer.Fr: Étienne se frotta les tempes en fermant les yeux, espérant que la douleur s'apaiserait.En: Étienne rubbed his temples while closing his eyes, hoping the pain would soothe.Fr: Il prit une profonde inspiration et continua à travailler.En: He took a deep breath and continued working.Fr: Mais les mots à l'écran dansaient et les chiffres se mélangeaient.En: But the words on the screen danced, and the numbers blurred together.Fr: Deux bureaux plus loin, Sophie, une de ses collègues, remarqua le visage pâle d'Étienne.En: Two desks away, Sophie, one of his colleagues, noticed Étienne's pale face.Fr: Elle s'approcha doucement.En: She approached quietly.Fr: "Tu n'as pas l'air bien, Étienne," dit-elle d'une voix douce.En: "You don't look well, Étienne," she said softly.Fr: "Peut-être devrais-tu rentrer chez toi et te reposer."En: "Maybe you should go home and rest."Fr: Étienne hésita.En: Étienne hesitated.Fr: Il regarda l'horloge.En: He looked at the clock.Fr: La fin de soirée approchait, mais la date limite aussi.En: The end of the evening was approaching, but so was the deadline.Fr: S'il partait maintenant, il risquait de décevoir Marc.En: If he left now, he risked disappointing Marc.Fr: Pourtant, la douleur devenait insupportable.En: Yet, the pain was becoming unbearable.Fr: Après quelques secondes de réflexion, il prit une décision courageuse.En: After a few seconds of reflection, he made a courageous decision.Fr: Il resterait et terminerait son travail coûte que coûte.En: He would stay and finish his work at all costs.Fr: À mesure que la nuit tombait, l'air dans le bureau devenait plus lourd.En: As night fell, the air in the office became heavier.Fr: Le bruit des claviers s'atténua au fur et à mesure que les autres employés partaient.En: The noise of keyboards dwindled as other employees left.Fr: Mais Étienne resta, ses yeux fixés sur l'écran, sa tête lourde et douloureuse.En: But Étienne stayed, his eyes fixed on the screen, his head heavy and aching.Fr: Finalement, après de longues heures, le projet fut arrêté, vérifié, et envoyé à Marc.En: Finally, after long hours, the project was completed, checked, and sent to Marc.Fr: Malgré un sentiment de satisfaction éphémère, la migraine d'Étienne empira.En: Despite a fleeting sense of satisfaction, Étienne's migraine worsened.Fr: Sur le chemin du retour, chaque pas était une épreuve.En: On the way home, each step was a trial.Fr: En arrivant enfin chez lui, il comprit quelque chose d'important.En: Finally arriving home, he understood something important.Fr: S'allonger dans le silence de sa chambre, le soulagea un peu, mais surtout, il réalisa que cette douleur était un signal.En: Lying down in the silence of his room relieved him a little, but more importantly, he realized that this pain was a signal.Fr: Un signal que sa santé passait avant tout.En: A signal that his health came first.Fr: Le lendemain, en regardant par la fenêtre le lever du soleil, il pensa de nouveau au vignoble, à la campagne, et à un avenir sans migraines.En: The next day, looking out the window at the sunrise, he thought again of the vineyard, the countryside, and a future without migraines.Fr: Étienne comprit qu'il devait suivre son rêve.En: Étienne understood he had to follow his dream.Fr: La promotion pouvait attendre.En: The promotion could wait.Fr: Sa santé et son bonheur ne devaient pas être sacrifiés pour un poste dans une grande entreprise.En: His health and happiness should not be sacrificed for a position in a large company.Fr: Le sourire aux lèvres, il prit une décision.En: With a smile on his lips, he made a decision.Fr: Il chercherait un moyen de réaliser son rêve, de vivre une vie qui lui apporterait paix et passion.En: He would find a way to realize his dream, to live a life that would bring him peace and passion.Fr: Et ainsi, dans la chaleur de l'été, Étienne trouva enfin la clarté qu'il cherchait.En: And so, in the summer heat, Étienne finally found the clarity he had been seeking. Vocabulary Words:desk lamp: la lampe de bureaumanager: le managerproject: le projetpromotion: la promotionvignoble: le vignoblecountryside: la campagnescent: le parfumgrape: le raisinfinancial security: la sécurité financièremigraine: la migrainetempel: la tempeclock: l'horlogedeadline: la date limitekeyboard: le clavieremployee: l'employéscreen: l'écrantrial: l'épreuvesilence: le silencesignal: le signalhealth: la santéhappiness: le bonheurposition: le postecompany: l'entreprisepassion: la passionclarity: la clartéglasses: les lunettesimpatience: l'impatiencemid-level: de niveau intermédiairerelentlessly: sans relâchepale: pâle

This week Matthew Bunson and Shannon Mullen welcome Ambassador Alberto Fernandez to discuss the recent military action in Iran and Solene Tadie to discuss Papal wines and the Pope's tailor.

On this episode of Five Questions we're joined by Chris Cottrell, co-owner of Bedrock Wine Co. and Under the Wire. From farming historic vineyards in Sonoma to crafting low-intervention wines rooted in California's old vines, Chris shares the story behind Bedrock's mission, the vintages that shaped his career, and the global regions that inspire their wines.Topics Covered:• Bedrock's vineyards in Sonoma, Contra Costa, and Lodi—many planted in the late 1800s• Why preserving old vines is at the core of their philosophy• Inspirations from Champagne, the Northern Rhône, Corsica, Portugal, and more• Memorable vintages including 2008, 2012, 2020, and the 2023 “Vaquita Vintage”• Bedrock's roadmap: regenerative farming, mentorship, and elevating the wider wine communityWhether you're a longtime fan or new to Bedrock, this is a behind-the-scenes look at one of California's most respected and thoughtful producers.

We’re checking in on how the weather is treating wine grapes. David Korb is the owner, vintner and grape grower at Drumlin Ridge Winery in Waunakee, just North of Madison. Dave is hoping for dry weather these next few months to keep the wine grapes healthy. He's heard of a few issues statewide with winter kill and wind damage.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week Matthew Bunson and Shannon Mullen welcome Ambassador Alberto Fernandez to discuss the recent military action in Iran and Solene Tadie to discuss Papal wines and the Pope's tailor.

We step into the world of premium winegrowing with two of Sonoma County's most respected vineyard leaders.First, we hear from Jake Terrell, Director of Vineyards at St. Francis Winery, who shares how his viticulture background and years managing vineyards like Monte Rosso have shaped his approach to sustainable farming. Jake outlines how timing, precision, and green practices drive quality grape production. He also discusses his role in revising the Code of Sustainable Winegrowing Practices, showcasing his leadership in building a more environmentally conscious wine industry.Then, we're joined by Glenn Proctor of Puccioni Ranch & Vineyards, whose winemaking heritage dates back to 1904. Glenn gives us a rare look at the art of letting the vineyard speak for itself, drawing on a century of family knowledge and old-vine farming. We also explore his broader experience in the wine industry — from leadership roles at Beaulieu Vineyard (BV) and Sterling, to becoming a partner at The Ciatti Company, the world's largest grape and bulk wine brokerage.Together, Jake and Glenn reflect on the evolution of the wine business, how sustainability and tradition are converging, and what the future holds for vineyard operations amid changing climate, consumer demand, and labor dynamics.Listeners will walk away with an appreciation for what it means to farm for flavor, legacy, and longevity — and how lessons from the vineyard apply to agriculture across the board. Want Farm4Profit Merch? Custom order your favorite items today!https://farmfocused.com/farm-4profit/ Don't forget to like the podcast on all platforms and leave a review where ever you listen! Website: www.Farm4Profit.comShareable episode link: https://intro-to-farm4profit.simplecast.comEmail address: Farm4profitllc@gmail.comCall/Text: 515.207.9640Subscribe to YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSR8c1BrCjNDDI_Acku5XqwFollow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@farm4profitllc Connect with us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Farm4ProfitLLC/

On this episode of Beats Vines & Life, host MJ Towler sits down with Alex Kanzler and Zach Stickler, the dynamic duo behind Kanzler Vineyards in the Sebastopol Hills of Sonoma County. Their story is one of serendipity, hard work, and a deep connection to both land and family—think accidental farmers turned boutique winemakers, whose grapes have made their way into cult Pinot Noirs and acclaimed bottles from top California producers.We journey from the wild days of pulling up old apple orchards and setting them ablaze to crafting expressive, balanced Pinots and Chardonnays with a nod to tradition and a spark of innovation. Along the way, Alex and Zach open up about family roots, their paths from restaurants, real estate, and snowboarding—yes, you read that right—to building a close-knit, collaborative team at Kanzler. They share insights on winegrowing as a skill trade, the changing scene in Sonoma, the tightrope of navigating vintage variation, and the passion that goes into every bottle.This episode is a celebration of community, legacy, hard-earned expertise, and the pure joy of sharing a bottle—whether it's from your own vineyard, your neighbor's, or popped open at a lively family garden party. So pour yourself a glass, get ready to hear what goes into great Sonoma wine, and join us for a heartfelt, in-depth conversation with the minds behind Kanzler Vineyards. Cheers!For more information about Kanzler Vineyards click the link!!Follow Kanzler Vineyards on IG!Follow Alex on IG!____________________________________________________________Until next time, cheers to the mavericks, philosophers, deep thinkers, and wine drinkers! Subscribe and give Beats Vines and Life a five-star review on whichever platform you listen to.For insider info from MJ and exclusive content from the show, sign up at blackwineguy.comFollow MJ @blackwineguyFollow Beats Vines and Life @beatsvinesandlifeThank you to our sponsor, The Best Shake Ever. Fuel Your Body, Elevate Your Life with Shakeology! Looking for a delicious, nutrient-packed shake that supports your health and wellness goals? Shakeology is your all-in-one superfood solution! Packed with premium proteins, fiber, probiotics, antioxidants, and essential vitamins.For more information, go to The Best Shake Ever____________________________________________________________Until next time, cheers to the mavericks, philosophers, deep thinkers, and wine drinkers! Subscribe and give Beats Vines and Life a five-star review on whichever platform you listen to.For insider info from MJ and exclusive content from the show, sign up at blackwineguy.comFollow MJ @blackwineguyFollow Beats Vines and Life @beatsvinesandlife Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, we head to Oregon's Willamette Valley to meet Remy Drabkin — winemaker, civic leader, innovator, and unapologetic champion for LGBTQ+ visibility in wine. Remy is the force behind Remy Wines and the founder of Queer Wine Fest, and in this conversation, we explore how equity, intention, and creative problem-solving are not just buzzwords, but daily practices in her winery and beyond. We get into everything from the power of thoughtful hiring and building inclusive spaces (yes, even bathrooms!) to the unexpected intersection of winemaking and carbon-sequestering concrete. You'll hear how Remy uses wine as a platform for change — whether it's advocating for sustainable water solutions, supporting the ACLU through sparkling wine, or redefining what leadership in wine can look like. We also dig into the volcanic soils of the Dundee Hills, explore her love affair with the Italian grape Lagrein, and learn why she's aging wine in chestnut barrels — and what all of this has to do with place, purpose, and legacy. Whether you're here for the terroir or the truth bombs, this episode is packed with insight, inspiration, and a reminder that wine, at its best, is about people, progress, and pouring with purpose. Episode Guide (Chapters) 2.45 - How intention shapes everything in the winery 5:38 – Creating Inclusive Wine Spaces 7:19 – The simplicity of building a thoughtful restroom and how this impacts the team 8.30 - Being thoughtful where job adverts go out 9.30 - Inventing Carbon Sequestration structural concrete called Solid Carbon 11.00 - Creative solutions to water challenges 13.24 - The importance of team meetings 17.20 - Creating Queer Wine Fest 22.30 - Winning the Governor's Award for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. 26:34 – Why Willamette Valley Matters 26:15 – The Importance of Speaking Out. Finding your voice 28:50 – Locating Remy's Vineyards in the South Dundee Hills 28:56 – Soil and Terroir in the Red Hills (volcanic Jory soil) 29:49 – Describing the Local Climate and landscape in Willamette Valley 32:49 – Planting Italian variety Lagrein, what it offers, and why it works here 38:09 – Using Chestnut Barrels and extended aging 42.28: Black Heart Méthode Champenoise wine that supports ACLU 47:15 – What's next 50.00 - What is one action that someone running a small winery can take this year to create a more inclusive business model?  

Wait, is the main reason Westcott Vineyards exists in our lives is because the owners, Carolyn and Grant don't like to golf??? Okay that may be a wee bit overly simplistic BUT it is part of the story. Check out my interview with Carolyn Hurst, Westcott Vineyards President & Co-Founder where we go into the whole story of this Niagara based winery.

Send us a textFore warning this episode is unedited so there is some stuff of random talking off topic!I was able to to sit down and talk to Nicole, Walt and August about what all has changed with their winery since we came out almost 2yrs ago. What we found out was awesome! Also catch the video on our You tube Channel 4R Ranch Vineyards and Winery

We're featuring another Best of Cork Talk episode, this time we look back at our conversation with Sofia Lily at Overmountain Vineyards in Tryon, NC! We catch up on how the tasting room has evolved over the past 5 years to enhance your experience when you visit. Wine quality continues to be a focus andContinue reading →

What were the key challenges and breakthroughs that shaped the BC and Ontario wine industries in the 1980s and 90s? What makes or breaks a new wine project, and why is finding the right vineyard often the most time-consuming step? What made Peter believe that Niagara-on-the-Lake could produce exceptional Chardonnay? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with Ann Sperling & Peter Gamble. You can find the wines we discussed at https://www.nataliemaclean.com/winepicks   Highlights What was Ann's best memory from growing up on the farm? When did Ann and Peter know that they wanted to work in the wine industry? How did Ann and Peter meet? What was the first bottle of wine Ann and Peter shared? How do Ann and Peter navigate their interwoven personal and professional lives? How do they negotiate professional disagreements, and who chooses the wine for dinner? What were the major challenges and opportunities in the BC and Ontario wine industry in the 1980s and 90s? In the early days, how did Peter envision the future of Ontario wines? What are some of the reasons certain vintages almost didn't make it into the bottle? What do you look for when considering a new project? What makes Ann and Peter different from the stereotypical flying winemakers? What were the signs that Niagara-on-the-Lake could produce exceptional Chardonnay? How has working on a small, focused vineyard impacted Ann and Peter's winemaking choices? Why must you suffer to make top-notch wines?   Key Takeaways It was in the early 80s in BC and maybe slightly before that in Ontario, that estate wineries became a thing. Prior to that, that meant there were a few really large wineries, not really making estate or single vineyards. Vineyards were a source of bulk wine for the most part. The hunt for the vineyard became a very important one. We looked at over 230 vineyards before we found one. I think everyone there was on the verge of giving up on this, thinking “Well, they're not really going to buy anything.” Because we'd get it to a certain stage, then we do soil analysis, and we weren't quite happy, or we talked to people who had made wine from the vineyard or something would come up, and we just wouldn't quite be where we wanted to be with the quality of the vineyard. I often work on the basis of paradigms, where I'll take a look at a wine sold throughout the world and say, you know, I think this could be done really well in this area. You know what it is you might be able to accomplish within the parameters that you have - the obvious things, the terroir, the exposures to soils, the temperatures in general.   About Ann Sperling & Peter Gamble Often referred to as the “power couple” of the Canadian wine industry, Peter Gamble and Ann Sperling have long pursued the pinnacles of wine quality in Canadian vineyards and wineries. Following her upbringing on her family's Okanagan Valley vineyard, Ann turned to the soil for the character and complexity of her wines. Acknowledged as a Canadian pioneer of organic and biodynamic viticulture, ‘terroir' was at the centre of her philosophy and she is renowned for her head winemaking roles at Malivoire, Southbrook, and Sperling Vineyards. Peter, a lifetime wine industry professional, has worked alongside Canada's most passionate winemakers to achieve greater heights with our finest appellation wines. Since 2000, Peter has provided expertise in ultra-premium winemaking operations, including: Stratus, Ravine, Benjamin Bridge and Lightfoot & Wolfville. With the purchase of a top-flight ancient Malbec planting in Mendoza, Argentina, in 2008, Ann and Peter broadened their winemaking activities, but Niagara remains their cherished home base. Current focus is on these Niagara projects: On Seven, Lailey and Stonebridge Vineyards and Dobbin Estate.         To learn more, visit https://www.nataliemaclean.com/342.

It's Monday, Let's raise a glass to the beginning of another week. It's time to unscrew, uncork or saber a bottle and let's begin Exploring the Wine Glass!  Welcome to another episode of "One Star Winery Reviews," where we explore the quirks, complaints, and candid feedback from wine enthusiasts. Today, we journey to the Santa Barbara Wine Region, a coastal paradise known for its stunning vineyards and diverse varietals. However, not everyone is impressed—one visitor felt unneeded after hearing about the winery's 3,000 members, another prioritized jogging around a pond over preserving its natural habitat, and while barking dogs are shown the door, screaming kids seem to get a pass. Let's dive into the drama behind the wine.   Please take a moment of your time to subscribe, rate and review Exploring the Wine Glass. It's completely free and is a great way to let other wine lovers know about the podcast. Be sure to head over to the website, Exploringthewineglass.com, to read my award winning blog and to see what else I have been up to. And most of all, please tell your friends about the podcast!   Slainte!    Music: WINE by Kēvens Official Video Follow me on Instagram!   Follow me on Twitter! Subscribe to my YouTube channel SIGN UP FOR EXPLORING THE WINE GLASS NEWSLETTER SUBSCRIBE ON iTUNES STITCHER | iTUNES | YOUTUBE | SPOTIFY | PODBEAN | AUDIBLE | BOOMPLAY Even ask your smart speaker to play Exploring the Wine Glass GIVE US A RATING AND REVIEW Thoughts or comments? Contact Lori at exploringthewineglass@gmail.com. Please support our sponsors Dracaena Wines - Our Wines + Your Moments + Great Memories Use code 'Explore' at checkout to receive 10% off your first order GET SPECIAL OFFERS FOR DRACAENA WINES

In this episode of Five Questions, we sit down with Marc Hochar of Château Musar, Lebanon's most iconic winery. He shares the story behind their high-altitude vineyards in the Bekaa Valley, the use of both indigenous and French varieties like Obaideh, Merwah, Cinsaut, and Cabernet Sauvignon, and why their wines are built to evolve over decades. We also explore the philosophy behind Musar's age-worthy reds, and the importance of time in unlocking their character.Marc reflects on standout vintages such as 1998 and 1983, what inspires him outside Lebanon, and the emotional connection that shapes how he experiences wine. He also looks ahead to the next generation of the Hochar family, as they prepare to carry on the estate's singular legacy.Episode Highlights:• Château Musar's high-altitude vineyards in the Bekaa Valley• French and indigenous grapes: Cinsaut, Cabernet Sauvignon, Obaideh, Merwah• How time and evolution define Musar's wines• Why 1998 and 1983 are standout vintages• The future of Musar under the next Hochar generation

This week Sam discusses Trump's tariff lawsuits, bans on US alcohol in Canada, the Old Vine Registry introducing maps, Tablas Creek bottling 14 Châteauneuf-du-Pape varieties as single-varietal wines, Treasury Estates launching a NoLo facility, France's deposit-based recycling scheme and, finally, recent ICE raids. You can read the transcript of this newscast at https://www.jancisrobinson.com/articles/treasury-estates-bets-nolos-varietal-muscardin-mapping-old-vineyards-french-glass.

Wednesday, June 11 -  Host and American Family Farmer, Doug Stephan www.eastleighfarm.com shares the news affecting small farmers in America, including a focus on new research from Purdue University suggesting the surge of media coverage had an effect on the price people are paying for eggs. Plus, strong supply fundamentals are pushing cattle and beef prices higher, 70 years after an aerial war against the screwworm — we're hearing about them again.Then, Doug introduces us to Shelby Hampton-Watson, owner of Robin Hill Farm and Vineyards in Brandywine, MD. Robin Hill Farm and Vineyards is a family owned farm going back four generations, and is one of the first agri-tourism farms in the 1970s in south Maryland. Shelby went to college for animal science before returning to the family farm and, over the years, diversified the farm to include the vineyards, winery and wedding venue. They are an estate winery, meaning they are a farm-winery and 100% of what they use is produced by them — planted, taken care of, harvested, processed and bottled, and the tasting room are all on the property. Learn more about Robin Hill Farm and Vineyards at https://www.robinhillfarmandvineyards.com.Additionally, Shelby has several side gigs as an author, speaker, and rural business strategist. She writes for several  agricultural publications, and one of the editorial columns she recently wrote for American Agriculturist is about something she came across during her time as an Animal Science Major in college was PMU (Pregnant Mare Urine) and it's one of the primary ingredients in hormone replacement therapy for women. It's a topic that recently came back into Shelby's consciousness when looking for another topic to write about and decided to share the information with others. You can read the article on https://www.farmprogress.com/commentary/horses-and-hormones-the-surprising-link-between-farmers-mares-and-menopause-treatment.Another venture Shelby has is The Farmed Life (thefarmedlife.org) which empowers women through resources and support to grow; and her book Grace, Grit & Lipstick: Wit & Wisdom for the Modern Female Farmer & her Farm-Curious Friends featuring stories from women in agriculture with their different businesses like entrepreneurs, solarpreneurs, small family farms, backyard and hobby farmers, and anyone linked to the farm-to-table and all-natural-ingredient movements.Lastly, in Doug's opinion segment of today's episode, he discusses the Coalition For A Prosperous America (CPA) that keeps telling us about agriculture and questions a misrepresentation of the agricultural world in America, and why it's important to get your agricultural news from actual agricultural news sources and not mainstream media. 

Explore the rich history and innovative future of Napa Valley winemaking in this episode with Cole Ballentine from William Cole Vineyards. As a fifth-generation winemaker, Cole discusses his family's path of changing a ghost winery into a thriving vineyard, emphasizing the blend of tradition and modernity in their craft. Learn about the strategic evolution of their brand, the importance of storytelling in wine marketing, and the art of creating timeless wines through distinctive blending techniques. Gain knowledge about the challenges and triumphs of recent vintages, and learn about the collaborative efforts that drive their continued success in the ever-changing wine industry. Winemaking Class Offers and Show Notes for all episodes at https://www.insidewinemaking.com/ Resources from this Episode William Cole Vineyards: https://williamcolevineyards.com This episode is sponsored by Harvest Pillar concrete trellis posts. Want to learn more about Harvest Pillar concrete trellis posts and how they can help you save money in the long run? Learn more: https://www.harvestpillar.com/ 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 this episode of Vineyard Underground, Fritz welcomes soil scientist Dr. Jaclyn Fiola for an in-depth discussion on one of viticulture's most misunderstood nutrients — potassium. Drawing from her recent research and extensive fieldwork across the Mid-Atlantic region, Jaclyn breaks down how potassium behaves differently from other macronutrients, where it originates in the soil, and what makes its availability so complex for grape growers. Fritz and Jaclyn explore why vineyards in the Eastern U.S. often see discrepancies between soil and tissue potassium levels and how that can impact grape quality, vine health, and ultimately wine pH. They dive into the implications of both potassium deficiency and excess, emphasizing how water availability and soil mineralogy play pivotal roles in potassium uptake. Growers will also learn why standard soil tests may not give the full picture — and why plant tissue testing, particularly whole-leaf sampling at veraison, is often more reliable. Jaclyn shares the results of her groundbreaking study, highlighting best practices for sampling, how to interpret potassium levels accurately, and actionable steps for managing young versus mature vines. Whether you're planting a new vineyard or managing high potassium levels in an existing one, this episode equips you with the tools to make more informed nutrient management decisions. In this episode, you will hear: Potassium largely comes from soil parent material, not organic matter, making it harder to assess with traditional testing. Moisture-rich soils increase potassium availability, especially in non-irrigated Eastern vineyards. Whole-leaf tissue testing at veraison gives the most accurate indication of potassium status in grapevines. Too much potassium can raise wine pH, affecting mouthfeel, color, and shelf life. Before applying potassium fertilizers, understand your soil minerals and use targeted tissue testing to avoid overcorrection. Follow and Review: If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to follow the podcast and leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts! Your support helps us reach more listeners.

Today, we're kicking off Idaho Wine Month with a red blend from a winery we visited in October 2024 as well as throwing in a great summer quaffing wine! #HappyFriday! #ItsWineTime! #CheersingWines this episode:2024 itä winery carbonic zinfandel ($30 at Pilgrim's Market)

In Part II of my “All Things Stratus Vineyards” I'm joined by head winemaker Dean Stoyka. Just like J.L. Groux, Dean's wine journey was also heavily influenced by his father. Great sitting down with the man behind some of Ontario's most consistent high-end wines.

Thrilled to have had the chance to sit down with one of the Ontario wine legends, J-L Groux from Stratus Vineyards.  Loved hearing Groux's stories from family trips to Loire buying wine barrels as a child to having the freedom of making the wines he loves in Niagara.

Send us a textFirst sorry for how long this episode is, this is 2 hours long! I just could not cut this episode in a good spot with all the great information that is in it!The Bagnasco created something amazing in Valley Mills. From the moment you drive through the vineyard till you get to the tasting room, you have an amazing experience.  Joey and I had an amazing conversation! Valley Mills Vineyards

Wagner Vineyards Meritage In this episode, Rob and Scott review an excellent red wine from the Finger Lakes known as Wagner Vineyards Meritage. So come join us, on The Wine Vault.

Scott Kerr is joined by David Pearson, president & executive chairman at Joseph Phelps Vineyards, one of the most respected and acclaimed wine properties in the United States. Founded more than a half a century ago, the family-run winery was acquired by LVMH's Moët Hennessy in 2022, adding to its portfolio of luxury wines and spirits. David discusses the winemaker's legacy of revolutionizing California winemaking in the 1970s, how its flagship Insignia wine became a status symbol around the world, and why the brand was sold to Moët Hennessy. He also talks about ways the wine industry could right-set its many challenges and how its winery is adapting to climate change. Plus: How Canada's retaliatory tariffs on the U.S. has impacted his business Featuring: David Pearson, President & Executive Chairman at Joseph Phelps Vineyards (josephphelps.com)Host: Scott Kerr, Founder & President of Silvertone ConsultingAbout The Luxury Item podcast: It's a podcast on the business of luxury and the people and companies that are shaping the future of the luxury industry.Stay Connected: scott@silvertoneconsulting.comListen and subscribe to The Luxury Item wherever you get your podcasts. Tell a friend or a colleague!

Welcome back, wine friends! Today we're heading high into the Andes – literally – to explore one of the most breathtaking wine regions on Earth: the Calchaquí Valley in Salta, Argentina, home to Bodega Colomé, the oldest continuously operating winery in the country, with roots dating back to 1831. Joining us is Thibaut Delmotte, winemaker at Colomé, to talk about crafting wines at extreme altitudes – some vineyards reaching over 3,000 meters above sea level! We explore how altitude affects grape growing, the unique challenges and benefits of Salta's high desert terroir, and how Colomé balances tradition with innovation. From Malbec and Torrontés to the remarkable Altura Máxima Vineyard at 3,111 meters, this episode is a deep dive into high-altitude winemaking, biodynamic farming, and what it means to make expressive wines in one of the world's most remote regions. This is a must-listen for anyone curious about South American wine, sustainable viticulture, and the magic of mountain-grown grapes. Episode Guide (Chapters) 01:02 – Meet Thibaut Delmotte, winemaker at Colomé 02:48 – Colomé's founding in 1831 and its early vineyard history 05:34 – Commitment to ancestral and sustainable winemaking practices 06.31 - 170 year old old vines 08:18 – Fighting phylloxera and vineyard management in the region 10:50 – Rootstock decisions and adapting to terroir 13:25 – Harvesting: selecting plants one by one 15:48 – Distinct terroirs: different altitudes and soils 18:16 – Short-cycle varietals: Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir, and Malbec 21:01 – Bird protection in Pinot vineyards 23:37 – Achieving balance between ripeness and typicity 26:13 – The role of recording and analysis in the vineyard 28:55 – Challenges of low rainfall in the region 31:32 – The uniqueness of the Calchaquí terroir 32.45 - The Queen grape of Salta: Torrontes 33.13 - Discussing Criolla Varieties, which you can listen to deeper in Ep 210 with Master or wine Amanda Barnes 34:25 – Saline soils of the region and Torrontes' resistance 36:25 – Sunlight and temperature balance to preserve aromas 39:09 – Torontés characteristics: persistence and great acidity 41:25 – Evolution of acidity in the wines 43:55 – Vineyard block management and planning 41:36 – Tasting the Bodega Colomé Estate Torrontés £14.60-£16.50 Vinvm, Hik Wine Merchants 44.32 - Perfect food pairings for this wine 48:12 – The three different varieties of Torrontes

Episode 227 Sponsored by: River Road Family Vineyards and Winery Today we were joined by Guy Davis from Davis Family Vineyards! He shares how the discovery and revival of an old Zinfandel vineyard in Sonoma County, as well as his experiences in France and with Passport Wine Club, have influenced his winemaking approach, focusing on balance and complexity. Guy also introduces the newly opened tasting room in Highlands, North Carolina, which doubles as a wine bar featuring both his wines and curated international selections, offering a distinctive experience for East Coast visitors.   Links:  https://www.daviswines.com/ https://www.highcountrywineprovisions.com/   Sponsor: River Road Family Vineyards and Winery Credits: The Wine Road podcast is mixed and mastered at
 Threshold Studios Sebastopol, CA. http://thresholdstudios.info/

The Tale of Two Vineyards (Isaiah 5:1-7) - Evening Sermon

Meet your vineyard night-shift rodent patrol —barn owls. Bob Peak, a dedicated volunteer at Pacific Wildlife Care, shares how these incredible predators consume up to 30 gophers or voles a night. Learn fun facts about their short lifecycle, nesting habits, and how to properly install nest boxes (hint: ventilation and road direction matter!). Discover how you can encourage barn owls to thrive on your land—plus, hear how these owls even foster orphaned chicks. Resources:         REGISTER: 6/6/25 Tailgate | Bird Abatement and Managing Wildlife in the Vineyard 58: Barn Owls 84: Falconry Bird Abatement 118: Managing Rodent Pests in Vineyards with Integrated Pest Management Build Your Own Owl Box Cornell Lab All About Birds National Wildlife Rehabilitators Association Pacific Wildlife Care The Barn Owl Box Company The Barn Owl Trust (UK) UC Davis Raptor Center Vineyard Team Programs: Juan Nevarez Memorial Scholarship - Donate SIP Certified – Show your care for the people and planet   Sustainable Ag Expo – The premiere winegrowing event of the year Vineyard Team – Become a Member Get More Subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode on the latest science and research with the Sustainable Winegrowing Podcast. Since 1994, Vineyard Team has been your resource for workshops and field demonstrations, research, and events dedicated to the stewardship of our natural resources. Learn more at www.vineyardteam.org.   Transcript [00:00:04] Beth Vukmanic: Meet your vineyard, night shift Rodent patrol - barn owls. Welcome to Sustainable Wine Growing with Vineyard Team, where we bring you the latest in science and research for the wine industry. I'm Beth Vukmanic, executive director [00:00:18] In today's podcast, Craig Macmillan critical resource manager at Niner Wine Estates with longtime SIP Certified Vineyard in the first ever SIP Certified winery. Speaks with Bob Peak, a dedicated volunteer at Pacific Wildlife Care. [00:00:34] Bob shares how these incredible predators consume up to 30 gophers or voles a night. Learn fun facts about their short lifecycle nesting habitats, and how to properly install nest boxes, hint, ventilation, and road direction matter. [00:00:50] Discover how you could encourage barn owls to thrive on your land plus. Here how these owls even foster orphaned chicks. [00:00:58] If you love this topic and want to learn even more about barn owls, you won't want to miss the June 6th, 2025 tailgate on bird abatement and managing wildlife in the vineyard. [00:01:09] Hosted at Jackson Family Wines Bar M Vineyard in Los Alamos, California. We'll see a live falconry demonstration and learn the latest barn owl research from California Polytechnic State University, including how changes in vineyard habitat affect foraging behavior. To register, just go to vineyard team.org/events or look for the link in the show notes. [00:01:33] Now, let's listen in. [00:01:38] Craig Macmillan: Our guest today is Bob Peak. He is a volunteer with Pacific Wildlife care in SLO County, California. And today we're gonna talk about barn owls. Thanks for being on the podcast, Bob. [00:01:48] Bob Peak: Thank you very much Craig, and I want to thank you and the Niner Wine Estates for this invitation. I think that this going to be very informative and quite fascinating actually. [00:02:00] Craig Macmillan: Yeah, so I'll give you a little bit of background on that. I met Bob, when he came out to Niner Wine estates, looking for clutches, looking for looking for outlets, and we learned all kinds of fascinating things. And I was like, I have got to talk to this guy on the podcast 'cause there's so much information and interesting things about barn owls that I didn't know, until a couple months ago. [00:02:23] But why don't we start with you telling us a little bit about, pacific wildlife Care. [00:02:28] Bob Peak: Yes. Pacific Wildlife Care was started 41 years ago here in the county by home rehabbers. There was no facility. People did their work in their specialty right out of their home, whether it was raccoons or opossums. We people tended to have a different skill that they were good at, and it started with very humble beginnings. [00:02:51] We finally reached a point where we could afford a facility and we went and occupied part of the PG&E power plant there in Morrow Bay. We are right next door to the Marine Mammal Center, if anyone knows where that is, and we are right now in the process of having to move as they are, also as there are plans coming up for the property. [00:03:17] We currently have had some donors step up and provide us with not only the 10 acres of land on Buckley Road in San Luis Obispo, but we are also very quickly in the process of building a brand new facility out there. [00:03:35] Craig Macmillan: That is really great. There's definitely a need for this. How did you personally become involved in wildlife rehabilitation? [00:03:43] Bob Peak: I needed something to do after I retired and I literally, I saw an ad in the Tribune, a local paper that said that they were looking for volunteers and I had had some experience with the birds of prey as a a child. I have a Native American background and they're a very important part of our culture. [00:04:04] we, we learned about them early on and the opportunity to work around people that were like-minded as far as with the animals in San Luis Bipo County was rather exciting. [00:04:18] Craig Macmillan: And so let's move on. Talk about barn owls specifically. Why is it important to encourage and protect barn owls? [00:04:24] Bob Peak: Ooh, that's a good question. barn owls are a species that really keep things in check. They're the balance to something that could get outta control very quickly. and I think we all see that, whether it's at our houses or at the wineries. And that's these, the rodents and other pests. That not only are harmful to us but they're harmful to our crops and even potential danger to us as well. [00:04:56] They are voracious eaters. They consume anywhere between six to eight voles or gophers a night. And that's each when a parent is feeding the young. That number can go up by times four. You could see that you might be 30 vols taken a night. So they do a tremendous job for the environment. And again, they, they're more of a checks and balances. [00:05:29] I think too that the more barn owls that you have in an area it means that you're basically protected. It's one of those things too where people also think the same way with the, the skunks or opossums and raccoons. They can be nuisances at times, but they serve a very good purpose in eliminating all kinds of pests, insects, and things that you don't want. [00:05:56] Craig Macmillan: What is the lifecycle of a barn owl? [00:06:00] Bob Peak: . I wrote a couple of notes down on this. The lifecycle is rather short for barn owl. The, they're cavity nesters, what happens is the, the barn owl parents make for life, they're monogamous. So they'll stick around they'll find a cavity barn or something that a box where they'll head in and lay anywhere between one and eight eggs. The incubation period is rather quick. [00:06:38] The breeding season is basically between late January and February for about six to eight weeks. , about a week and a half before the female laser eggs, she's nest bound. She's too heavy to fly. She can't even get out of the box. [00:06:53] Another thing that she does at that same time is she picks a little brood patch. On her belly to where she can remove those feathers. And once the young born, 'cause they have no feathers, she will put them right next to that skin of hers for the warmth that they're gonna need. [00:07:15] Incubation is 29 to about 34 days. Again, they could lay between one and eight eggs. And they can do that three times a year. They might just have one clutch of eight. They could have two or maybe even three if the conditions are right. [00:07:33] She'll turn these eggs every so many minutes and then it takes, oh, I would say, you know, like 29 to 34 days, [00:07:44] and then the chick to get out from the shell. The have this little hook on the end of their bill. It's an egg tooth that's on the end of their, bill. And then that will actually break the egg open and it does take a while for, it takes 12 to 36 hours for 'em to get out of that eggshell. Four to seven. [00:08:08] It'll be about four months before they'll see another. But brood, because once they leave, then they'll lay more eggs. [00:08:17] The four months will pass from the egg being laid to the young, gaining independence. That's it. And they pretty much don't receive much training from their parents. It's, they get out of the box and then they're on their own. Where a great horned owl will spend up to a year or more, even longer with their parents. [00:08:37] Craig Macmillan: Hmm. [00:08:39] Bob Peak: A freshly hatched barnells Pink mentioned that know they hatch in sequence of the way that they were laid. [00:08:46] Craig Macmillan: Oh. [00:08:46] Bob Peak: The oldest could be three weeks old when the youngest hatches. So there is a. A challenge for food with that young one because that big one's gonna be going after it. So that's right off the bat. You know, you got some you know, some things working against you. [00:09:03] The downey Plumage starts to show up about three weeks later. They tend to clutch together and for that warmth till then. And then the female again, is taking the food brought by the male. The male is doing all the hunting. And the male will bring it in. The female will grab that food and rip it apart and feed it individually to each of the babies. Very small pieces [00:09:31] about the time they're two weeks old, they can stand on their own and they can actually eat whole prey. And now that's something to see on itself, to watch these little critters take a vole or a small mouse and swallow that you think they're gonna choke. It's quite. For a parent, you know, you're worried, you know [00:09:53] once the, the youngest chick can feed itself, then mom will leave the nest for hunting too. No longer needed to rip food. And then it takes both parents to feed those animals. And because each of the young ones are gonna need three or more mice themselves. On top of mom and dad eating each needing 8, 6, 7, or eight themselves. [00:10:23] Average time to fledge is about nine weeks. Fledgling means they basically are fully feathered and ready to take off to see the world. They can test their wings sometimes, but to do so a lot of times there's no perch. There's just basically the entry and exit hole. That's why we find 'em so many times on the ground. They're curious. They get close to that or sometimes they can get pushed out again. Most of the time when we receive them, it's because they've fallen out of a nest. [00:10:58] , if they are on the ground, they're pretty much doomed because. There's raccoons in your area, Craig. You've got Bobcat, you've got mountain lions, coyotes. We're trying to get them back into that box as soon as we can. [00:11:13] Fledglings will continue to be fed by the parents for about three months, maybe even a little longer. By. Oh, I would say November. The fledglings will have dispersed if they were laid in the summer and they found a territory settled into a new Nest site. But life is hard for the new ones. It's true of owls and it's true of the raptors, hawks, eagles and things. The survival rate is low. The survival rates can average 37 to 65%. [00:11:54] Craig Macmillan: Hmm. [00:11:54] Bob Peak: But the odds improve greatly. If they make it past their first year, they gotta get the skills down. Many young barnells starve to death. Typically, they'll live only another three or four, three years through typical lifespan. [00:12:09] Craig Macmillan: Hmm. [00:12:10] Bob Peak: The barn owls do not typically hunt close to their nest box. They like to leave, they like to go to open fields where they can fly low. Listening for rodents. A lot of times, again, we think of them as using their sight, but they have incredible hearing as well. Just look at those ears on a great horn owl. [00:12:31] The one of the reasons why they get into trouble as well, when they're going close to the ground or just flying after something, they're looking down and they're not looking ahead. That's why they could easily run into the side of a truck. On a side, you know, a highway and you see them very frequently on the side of the road. 'cause that's just what they did. They ran right into the side of it. They can run into power poles, they run into anything that's there in front of them they can run into. So it's, it can be dangerous. About 80% of fatalities are from traffic casualties, 80%. It is really important to keep your nest boxes away from the road and the highway and the entrance hole. Of course, we talked about this, Craig is always facing east and never facing a busy road. [00:13:27] Would you like me to talk about the nest box that we have come to? [00:13:32] Craig Macmillan: Yeah. First of all though, i, you know, you mentioned, mice and voles most of vineyards are interested in gophers. How important are gophers to their diet? [00:13:43] Bob Peak: Oh, extremely. They're, they're just like a vole. Very similar. They're like the, the same thing. They love gophers. I think that you'll find it in in vineyards like yours where you take a more natural approach to things. You're letting much Mother Nature do this work. And the gophers are very delicious for these barn owls they're meaty usually. The mice can be a little smaller, it's very good. That's why they prefer a gopher or a vol. [00:14:18] I know that some of the vineyards around also will spray and we talked about this you know, using no, , insecticides and things like that where yours is a, you know, a kind of a, a free zone and when you're spraying on the ground and things chemicals. Those are picked up by the rodents and things of that nature and transferred to the barn owl. So, another reason to take your approach to vineyard management. Very important step. It's, it keeps everything safe. [00:14:53] Craig Macmillan: Let's talk about barn owl nesting boxes now. You mentioned, you mentioned a couple of things. You said nightmare road. The opening facing east is preferable. Will they not nest if the opening is facing north or west or south? [00:15:08] Bob Peak: They will, but you're gonna expose them to wind and air and possibly rain that will you know, get in there. That's typical. Most of our, our, our weather fronts are coming from west to east, so it gives them a little added protection [00:15:26] also to that sun coming up in the morning. It gives some warmth into the box. Yeah, but those are, those are the, the real key points. [00:15:35] Another one too, craig, is to make sure that the box is well ventilated. It has to have ventilation holes throughout the box. It's best to have 'em on the floor so any liquid that does get in there can go through as well as on the side, so you can get a breeze through there. [00:15:55] Size also is very important. If you can think about having eight of those little barn outlets with two parents in there, you need a big box and for them to really thrive. [00:16:10] The larger the box, the better. The I've seen some boxes that are so small that it just, it gives the owl outlets less of a chance because they feel that they have to fight to survive a little more when there's not enough space. And I've heard of other owletes pushing other owletes out of the box just to increase their chances of survival. You know, it's kind of one of those survival of the fittest things. So the more room they have, the better it is for everyone. [00:16:47] Craig Macmillan: How big is appropriate? [00:16:49] Bob Peak: I would say probably three feet by two feet, to three feet, and probably two to three feet tall. [00:16:58] Craig Macmillan: Oh, okay. That's a lot bigger than most of the boxes. I see. Yeah. [00:17:01] Bob Peak: They are, they're much bigger. We've looked at a lot of other facilities that rescue barn owls. [00:17:08] We've even gone over to England. They have a a, a program with their owls as well. They had one of the more interesting boxes. it had on the outside a platform. Purchase basically. So these young ones can get out there and see the world, test their wings and then get right back inside if they need to. [00:17:29] Much bigger boxes, much heavier to work with. Again, that was the thing that we found. We, it was just a heavy box, but it was exceptional. But it was big. And they need to be cleaned. So any box that's built needs to have an access port to where you can get into it every couple years and clean out the droppings which need to be done very carefully, because again, as you know, some animal droppings can cause us harm. So you wanna make sure you wear a mask. [00:18:01] Craig Macmillan: Right. [00:18:02] Bob Peak: Again there's all kinds of issues and that, or, discussions about having a perch on the outside or ledge on the outside of that box. [00:18:12] It's nice because they can get out there, have a chance of getting out and getting right back in and not falling to the ground. That perch also is a chance for a great horned owl to come over and get itself on there as well, or on any of the little. Ledges that you built. [00:18:32] The key to all of this is the size of that entry hole. That entry hole cannot be bigger than about five and a half inches, really, five to five and a half inches any bigger than that. You're gonna a, a great horned l be able to get in and then, and it's just, it's not good. [00:18:50] Craig Macmillan: Right. So the, horned owl is a predator [00:18:53] my. It is, you wouldn't think, you know, owl to owl stuff like that. But yeah, it is. They are probably one of the more other than traffic fatalities, it's the, great horned owl [00:19:06] They are very aggressive. They know where these things live. They're very smart. The great horned owl, and again. If you get a young one out on a perch and it's there, it's, it could be could be done. [00:19:20] I have seen, 'cause I've been to a lot of vineyards in the area and I've seen a lot of large holes in these boxes and I actually went into one and it, it was occupied by great horned owl. it laid eggs in the box. [00:19:38] Oh wow. [00:19:39] Bob Peak: So. Well that is something too about owls. Is they don't make nests. [00:19:45] , the great horned owl will and barn owl will find a cavity. The great horn owl's, not a cavity nester, but they'll take an old hawks nest or eagle nest or something and make it their own. And then they tend to get into trouble because they're usually using a nest that isn't in that good of a shape. [00:20:04] Craig Macmillan: Hmm. What are some other things about sighting of boxes? We, we know not close to a road. We know the direction of the, the, of the opening. What are some things that will encourage the bar nows to nest there based on their other behavior? [00:20:19] Bob Peak: I, I think that you just have, to know, about approximately how many acres you have and you want to place a box about every five acres. You can actually have more boxes depending on how much food you have for them, but anywhere between five to 10 acres per box. Again, with the parameters of facing these, being the correct size and everything. So if you have a 50 acre property, you're looking at anywhere between oh five to 10 boxes on that property. [00:20:54] Craig Macmillan: And something that. I had heard was that it's good to have them near a tree. So that they have someplace that they can land right away when they come out of the box. Is that true? [00:21:05] Bob Peak: Yeah. I, we, we've experimented with that Absolutely. Again that's a more natural setting for them where they would be in the the hollow of a tree and come out and possibly be on a branch. Absolutely. I like that. I like that better than being on a pole. [00:21:24] As long as you still have access to the clean out and, and isn't too, you know, dangerous for someone to get up there. Yeah. I like that better than being on a pole without a [00:21:34] Craig Macmillan: Well actually having it in a tree. [00:21:37] Bob Peak: yes, [00:21:37] Craig Macmillan: Oh, okay. Because what I had been told was that you'd want to have one because of the horn dial. You have one on a pole, but have it close to a tree where they can just shoot out and land on a branch and look around and see if there's a threat. [00:21:51] But you say, actually put it in the tree [00:21:55] Bob Peak: it in the tree. [00:21:56] Craig Macmillan: fascinating. That's really interesting. [00:21:58] The way that I met you is you were looking. For clutches to, how should we say, transplant? Some some outlets that, That you folks had. And I learned that barn owls are one of the few raptors That will actually foster outlets from other clutches. That's true. [00:22:18] Bob Peak: That that is correct, Craig. Very good. Good research. Yes. We found that the barn owls were exceptional foster parents, which really gives those guys a chance to make it. [00:22:31] We found out that like you mentioned, the hawks and others just really don't do it. In fact, it would be dangerous to even attempt in some of the species. [00:22:41] One of our, original founders of Pacific Wildlife Care, Kelly was very successful in well all. Many of the things that she does for Pacific Wildlife Care, but she was able to get a red shoulder, a female hawk, to foster young red shoulder hawks for many, many, many years, and gave many of those a chance that wouldn't have a chance. The, the quite amazing I lost my train of thought. [00:23:13] Craig Macmillan: Well, we were talking about fostering and what I had learned from you was you were looking at the clutch that we had at niner, and apparently you, you need to match. The foster bird to the family in terms of its age and development, is that correct. [00:23:32] Bob Peak: That that is correct. Do you want to throw that young one in where there's other young and where there aren't adolescents? I. To where it's gonna have a chance to get some food. [00:23:43] Another thing that one of the other parameters for finding a foster box, you know, a barnell box is The number in there. If there's already five in there, it would be hard for me to put a one or possibly two in there and put that much added stress on the parent. To feed it, and we really can't ensure that that young one's gonna get fed with that many in the box. [00:24:11] I look for one that has maybe three, two, or three, and that additional one or two outlets is not going to stress the parents and the other young ones. But yes, you, you try to match up with age and size as well. [00:24:30] Craig Macmillan: You had mentioned that a nesting pair might have multiple clutches during a year and of different sizes, and if I, remember correctly, that has to do with the availability of resources. [00:24:42] Bob Peak: Yeah, absolutely. Craig. I have found over the years you know, we've the living on the central coast, it's feast and famine with the rain as well. [00:24:53] And I've seen years we're going around to different wineries. There might be 15 boxes and 12 or 13 or 14 of 'em are occupied. I've also. Gone around different seasons and hit 30 boxes and only two of them were occupied. That's how bad the food situation was. [00:25:16] Where we get into a pinch with our fostering and the barn owls finding a home for 'em is that we have a lot of farmers and ranchers in the Paso area. And a lot of 'em , get that hay. Some of the best hay you can get is out of Oregon and they bring a lot of that alfalfa and hay down. And when they're in the moving those bales around, after the farmer gets a, a load they discover that there's owl outlets in the hay bales. We receive a lot of outlets through the bales of hay that are shipped to us here. Locally from outta state, and those are the ones that we must have a foster box for because there's no chance of ever reuniting with their original parents. [00:26:07] Craig Macmillan: How do they end up in there? How do they end up in the hay? [00:26:10] Bob Peak: Oh, well, , imagine a big, giant stack of hay, 15 feet tall and you know, it sat there for months they'll, you know, there's little spots where they can get in and. It's quite nice for a nest. The they'll also use, palm trees and things of that nature where they can get in there. Yeah, so it's quite common for 'em to get into hay? bales [00:26:33] Craig Macmillan: What conditions overall, we've talked about a couple of different things, but like in the, in the grand scheme, what are the kinds of conditions that they're gonna be looking for in a, in a nesting box? I. [00:26:45] Bob Peak: as far as the owls and owls [00:26:47] Craig Macmillan: Yeah. So the, So when the nesting pair, is it, does the male find the nest and then attract the female or the other way around? [00:26:55] Or do they call up some kind of a bird, bird box realtor and go look at different, look at look at different spots and say, I like this one better than that one. Or [00:27:04] Bob Peak: that's a good question. I think it's more the female you know, they have that nesting instinct. 'cause they're gonna be laying the eggs. And I think that it's just, it's more like any, any female would tell you it's, it's a feel. it. feels good this place. And they don't tend to wander off very far from when, where they were born. [00:27:28] So this place has felt good to her for a while. A lot of times they'll use the same box over every single year. So that's why, again, it's nice to you know, you could even add boxes depending on, you know, just how many boxes are occupied. You can tell if you, if you've got 15 boxes and 13 or 14 of 'em are occupied, you could probably put more boxes on your property. [00:27:55] Craig Macmillan: In. Interesting. Yeah, I've seen that myself in vineyards where there'll be a one box located in just a spot. Doesn't seem to be very interesting to me or anything special. And the ground below it is just littered with, with pellets and bones and skulls and it is been going on for years, obviously. And then you go down 50 yards and there's nothing like the box doesn't look like the box has ever been in inhabited. [00:28:21] Bob Peak: Very true. [00:28:23] Craig Macmillan: And, it just has to do with kind of where they came from and they like to come back to the same box. I, think that's interesting. [00:28:30] Bob Peak: And, and it's more of a feel too, again of, of what's around, is there a wire that they have to dodge? Is there a tree? They might have seen a great horn owl over there in that other spot. Yeah. There, there, there's no telling what has, but mainly that nesting instinct drives that female to that box. [00:28:51] Craig Macmillan: Are there particular conditions you think that are like big, big red flags? You mentioned the presence of barn ows. You mentioned is there a wire? Are there definitely some situations where if I'm gonna place a box I, can look around and kind of go, yeah, it's probably not the best spot [00:29:05] Bob Peak: I, I think the key is what we, we, we were just talking about with wires, anything that's gonna get them tangled up. Sometimes the I've seen netting in trees. To keep reptiles even out, and you want to avoid placing a box around there. But I think the main thing is again, where most fatalities occur are close to the road. Keep them away from the road. That, that, that, that's really the most important. [00:29:32] Craig Macmillan: Something that I heard that I don't know is true was that when you, there are two things. [00:29:38] One, there's the question of whether you should paint the box or not, [00:29:42] and then two, that they won't come and nest unless the boxes had a chance to weather for a year or so. Are either of those true? [00:29:52] Bob Peak: , we've talked about that the painting on the outside of the box is fine. Throw up some white on there to you know, kind of keep it from getting too hot, but you don't want to paint the inside. The paint is fumey. The chicks could pick at it with their beaks. So there's all kinds of reasons why you wouldn't want it on the inside, but certainly on the outside. Yes. [00:30:17] You also want to avoid wood that has particular odors. There can be some wood that is very, very pungent cedars and things like that. And you want to be careful about that. So just a regular pine or regular fir box. And I think there's one that's preferable to another, but I'm not sure what that is. Pine versus fir. I could find out though. [00:30:44] Craig Macmillan: Well what, what about just basic plywood? [00:30:47] Bob Peak: Yeah. Well that's made out of a, usually a fir or a pine. [00:30:51] Craig Macmillan: Hmm. [00:30:52] Bob Peak: Exactly. [00:30:54] You can run that whitewash on the outside give it the vent holes. That's really the only only parameters. [00:31:03] Craig Macmillan: Are there other things that a grower can do to make an nesting box more attractive? I. [00:31:08] Bob Peak: I, I don't really have a mailbox out front or maybe a, you know, welcome some welcome home [00:31:15] Craig Macmillan: Just supply some gophers right in front of the box. [00:31:18] Bob Peak: yeah, maybe some gophers hanging outside now that might do it. No, not really. I think again, it's just a matter of need and a matter of availability. [00:31:30] Craig Macmillan: Right are there, are there other birds that compete for the nesting habitat, the naturally occurring habitat, [00:31:39] Bob Peak: As far as, [00:31:41] Craig Macmillan: I've heard that kestrels can be a competitor. [00:31:43] Bob Peak: yeah, kestrels are cavity nesters. That's a fact. But I think there's so many more options for them. They're much smaller. I. And there's so many little nooks and crannies and trees and other things like that to where most of the times, , I've not seen in my practice a kestrel in a barn owl box. I have seen great horns in there, but not kestrels. [00:32:10] Craig Macmillan: Got it. Is there one thing that you would tell a grower? One piece of advice that you would tell a grape grower on this topic? [00:32:20] Bob Peak: Let nature watch over your property. [00:32:23] Craig Macmillan: That's good [00:32:23] Bob Peak: It's been doing it since before you got here, and it'll do it after you've gone. That's how it's always worked. And work with it. And not work against it. [00:32:38] Craig Macmillan: It makes, makes a lot of sense. Where can people find out more about you in wildlife? [00:32:44] Bob Peak: Best is to go to our Facebook page or our webpage at pacificwildlifecare.org. Facebook page is great because there's a lot of videos and pictures. If you have children, it's wonderful because we have release videos there. [00:33:03] They can click on different links once they get to our Facebook page, find out ways to get involved. We're always, again, we're a 501(c)3 nonprofit, so like all of those, we're always looking for two things, people and money. So there's gonna be plenty of opportunity for people to get involved in both ways there on our websites. [00:33:26] And we have a lot of really, really wonderful things coming up. With this new facility there we're, really quite excited. [00:33:33] They can also call us at 805-543-WILD. That's really more of a, you know, a rescue line. But if you have general questions and you want to know more, you can please call them and they'll help you out in any way you want. [00:33:51] Craig Macmillan: That's fantastic. And actually I, do have one more question just occurred to me. If I do come along and find some outlets, they're out of the box, clearly they're not able to fly or they're not ready to go. , how do I handle that? [00:34:07] Bob Peak: Excellent. Thank you for bringing that up. That's an excellent question, Craig. [00:34:11] Best thing to do is to realize that. These young little outlets, as young as they look and as innocent as they look, they've got some talons on them. So you always want to avoid getting your hands near, near their, their their talents. [00:34:29] But the most important thing with a young one that falls out is to keep them warm. I would place them inside a box, put some bedding down or something in there to let them get snuggled into it. And call Pacific Wildlife Care, our hotline, and we'll have someone out there asap to get this guy give them a chance, but keep them warm and sheltered. For the night. You might have to hold them overnight, but as long as they're warm they'll be fine. And to not feed there's no need to give the animals any food. [00:35:04] Craig Macmillan: And, we have listeners around the nation and around the world, and I would imagine that there are similar organizations located in every state and the union. And so just do a little research And, find who your local people are. Because I was doing research on this myself preparing for the interview, And, I was really impressed by , the network really of wildlife rehabilitation globally around the world. I think there's actually an international association, if I remember right. [00:35:30] Bob Peak: Yeah. And thanks for bringing that up. We can't do this by ourselves. That's why we need our volunteers. We need other organizations as you mentioned. [00:35:41] We find that so many times when we have gotten in a pinch, we have relied on the Ojai raptor center. They have been invaluable as far as us being able to bring them animals that , we weren't able to take care of, but they are. [00:35:58] So if they can't do it, we can, or vice versa. It's an important network that one way or another we'll get it done. 'cause we have, volunteers that will travel anywhere to take care of these animals. [00:36:12] Craig Macmillan: That's fantastic. [00:36:14] Well. This was a great conversation. I, like I said, I met you when you were looking for a place to foster some owls, and it was just really, really, fascinating to me, having been around this topic for a very, very long time. the barn owl is kind of the mascot of vineyard team. It's on a lot of our, a lot of our stuff. And so we've been, we've been following this for a long time and I learned more from you in about an hour. Then I had learned in the preceding several decades, let's just put it. that way, several decades. And I, And I, really appreciated that. It was really, really great. And I really appreciate you being a guest. [00:36:50] Again, our guest today was Bob Peak. He's a volunteer with Civic Wildlife Care in san Luis Obispo County. And yeah, just thanks for being on the podcast. It's a really real pleasure. [00:37:01] Bob Peak: Thank you Craig. And again, thank you, for this opportunity. Again, please check out Pacific Wildlife Care. you'll love it. [00:37:08] [00:37:12] Beth Vukmanic: Thank you for listening. [00:37:13] Today's podcast was brought to you by Helena Agri Enterprises. Founded in 1957, Helena Agri Enterprises has grown to be one of the nation's foremost agricultural and specialty formulators and distributors In the United States products and services offered include crop protection products. Fertilizer specialized nutrients, seeds, and precision ag services and software. Helena's overriding goal is to help its customers succeed. This is achieved with a unique combination of dedicated and knowledgeable people, unique and useful products, and the latest technical knowledge. The company defines its own success through the success of its customers. [00:37:56] Make sure you check out the show notes. For links to Pacific Wildlife Care, the barn owl Trust in the United Kingdom, UC Davis' Raptor Center, plus Sustainable Winegrowing Podcast episodes 58 barnells 84 Falconry Bird Abatement, and 118 managing rodent pests and vineyards with integrated pest management. [00:38:18] If you liked the show, you can do us a big favor by sharing it with a friend, subscribing and leaving us a review. You can find all of the podcasts at vineyardteam.org/podcast, and you could reach us at podcast@vineyardteam.org. [00:38:31] Until next time, this is Sustainable Wine Growing with the Vineyard team.   Nearly perfect transcription by Descript

Discover the untapped potential of Arizona winemaking as Kent Callaghan, a pioneer in the Sonoita Valley, shares his approach to crafting exceptional wines in a region south of Tucson.  In this episode, Kent explores the distinct challenges of Arizona's high-altitude landscapes, from managing diverse grape varieties to navigating the state's unpredictable climate.   Gain perspectives into sustainable practices, blending techniques, and the partnerships that help mitigate risks. This episode offers a straightforward exploration of the art and science behind Arizona's growing wine scene. Winemaking Class Offers and Show Notes for all episodes at https://www.insidewinemaking.com/ Resources from this Episode Callaghan Vineyards: https://www.callaghanvineyards.com/https://www.callaghanvineyards.com/ 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 this episode of Hands in the Soil, we're joined by Jasmine and Joseph Wiens, the founders of Lost Ranch Winery in Temecula Valley. Since launching Lost Ranch in 2020, Jasmine and Joseph have been pioneering regenerative agriculture and low intervention winemaking on their working ranch. Their vision? To produce beautiful wines while deeply honoring the land, environment, and community.Lost Ranch grows and sources grapes from organic and regeneratively farmed vineyards, with a commitment to no-till practices, native cover crops, and minimizing synthetic inputs. They've also brought in animals like sheep and chickens to support natural weed and pest management, an approach that not only enhances soil health but helps restore biodiversity. In this episode, we explore their journey into sustainable viticulture, the meaning and magic of low intervention wines, and how they're shifting the narrative in the wine industry.Tune in to learn more about:What it means to practice regenerative agriculture in a vineyard settingThe story behind founding Lost Ranch Winery in Temecula ValleyHow low intervention winemaking differs from conventional processesWhy grape varietal selection matters for sustainability and flavorTheir use of livestock and native plant systems in soil regenerationThe aesthetic vision behind their natural, welcoming tasting roomHow Lost Ranch engages the local community through education and eventsStrategies for sustainable distribution and working with local eateries… And so much more!Jasmine & Joseph's Resources & Links:Visit Lost Ranch Winery: www.lostranchwinery.comFollow on Instagram: @lostranchwineryConnect with Hannah:Instagram: @hannahkeitel

Fluent Fiction - Italian: Tuscany's Vineyards: A Legacy of Love and Resilience Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/it/episode/2025-05-13-22-34-02-it Story Transcript:It: Il sole sorgeva dolcemente sopra le colline verdeggianti della Toscana.En: The sun rose gently over the lush hills of Toscana.It: Era primavera, e il profumo della terra fresca mescolato a quello dei grappoli d'uva inondava l'aria.En: It was spring, and the scent of fresh earth mixed with the aroma of grape clusters filled the air.It: Marco, con il cuore colmo di preoccupazione, osservava il vigneto che si estendeva davanti a lui.En: Marco, with his heart full of worry, watched the vineyard stretching out before him.It: Quella terra apparteneva alla sua famiglia da generazioni.En: That land had belonged to his family for generations.It: Era il suo orgoglio e la sua responsabilità.En: It was his pride and his responsibility.It: Il festival del vino stava per iniziare.En: The wine festival was about to start.It: L'atmosfera era elettrizzante: tavoli coperti di tovaglie rosse, musica vivace e risate dei visitatori.En: The atmosphere was electrifying: tables covered with red tablecloths, lively music, and the laughter of visitors.It: Marco, però, non riusciva a rilassarsi.En: Marco, however, couldn't relax.It: I debiti del vigneto erano enormi e minacciavano di distruggerlo.En: The vineyard's debts were enormous and threatened to destroy it.It: Giulia, sua sorella, aveva cercato di convincerlo a vendere.En: Giulia, his sister, had tried to convince him to sell.It: "Marco, dobbiamo essere realistici," diceva.En: "Marco, we have to be realistic," she said.It: "Se vendiamo, possiamo ricominciare altrove."En: "If we sell, we can start anew elsewhere."It: Ma Marco rifiutava.En: But Marco refused.It: La sola idea di vendere la terra che il loro padre aveva amato era insopportabile.En: The mere idea of selling the land that their father had loved was unbearable.It: Voleva salvare il vigneto, nonostante le difficoltà.En: He wanted to save the vineyard, despite the difficulties.It: Sapeva che l'approvazione del padre contava ancora troppo per lui.En: He knew that his father's approval still mattered too much to him.It: Desiderava vedere quell'orgoglio nei suoi occhi ancora una volta.En: He longed to see that pride in his eyes once more.It: Luca, uno dei vicini, aveva già fatto un'offerta.En: Luca, one of the neighbors, had already made an offer.It: Era un uomo pragmatico e determinato a espandere i suoi possedimenti.En: He was a pragmatic man determined to expand his holdings.It: "Vendimi il vigneto, Marco," aveva detto.En: "Sell me the vineyard, Marco," he had said.It: "Ti offro un buon prezzo."En: "I'm offering you a good price."It: Marco era combattuto.En: Marco was torn.It: Esitava tra il loan bancario rischioso e l'investitore misterioso che aveva contattato.En: He hesitated between the risky bank loan and the mysterious investor he had contacted.It: Mancavano poche ore all'inizio del festival e alla sua decisione.En: Only a few hours remained before the festival and his decision.It: Con il tramonto che dipingeva il cielo di tonalità arancioni e scarlatte, Marco camminava tra i filari di viti.En: With the sunset painting the sky in shades of orange and scarlet, Marco walked among the rows of vines.It: Qui trovava pace e riflessione.En: Here he found peace and reflection.It: E in quel momento, sotto la luce dorata, ebbe un'epifania.En: And in that moment, under the golden light, he had an epiphany.It: Capì che doveva seguire il suo cuore, fidarsi della sua intuizione.En: He realized he had to follow his heart, trust his intuition.It: Condotto dall'ispirazione del momento, salì sul palco durante il festival, con Giulia e Luca che osservavano curiosi.En: Driven by the inspiration of the moment, he climbed onto the stage during the festival, with Giulia and Luca watching curiously.It: "Amici, vicini, famiglia!"En: "Friends, neighbors, family!"It: esclamò Marco, la sua voce risuonava nell'aria serena.En: exclaimed Marco, his voice resonating in the serene air.It: "Ho preso una decisione.En: "I've made a decision.It: Non venderò il vigneto.En: I will not sell the vineyard.It: Ho deciso di collaborare con un nuovo investitore."En: I've decided to collaborate with a new investor."It: La folla fu sorpresa, ma subito iniziò ad applaudire.En: The crowd was surprised, but soon began to applaud.It: Giulia, colpita, si avvicinò al fratello e lo abbracciò.En: Giulia, moved, came closer to her brother and hugged him.It: "So che papà sarebbe orgoglioso," gli sussurrò.En: "I know Dad would be proud," she whispered to him.It: Nonostante le incertezze, la comunità si unì attorno a Marco, offrendogli supporto.En: Despite the uncertainties, the community rallied around Marco, offering him support.It: Il festival di quell'anno non fu solo una celebrazione del vino, ma anche della resilienza di una famiglia legata alla propria terra.En: That year's festival was not only a celebration of wine, but also of the resilience of a family tied to their land.It: Marco aveva imparato che onorare la tradizione non significava rimanere bloccati nel passato.En: Marco had learned that honoring tradition did not mean being stuck in the past.It: Poteva innovare e rispettare le radici allo stesso tempo.En: He could innovate and respect his roots at the same time.It: E così, con il cuore più leggero e la mente più chiara, guardò avanti, verso le sfide e le gioie che il futuro avrebbe portato.En: And so, with a lighter heart and a clearer mind, he looked ahead, to the challenges and joys the future would bring. Vocabulary Words:the vineyard: il vignetothe pride: l'orgogliothe responsibility: la responsabilitàenormous: enormithe debts: i debitithe laughter: le risateto sell: vendereunbearable: insopportabilethe approval: l'approvazionepragmatic: pragmaticoto expand: espanderethe holdings: i possedimentitorn: combattutothe risk: il rischiothe investor: l'investitorethe epiphany: l'epifaniato trust: fidarsithe intuition: l'intuizionethe stage: il palcoto collaborate: collaborarethe crowd: la follato applaud: applaudiremoved: commossothe support: il supportothe resilience: la resilienzato innovate: innovarethe roots: le radicithe sunset: il tramontoto bear: sopportarethe challenges: le sfide

Ballentine Vineyards, a Napa Valley staple since 1905, isn't just a winery—it's a living legacy. We dive into the story of a winemaker whose path to the vineyard wasn't exactly a straight line. He started out aiming to be a brewmaster, dabbled in forestry and photography, but ultimately found his groove in Fermentation Science at UC Davis. A globe-spanning exchange program took him to Germany, South Africa, and Australia, shaping his winemaking style before he joined the family operation in 1999. Bruce and his wife Danielle also run their own project, Three Clicks Wines, a nod to the telegram code that signaled the end of Prohibition. A journey filled with science, tradition, and a lot of heart. [Ep 370] ballentinevineyards.com threeclickswines.com

Fluent Fiction - Italian: Reviving Tradition: Siblings' Quest in Toscana's Vineyards Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/it/episode/2025-05-09-22-34-02-it Story Transcript:It: Nel cuore della Toscana, la primavera colorava le colline di verde brillante.En: In the heart of Toscana, spring painted the hills in bright green.It: Il sole del mattino baciava il vecchio vigneto di famiglia, un tempo fiorente, ora in attesa di nuova vita.En: The morning sun kissed the old family vineyard, once flourishing, now waiting for new life.It: Alessandro e Giulia camminavano tra i filari di viti.En: Alessandro and Giulia walked among the rows of vines.It: Il vento leggero portava l'aroma dei fiori che sbocciavano.En: The gentle breeze carried the aroma of blooming flowers.It: Alessandro, con lo sguardo pensieroso, osservava il vigneto.En: Alessandro, with a thoughtful look, observed the vineyard.It: "Dobbiamo riportare questo posto all'antica gloria," disse, stringendo i pugni di fronte a lui.En: "We must restore this place to its former glory," he said, clenching his fists in front of him.It: La responsabilità lo pesava come una montagna.En: The responsibility weighed on him like a mountain.It: La tradizione della famiglia doveva continuare, eppure il tempo era poco e le risorse scarse.En: The family tradition had to continue, yet time was short and resources were scarce.It: Giulia, invece, sorrideva mentre assaporava la bellezza della natura intorno.En: Giulia, on the other hand, smiled as she savored the beauty of nature around.It: "Possiamo trasformare questo posto in un paradiso ecologico," rispose, gli occhi brillanti di passione.En: "We can transform this place into an ecological paradise," she replied, her eyes shining with passion.It: Lei vedeva un futuro diverso, fatto di sostenibilità e vita organica.En: She saw a different future, made of sustainability and organic life.It: I due fratelli spesso discutevano su come procedere.En: The two siblings often debated on how to proceed.It: Alessandro voleva soluzioni rapide e sicure, mentre Giulia sognava grandi cambiamenti e metodi innovativi.En: Alessandro wanted quick and secure solutions, while Giulia dreamed of great changes and innovative methods.It: Dopo molte discussioni, Alessandro accettò di provare le idee di Giulia.En: After many discussions, Alessandro agreed to try Giulia's ideas.It: "D'accordo," disse con riluttanza, "proviamo i tuoi metodi, ma senza esagerare con le spese."En: "Alright," he said reluctantly, "let's try your methods, but without going overboard with expenses."It: Giulia annuì, accettando il compromesso.En: Giulia nodded, accepting the compromise.It: Lavorarono insieme, piantando nuove viti, usando fertilizzanti naturali.En: They worked together, planting new vines, using natural fertilizers.It: Ogni giornata di lavoro portava nuove sfide, ma univa anche i loro cuori.En: Each workday brought new challenges but also united their hearts.It: Tra una risata e l'altra, la famiglia si fortificava.En: Amidst laughter, the family strengthened.It: A pochi giorni dalla visita degli investitori, un temporale improvviso fece oscurare il cielo.En: A few days before the investors' visit, an unexpected storm darkened the sky.It: Il vento ululava minaccioso, e la pioggia cadeva forte.En: The wind howled threateningly, and the rain poured heavily.It: Alessandro e Giulia guardarono i campi con terrore.En: Alessandro and Giulia looked at the fields with fear.It: "Per favore, non adesso," sussurrò Giulia, mentre stringeva la mano del fratello.En: "Please, not now," Giulia whispered, as she held her brother's hand.It: Passata la tempesta, i danni erano minimi.En: After the storm passed, the damage was minimal.It: Le viti avevano resistito.En: The vines had withstood.It: Rincuorati, i due fratelli prepararono la presentazione per gli investitori.En: Encouraged, the two siblings prepared the presentation for the investors.It: "Mostriamo cosa possiamo fare insieme," disse Alessandro, con un nuovo rispetto per la creatività di Giulia.En: "Let's show what we can do together," Alessandro said, with newfound respect for Giulia's creativity.It: Giulia sorrise a suo fratello.En: Giulia smiled at her brother.It: "Insieme possiamo portare innovazione e tradizione," rispose, grata per la comprensione di Alessandro.En: "Together we can bring innovation and tradition," she replied, grateful for Alessandro's understanding.It: Davanti agli investitori, Alessandro e Giulia parlarono con passione.En: In front of the investors, Alessandro and Giulia spoke with passion.It: Raccontarono del loro impegno, dei sogni e delle sfide.En: They talked about their commitment, dreams, and challenges.It: Gli investitori, affascinati dalla determinazione e dalla visione innovativa dei fratelli, decisero di sostenere i loro piani.En: The investors, fascinated by the determination and innovative vision of the siblings, decided to support their plans.It: Alla fine, Alessandro capì che l'innovazione di Giulia poteva coesistere con la tradizione.En: In the end, Alessandro realized that Giulia's innovation could coexist with tradition.It: Giulia imparò i bisogni pratici della gestione di un'azienda.En: Giulia learned the practical needs of managing a business.It: Insieme, trasformarono il vigneto in un luogo dove passato e futuro s'intrecciavano, nel cuore verde della Toscana.En: Together, they transformed the vineyard into a place where past and future intertwined, in the green heart of Toscana. Vocabulary Words:the heart: il cuorethe hills: le collinethe vineyard: il vignetothe morning: il mattinothe vines: le vitithe breeze: il ventothe aroma: l'aromathe flowers: i fiorithe glory: la gloriathe fists: i pugnithe mountain: la montagnathe resources: le risorsethe passion: la passionethe siblings: i fratellithe changes: i cambiamentithe methods: i metodithe expenses: le spesethe compromise: il compromessothe fertilizers: i fertilizzantithe challenges: le sfidethe laughter: la risatathe storm: il temporalethe sky: il cielothe wind: il ventothe rain: la pioggiathe damage: i dannithe presentation: la presentazionethe respect: il rispettothe investors: gli investitorithe vision: la visione

Geoscientists gathered at Glacial Till Vineyard and Winery in Palmyra, Thursday to look at two soil core samples collected from deep underground. A soil core sample is essentially a sample of what is beneath someone's feet, starting at the top layer, and going down deeper and deeper into the Earth. The winery got its name after one of these layers, the glacial till.

Geoscientists gathered at Glacial Till Vineyard and Winery in Palmyra, Thursday to look at two soil core samples collected from deep underground. A soil core sample is essentially a sample of what is beneath someone's feet, starting at the top layer, and going down deeper and deeper into the Earth. The winery got its name after one of these layers, the glacial till.

Psalm 133 (The Message)Andrew and Edwin discuss Mt. Hermon, Mt. Zion, their distance, their dew, and what we learn about unity from all this geography.Read the written devo that goes along with this episode by clicking here.    Let us know what you are learning or any questions you have. Email us at TextTalk@ChristiansMeetHere.org.    Join the Facebook community and join the conversation by clicking here. We'd love to meet you. Be a guest among the Christians who meet on Livingston Avenue. Click here to find out more. Michael Eldridge sang all four parts of our theme song. Find more from him by clicking here.   Thanks for talking about the text with us today.________________________________________________If the hyperlinks do not work, copy the following addresses and paste them into the URL bar of your web browser: Daily Written Devo: https://readthebiblemakedisciples.wordpress.com/?p=21296The Christians Who Meet on Livingston Avenue: http://www.christiansmeethere.org/Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/TalkAboutTheTextFacebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/texttalkMichael Eldridge: https://acapeldridge.com/ 

Sonoma County, destiny, the 3 Rs, dogs in the vineyards and interview with Mauricio Soto, CEO of Vine Pro Vineyard Management in Sonoma County. ON THE ROAD with mrCAwine is about California's cool, aspirational lifestyle and awesome wines hosted by Chuck Cramer, a California native, living in London and is the Director of European & Asia sales & marketing, Terlato Wines. This is a wine journey covering the hottest topics in the business of California wine, chatting along the way with the people who work in wine, and make it all happen. This week's episode includes an interview with Duff Bevill, the founder & partner, Bevill Vineyard Management. 

Episode 225 Sponsored by: River Road Family Vineyards and Winery Gio Balistreri, Owner & Winemaker at Russian River Vineyards Today, Gio Balistreri of Russian River Vineyards joined us and brought some of Beth's favorite wine! We chat about his vineyard's community-driven efforts, including supporting local animal shelters and hosting community nights. Additionally, they celebrate multiple accolades from the North Bay Bohemian Best Of, such as Best Tasting Room and Best Wine Club in Sonoma County. Wines of the day: 2023 Chardonnay Bacigalupi Vineyard 2022 Pinot Noir Bacigalupi Vineyard Links:  https://www.russianrivervineyards.com/ Sponsor: River Road Family Vineyards and Winery Credits: The Wine Road podcast is mixed and mastered at
 Threshold Studios Sebastopol, CA. http://thresholdstudios.info/

On this episode of Beats Vines & Life, host MJ Towler welcomes Eric Titus, general manager and vineyard operations manager at Titus Vineyards. With deep roots in Napa Valley's wine country, Eric shares the fascinating story of his family's legacy—from growing up in Sonoma with his three brothers, to earning his doctorate in biology, and working around the world as a marine biologist and environmental consultant before coming home to join the family business.They reminisce about rural childhood adventures, family traditions, and the evolution of Sonoma and Napa from small towns to world-renowned wine destinations. Eric drops knowledge on the art of winemaking, from the secret splash of Viognier in their Sauvignon Blanc to his mission of reviving Merlot and championing classic varietals like Petite Verdot and Zinfandel.But this isn't just a podcast about wine—it's a conversation about life paths, family values, history, and all the unexpected turns that can bring someone back to their roots. Whether you're a passionate wine lover, a fan of rich storytelling, or just here for the laughs, you'll appreciate this deep and entertaining dive into the world of wine, Napa Valley culture, and what it means to keep tradition alive in a changing world.Pour yourself a glass as Eric and MJ dig into multi-generational tales of migration, resilience, and entrepreneurship that shaped Titus Vineyards. A Massive THANK YOU to ERIC TITUS!!! For more information about Titus Vineyards click the link!!Follow Titus Vineyards on IG!____________________________________________________________Until next time, cheers to the mavericks, philosophers, deep thinkers, and wine drinkers! Subscribe and give Beats Vines and Life a five-star review on whichever platform you listen to.For insider info from MJ and exclusive content from the show, sign up at blackwineguy.comFollow MJ @blackwineguyFollow Beats Vines and Life @beatsvinesandlifeThank you to our sponsor, The Best Shake Ever. Fuel Your Body, Elevate Your Life with Shakeology! Looking for a delicious, nutrient-packed shake that supports your health and wellness goals? Shakeology is your all-in-one superfood solution! Packed with premium proteins, fiber, probiotics, antioxidants, and essential vitamins.For more information, go to The Best Shake Ever____________________________________________________________Until next time, cheers to the mavericks, philosophers, deep thinkers, and wine drinkers! Subscribe and give Beats Vines and Life a five-star review on whichever platform you listen to.For insider info from MJ and exclusive content from the show, sign up at blackwineguy.comFollow MJ @blackwineguyFollow Beats Vines and Life @beatsvinesandlife Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.