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Sara Morgenstern is one of those people that if you try to introduce her to someone, she’s already good friends with them and if you ask her to join in on a project, she’ll dive in head first even though her calendar is already fully booked.
She’s some what of a local celebrity here in Sonoma County, particularly in Healdsburg for those in the wine industry, most notably for her work at the imported wine shop/bar and grilled cheese joint, Bergamot Alley, but also for her work with 7% Solution, which you’ll learn about in this episode, Banshee Wines, Raft Wines, and now the soon to be 501c3 Winemakers & Sommeliers for California Wildfire Relief and the annual Burgundy festival, Le Paulée de San Francisco coming up from February 27 to March 3, 2018.
I really enjoyed chatting with Sara as we not only cover everything that I already mentioned, but we dig into her story, how the recent wildfires have personally affected her, and we try wines from winemakers who she considers her brothers.
Learn more about Sara and get the list of every wine we try in this episode here.
I also want to say thank you to Heather Hawkins & Woody Hambrick of Alysian Wines & Vermouth for letting Sara and I occupy their space in Healdsburg for a couple hours to record.
Blair Guthrie is a kiwi transplant to the Napa Valley and winemaker for Stewart Cellars, Hollis Wines, Slingshot Wines, and his personal passion project, Guthrie Family Wines all based in Napa Valley.
I met up with Blair at the Stewart Cellars tasting room in Yountville, which I highly recommend you visit, especially if you are able to do a library tasting in what they call their Nomad Room. It is a gorgeously designed space with art on the walls, dark leather furniture, books galore that range from coffee table books about the designer Tom Ford to old copies of Hemingway. It is a room that has so much life, so many stories. A place where you can go to relax and enjoy some beautiful Napa wines. If you can’t stop by, take a look at the space at StewartCellars.com
In this episode, Blair and I chat about his story and how he got into wine as a kiwi in New Zealand to coming to Napa, working with the amazing winemaker, Paul Hobbs, and how he approaches making wines at price points ranging from $16 to $175 per bottle. We also dig into the artistry of winemaking, some of the science behind it all, and most importantly, throughout the episode Blair and I taste through eleven plus wines, which he gives insight as to how he made them, the tasting notes on them, and all of the little details that go into making fantastic Napa wines.
It was a really great conversation in which I learned a lot and thoroughly enjoyed spending time with Blair, who was introduced to me by another podcast guest from a few episodes back, Shannon Westfall of Vinfluence Wines. Which if you haven’t heard that episode, listen to it after my conversation with Blair.
With that, there are two organizations I want to introduce you to, that are working to support, rebuild, and make thrive wine country in the wake of the devastating fires that destroyed the lives of many recently in Northern California.
The first is Rebuild Wine Country, founded by the team behind Senses Wines, Rebuild Wine Country is a group of volunteer wine industry professionals working with Habitat for Humanity of Sonoma County to raise $5 million to rebuild owned and rented homes lost in the Sonoma, Napa, Solano, Mendocino, and Lake County wildfires. 100% of your donations go to rebuilding homes and rentals damaged or destroyed by the North Bay wildfires. You can donate by going to RebuildWineCountry.com
The second organization is Winemakers and Sommeliers for California Wildfire Relief set up by Patrick Capiello, Pax Mahle, and Sara Morgenstern to rally wine professionals and wine lovers everywhere to support those affected by these terrible fires. They are raising funds through events at amazing venues such as Corkbuzz NYC and Bluxome St. Winery with food and wine from incredible local producers while rare and cellar-worthy bottles donated by sommeliers and collectors from across the country will be available for purchase. 100% of all proceeds will benefit wildfire victims in partnership with CA Wine Strong, Redwood Credit Union North Bay Fire Relief, and Napa Valley Community Foundation. You can donate and learn more about events at WSCWR.com
As a wine lover and fan of podcasts I took the opportunity to record a bonus episode with Jim Duane, who produces the Inside Winemaking podcast.
Our conversation ranges from my background, my goals in building a wine podcast, and what I've have learned from the wine professionals that have shared their experience during my interviews.
We also speak about how I recently moved to Healdsburg, California to work the 2017 harvest and am beginning a new position as a sommelier and assistant wine buyer at the esteemed restaurant and resort that is Cavallo Point, The Lodge at the Golden Gate.
LINKS AND RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
•Recommended Cru Podcast Episodes
◦David Ramey - Ramey Wine Cellars
◦Andre Hueston Mack - Mouton Noir Wines
◦Brian McClintic - Master Sommelier
•Mila Family Vineyards - Sonoma
•Cavallo Point - Lodge at the Golden Gate
•Chef's Table - available on Netflix
Listen to Jim's podcast, Inside Winemaking, at InsideWinemaking.com
In this episode, Raj and I dig into his story of being both a sommelier and winemaker, we chat about the fascinating topic of the terroir of California, and Raj tell us about his new book The Atlas of Taste along with his new, 500 person wine club he’s opening soon.
Learn more about Rajat with the show notes here.
With that, there are two organizations I want to introduce you to, that are working to support, rebuild, and make thrive wine country in the wake of the devastating fires that destroyed the lives of many recently in Northern California.
The first is Rebuild Wine Country, founded by the team behind Senses Wines, Rebuild Wine Country is a group of volunteer wine industry professionals working with Habitat for Humanity of Sonoma County to raise $5 million to rebuild owned and rented homes lost in the Sonoma, Napa, Solano, Mendocino, and Lake County wildfires. 100% of your donations go to rebuilding homes and rentals damaged or destroyed by the North Bay wildfires. You can donate by going to RebuildWineCountry.org
The second organization is Winemakers and Sommeliers for California Wildfire Relief set up by Patrick Capiello, Pax Mahle, and Sara Morgenstern to rally wine professionals and wine lovers everywhere to support those affected by these terrible fires. They are raising funds through events at amazing venues such as Corkbuzz NYC and Bluxome St. Winery with food and wine from incredible local producers while rare and cellar-worthy bottles donated by sommeliers and collectors from across the country will be available for purchase. 100% of all proceeds will benefit wildfire victims in partnership with CA Wine Strong, Redwood Credit Union North Bay Fire Relief, and Napa Valley Community Foundation. You can donate and learn more about events at WSCWR.com
David Ramey is the owner and winemakers of Ramey Wine Cellars based in my new home of Healdsburg, California. You may have heard of Ramey, or even purchased a few bottles, as it is distributed in almost every market. David has been making wine for 40 odd years in France, Napa, Sonoma, most notably at Chateau Petrus, you’ve probably never heard of that though, Chalk Hill, Matanzas Creek, Rudd Estate, and Dominus in Napa and Sonoma.
Learn more about David with the Show Notes here
In this episode we chat geeky winemaking stuff like total S02 (sulfur dioxide) in wine and native fermentations then we get into how David has grown a family run wine business for decades with production at 40,000 cases from a side project making chardonnay to a multi-million dollar company. We get into the numbers of running a boutique winery, how you should sell your wines, whether direct to consumer or distribution, and what he hopes his legacy looks like.
With that, there are two organizations I want to introduce you to, that are working to support, rebuild, and make thrive wine country in the wake of the devastating fires that destroyed the lives of many recently in Northern California.
The first is Rebuild Wine Country, founded by the team behind Senses Wines, Rebuild Wine Country is a group of volunteer wine industry professionals working with Habitat for Humanity of Sonoma County to raise $5 million to rebuild owned and rented homes lost in the Sonoma, Napa, Solano, Mendocino, and Lake County wildfires. 100% of your donations go to rebuilding homes and rentals damaged or destroyed by the North Bay wildfires. You can donate by going to RebuildWineCountry.org
The second organization is Winemakers and Sommeliers for California Wildfire Relief set up by Patrick Capiello, Pax Mahle, and Sara Morgenstern to rally wine professionals and wine lovers everywhere to support those affected by these terrible fires. They are raising funds through events at amazing venues such as Corkbuzz NYC and Bluxome St. Winery with food and wine from incredible local producers while rare and cellar-worthy bottles donated by sommeliers and collectors from across the country will be available for purchase. 100% of all proceeds will benefit wildfire victims in partnership with CA Wine Strong, Redwood Credit Union North Bay Fire Relief, and Napa Valley Community Foundation. You can donate and learn more about events at WSCWR.com
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Melinda Kearny and Michèle Ouellet, the mother-daughter duo behind Lorenza Rosé based in Napa.
Learn more about Lorenza with the show notes here.
In this episode we dig into the story behind Lorenza, what it was like starting to make rosé eight years ago when the main things on the market were Charles Bieler and his pink Cadillac paving the way, and the dreaded white zin hangover that everyone has experienced at least once in their life!
We also chat about making wine with intentionality from old vines, the rosé trend, what it is like for Melinda to work with wine brands such as Frogs Leap winery and how she applied that experience to Lorenza, and what growing up in Napa was like for Michèle.
I really enjoyed chatting with Melinda and Michèle and look forward to see how Lorenza continues to grow as more people embrace rosé as a wine to drink for any occasion year round.
Chad Stock is the winemaker and owner of Craft Wine Co, which produces the labels Minimus Wines, Origin Wines, and Omero Cellars in Carlton, Oregon.
Learn more about chat with the show notes at
https://crupodcast.com/show/chadstock
Chad is known for experimenting with many varietals and styles to produce truly unique wines that not only he loves and is proud of, but that push the boundaries of traditional and low intervention winemaking. From Gruner to Grenache and wines with high VA to wines with Brett, Chad embraces change and experimentation across wines.
In this episode, we dig into a lot! We chat about how Chad got into wine initially from a pleasure standpoint, his experience during apprenticeships that brought to light for him the concept on constantly experimenting with wines, how there aren’t any American grape varietals that are uniquely American, and his loathing of mimicking old world styles to make wine that taste just like them.
We then get into one of his favorite subjects being Syrah developing brett and experimenting with brett to make his wine, fittingly named, I Have Brett. Then Chad leaves us with what he wants his legacy for the wine world to be when all is said and done.
He also shares with us an Austrian winemaker that he’s been loving lately and their approach to winemaking.
This episode is jam-packed, it is long, and if you are a winemaker or aspire to be one, you’ll thoroughly enjoy it.
This episode is a little different.
It is a bonus episode you could say. Here's the deal! Recently, I was asked to take part in the Road to Wine Expert Summit, which is a virtual wine summit that shares interviews with 30+ wine experts sharing their stories, tips, and secrets to get you on the fast track to wine expertise and help you build a foundation for your dream career in wine.
Some of the speakers include folks who have been on Cru before, like Hillary Zio, Brian McClintic, and Shannon Westfall. It also includes people such as George M. Taber, Bianca Bosker, Mark Andrew, James Cluer, the Yes Way Rosé ladies, Master of Wine Richard Hemming, and Esquire writer-at-large, Cal Fussman.
It is an honor to be apart of this amazing group of wine professionals and to flip the script and share my story with you.
You can find all of the interviews at RoadtoWineExpert.com.
I want to say thank you to the host of this wine summit, Brian McCann, who runs WineBluePrint.com
Enjoy!
Martha Stoumen is a winemaker and viticultralist behind Martha Stoumen wines out of Napa Valley.
Learn more about Martha with the show notes here.
In this episode we dig deep into the thinking behind wine as an agricultural product, the work that Martha does in the vineyard, and how she approaches making the best wines she possibly can with inspiration from her love of Italian culture and having worked on a farm in Tuscany.
We then dig into a very enlightening conversation around the ideas of how to learn about wine. Where does it stem from, how do we learn, and how Martha has approached learning about wine from both the experiential and the academic sides.
Then we chat about a topic that Michael Cruse and I had a great conversation around, that being the idea of the terroir of California. What does that mean to Martha, is there even such a thing, and how both history and societal norms play a role in how we define and describe California wine.
I really loved chatting with Martha and will certainly have to have her on the show again to keep exploring her vast amounts of knowledge of wine.
Nick Ramkowsky and Ed Lehrman are co-founders of Vine Connections, a wine import company that was the first company to import Argentine wines to the US.
Learn more about Vine Connections with the show notes here.
In this episode with Nick and Ed, we dig into the story of Vine Connections, how it got started with a trip to Argentina, and they paint a picture of what they found down there in the early '90's. We then get into the business side of things, like what is their process of selecting wineries to work with in their portfolio, which is very small consisting of wines and sake from Argentina, Chile, Japan, and California. Then how do they approach marketing a new wine or sake to the market, what the pillars are that set the standard of how they do business, and how they work with producers like Chad Melville, who is relatively well known in the industry, but outside of the industry, many people have never heard of him and the Santa Rita Hills.
I really enjoyed chatting with Nick & Ed. I learned so much about importing wine, marketing a new product, and gained insight to the culture of a great wine company.
Sofian Himeur is the assistant winemaker at Gruet Winery, the champagne method sparkling wine producer in New Mexico.
Learn more about Sofian with the show notes here at CruPodcast.com
In this episode, Sofian and I dig into the story behind Gruet and how he and his family came to start making sparkling wine in New Mexico of all places. He then takes us into his story, what it was like growing up in a winemaking family, working side-by-side with his grandfather at their Champagne house, and the trials and tribulations of making delicious, value sparkling in the New Mexico desert.
I really enjoyed this episode and you can really hear how passionate Sofian is not only about the wines and winery, but the legacy that his grandfather established and that he continues to shepherd along each and every day with his uncle and mother.
Clémence Lelarge-Pugeot is the marketing and export manager for her family’s grower Champagne house, Champagne Lelarge-Pugeot.
Learn more about Clémence here
In this episode, Clémence and I dig into her and her family’s story, how she is working to grow the company while living in Petaluma, California, one particular popular wine that they make called Les Meuniers de Clémence, and her dream of helping more grower producers in Champagne to grow their businesses by exporting to the US & Canada, which is much more difficult than you may think.
SPONSOR
The Grand Tour is a fresh new take on a wine club. It was created by master somm, Dustin Wilson and the team at Verve Wine.
They believe that part of the fun of wine is learning about and exploring the many regions from around the world. They also know that it can be difficult to navigate through the vast number of wineries out there. Who makes the best wines from a particular place? How do I get my hands on them? These are the reasons that they started The Grand Tour.
Every month they will highlight a new wine region of the world. They spend that month tasting through hundreds of wines to find what they think best represents the region. They want to take you on a journey through and showcase the different types of wines that help tell the story of that place, while featuring producers that they feel are some of the best; the insiders, the ones who really know what's up.
A subscription to The Grand Tour will get you four different bottles of truly special, sommelier-approved wine for $95 each month (plus shipping), along with expert insight into the stories behind the wines, from the people and places who produce them to how they’re made, tasting notes, pairings and more. So you can go on with your life, leave the research to the geeks, and look forward to enjoying unique, remarkable, trustworthy wines in the comfort of your home.
Sign up for The Grand Tour at GrandTourWine.com
At 24-years old, Caleb Forlong is the Director of Marketing & Business Development for the only single estate winery in Upper Wairau Valley in Marlborough, Hillersden and spearheading the winery’s growth in the United States.
Caleb originally began his studies in theatre, but after observing the creative, sustainable methods being implemented by his father in the vineyard, he decided to plant himself in the family business and sought to learn as much as he could about wine. Caleb now splits his time between a set a farm clothes at the Hillersden winery in Marlborough and a sports coat in Los Angeles where he is spearheading the brand’s U.S. operations.
Learn more about Caleb at CruPodcast.com
SPONSOR
The Grand Tour is a fresh new take on a wine club. It was created by master somm, Dustin Wilson and the team at Verve Wine.
They believe that part of the fun of wine is learning about and exploring the many regions from around the world. They also know that it can be difficult to navigate through the vast number of wineries out there. Who makes the best wines from a particular place? How do I get my hands on them? These are the reasons that they started The Grand Tour.
Every month they will highlight a new wine region of the world. They spend that month tasting through hundreds of wines to find what they think best represents the region. They want to take you on a journey through and showcase the different types of wines that help tell the story of that place, while featuring producers that they feel are some of the best; the insiders, the ones who really know what's up.
A subscription to The Grand Tour will get you four different bottles of truly special, sommelier-approved wine for $95 each month (plus shipping), along with expert insight into the stories behind the wines, from the people and places who produce them to how they’re made, tasting notes, pairings and more. So you can go on with your life, leave the research to the geeks, and look forward to enjoying unique, remarkable, trustworthy wines in the comfort of your home.
Signup for The Grand Tour at GrandTourWine.com
Alan Viader, second generation winemaker and Director of Operations for Viader Vineyards & Winery in Napa.
Learn more about Alan at CruPodcast.com
In this episode, Alan shares with us the story behind his family’s estate on Howell Mountain, how his mother used dynamite to move rock in order to plant the vineyard all while raising three kids, and how working with winemakers in Argentina, Alan realized that he wanted to become a winemaker.
We then get into the viticultural and winemaking practices used at Viader. From trellising to blending, Alan gives us some insight into the science and art into how Viader wines are made.
But before we get into the episode, I want to tell you about our sponsor.
The Grand Tour is a fresh new take on a wine club. It was created by master somm, Dustin Wilson and the team at Verve Wine.
They believe that part of the fun of wine is learning about and exploring the many regions from around the world. They also know that it can be difficult to navigate through the vast number of wineries out there. Who makes the best wines from a particular place? How do I get my hands on them? These are the reasons that they started The Grand Tour.
Every month they will highlight a new wine region of the world. They spend that month tasting through hundreds of wines to find what they think best represents the region. They want to take you on a journey through and showcase the different types of wines that help tell the story of that place, while featuring producers that they feel are some of the best; the insiders, the ones who really know what's up.
A subscription to The Grand Tour will get you four different bottles of truly special, sommelier-approved wine for $95 each month (plus shipping), along with expert insight into the stories behind the wines, from the people and places who produce them to how they’re made, tasting notes, pairings and more. So you can go on with your life, leave the research to the geeks, and look forward to enjoying unique, remarkable, trustworthy wines in the comfort of your home.
Go to GrandTourWine.com or click the Wine Club tab on the Verve Wine website to sign up
Rachel Silkowski is the assistant winemaker for Loring Wine Company & the founder/winemaker of Rasi Wine Company, both based in Lompoc, California.
Learn more about Rachel here.
pronounced rac·y
1. full of zest or vigor; having a strongly marked quality; piquant; risqué, suggestive
2. having the distinctive quality of something in its original or most characteristic form
Rachel and I dig into how she initially got into wine, her curiosity of the winemaking process, and the feeling of holding a tangible finished product. She then shares with us the story of how she started Rasi Wine Company, where the name comes from, and how she intuitively approaches each aspect of how she makes her wines & markets them from place of authenticity. I can’t wait for you to hear how she came up with the labels for her first wine called One.
Then, if that wasn’t enough, Rachel shares with us her plans for the future of Rasi, how her wines have been rated 93 – 95 points with only has three vintages out, we chat about urban wineries, and how she is giving back to the community in Los Angeles through an event that you can attend called Women, Wine, Makers.
I absolutely loved chatting with Rachel; she has really inspired me to take a more authentic approach to life and my work. I hope you enjoy hearing her story.
SPONSOR
The Grand Tour is a fresh new take on a wine club. It was created by master somm, Dustin Wilson and the team at Verve Wine.
They believe that part of the fun of wine is learning about and exploring the many regions from around the world. They also know that it can be difficult to navigate through the vast number of wineries out there. Who makes the best wines from a particular place? How do I get my hands on them? These are the reasons that they started The Grand Tour.
Every month they will highlight a new wine region of the world. They spend that month tasting through hundreds of wines to find what they think best represents the region. They want to take you on a journey through and showcase the different types of wines that help tell the story of that place, while featuring producers that they feel are some of the best; the insiders, the ones who really know what's up.
A subscription to The Grand Tour will get you four different bottles of truly special, sommelier-approved wine for $95 each month (plus shipping), along with expert insight into the stories behind the wines, from the people and places who produce them to how they’re made, tasting notes, pairings and more. So you can go on with your life, leave the research to the geeks, and look forward to enjoying unique, remarkable, trustworthy wines in the comfort of your home.
Sign up for The Grand Tour here.
In this episode we mention…
Loring Wine Company
Rasi Wine Company
Oregon State University
Loring Pinot Noirs
Close Pepe Vineyard
Santa Rita Hills AVA
One, Pinot Noir (Rasi’s first wine)
Three Barrels, Santa Rita Pinot Noir (Rasi’s second wine)
Paso Robles Mouvedre (Rasi’s third wine)
Wine Advocate 93-95 Points for Rasi
Wine Enthusiast 93 Points for Rasi
Rasi One Labels (first wine)
Women, Wine, Makers Monthly Event
Space 15 Twenty
Vinley Market
Sine Qua Non Winery
Andremily Wine 2013 Syrah
Levo Wine
Flying Colors Grenache
Follow Rachel & Rasi on…
Rasi’s Website
Rasi’s Instagram
Rasi’s Facebook
Rachel’s Instagram
Shannon Westfall (@vinfluence) is the founder of Vinfluence, the wine club that is helping you drink better by sending you handpicked wines from boutique wineries every month while supporting nonprofits that are making a difference.
Learn more about Shannon & get a transcript of the episode here.
In this episode, Shannon share with us how Vinfluence was born out of her love of helping people and sharing wine. She tells us her story of how she broke into the wine industry with no experience from a career in wealth management. We then dig into how Vinfluence works from a business side, how it’s helping small producers reach a wider audience, and how Shannon is working to educate more people about wine through this company.
And, Shannon was kind enough to offer you as a Cru Podcast listener the opportunity to get $20 off your first order from Vinfluence! I wish I were living in the US so I could take advantage of this opportunity, but alas, I live in the UK, so I can’t. But, I hope you will in my absence! Go to Vinfluencewine.com to join the club and get $20 off your first order with the code CRUPODCAST.
By the way, while you’re signing up for Vinfluence, why don’t you kill two birds with one stone and subscribe to this podcast on iTunes? It’s quick and easy to do, all you have to do is go to iTunes, either online, or on the podcasting app on your phone, search Cru, and click subscribe. That’s it. Now you’ll get the latest episodes of Cru as soon as they come out. Can’t beat that.
In this episode we mention…
Vinfluence Wine
Vincent Arroyo Winery
Retro Cellars
Brian McClintic MS
Randy Dunn
Mike Dunn
Calitals, Italian varietals grown in California
Nero d’Avola
Palmer Emmitt (@palmnut) is the co-owner and co-winemaker behind Emmitt-Scorsone Wines, which make the labels, Judge Palmer and Domenica Amato, in Healdsburg, California.
Learn more about Palmer with the show notes at crupodcast.com/show/palmeremmitt
In this episode, Palmer and I dig into how he went from working in the film industry in Hollywood to owning a winery that makes Cabernet harvested from the famous To Kalon Vineyard, and that’s just one of the wines he and his partner, Michael Scorsone. We also talk about the challenges of running a small winery that produces fewer than 2,000 cases per year across 10+ different wines. Not only is that a lot to keep up with, but also selling to distribution at quantities that small has proved difficult. Palmer then shares with us the winemaking approach that they take in the winery and how it helps to express the each wine’s terroir.
Before we get into the show, have you subscribed to the podcast yet and left us a review? If not, please do so. It helps other passionate wine lovers like yourself find it! It’s also super simple to do. Just go on to your podcasting app on your phone, find the podcast and click subscribe. There will be another button to leave a review as well. Or you can do it all on iTunes here.
In this episode we mention…
Judge Palmer Wine Label
Domenica Amato Wine Label
Michael Scorsone
Failla Winery
WSET Courses
Wine Business MBA at Sonoma State University
Adobe Road Winery
Beckstoffer Georges III
Beckstoffer To Kalon
Stagecoach Vineyard
Fred Schrader Boar’s View Vineyard
Wine Theory
Wine Theory on Instagram
Vermentino from Devero Winery in Dry Creek Valley
Follow Palmer on…
Emmitt-Scorsone Website
Judge Palmer Website
Judge Palmer Instagram
Judge Palmer Facebook
Domenica Amato Instagram
Domenica Amato Facebook
Dustin Wilson (@dustinwilsonms) is a partner and owner the wine shop in Tribeca, New York City called Verve Wine. Dustin came on the podcast when the show first started and he was working at Eleven Madison Park, but in this episode he tells us about how he transitioned from being a somm on the floor of restaurants for so many years to starting and being on the floor of a retail store and what the challenges of starting a new wine shop in New York City has been like.
We then dig into the story behind Verve, why Dustin wanted to start something new, and how Verve is challenging the norm of wine retail by integrating an amazing website that helps people find and learn about wine in an easier, more natural way and utilizing social media to do the same with things like visual tasting notes.
Full show notes & and transcript of the interview at https://crupodcast.com/show/dustinwilson37
Dustin then shares with us one of his favorite wines he’s been excited about lately called 4 Monos, a Garnacha made just outside of Madrid, and you can get it at Verve for only $20. To top it all off, Dustin and the team at Verve are giving you as a Cru Podcast listener, 10% off all discountable wines when you check out with the code CRUPOD10. It only applies to those of you who can receive shipments in the USA. So, go get some wine from some great people who want to share more wine with the world.
But before we get into the show, many of you know that I had the opportunity of traveling to Madrid a couple weeks ago and meet a great winemaker by the name of Fabio Bartolomei (his podcast episode here), and experience the only natural wine shop in Madrid, called Wine Attack.
So, I knew that I was going to be buying a ton of wine, and my last experience with bringing a case of wine back in my regular suitcase was not only sketchy caused it looked like I was smuggling wine bottles out of Germany all wrapped up in t-shirts, but I didn’t know if all of my bottles were going to break. You know how TSA can be with our bags. So, I had to find a solution to my wine bottle traveling debacle. I found this company called Lazenne.
Essentially, they make suitcases for your wine bottles. It was perfect! I got one and they even offered to ship it to my hotel in Madrid so that when I got there, all I had to do was fill it with a case of amazing wines. I didn’t have to worry about making sure that I got it in time to fly out and then check a bag going out. I just gave them my address and it was sitting on my bed when I walked into my hotel room. It only cost me €35 to check the bag on the way back and it got to my destination in perfect condition!
Guys, I’m telling you. If you ever travel with more than a couple wine bottles on the plan, or even just driving long distances, you need to get one of Lazenne’s bags. Go to Lazenne.com and check out which bag is best for you. I got the 12-Bottle Wine Check Luggage, but maybe something a bit sturdier would be best for you, like the Vingardevalise Hardshell Wine Suitcase. Either way, take a look and protect your wine with a Lazenne bag.
Fabio Bartolomei is the winemaker behind Vinos Ambiz in the Gredos region of Spain, just outside of Madrid. I’m super excited for this episode because it was my first in-person interview. Fabio and I met up while I was in Madrid last weekend and he took me to the only natural wine shop in the city called Wine Attack, then the next day we drove out to his winery about an hour northwest of Madrid in a small town called El Tiemblo.
Learn more about Fabio with the show notes here.
He took me around two of his vineyards, which are both planted with 40-year-old Garnacha bush vines. Then we went to the winery in the center of the town, which is an old co-op winery that he and another winemaker, Daniel Ramos, took over about four years ago. Fabio let me taste a bunch of his wines, both in bottle and out of the barrel, tank, and amphorae. It was a wonderful experience and I encourage you to go visit Fabio at his winery the next time you are in Madrid.
In this episode, Fabio and I talk about his story, how we started making wine, and the journey of how he got to where he is now. We also talk about the development of natural wine, not only the winemaking aspects of it, but also the culture around it, how consumers perceive it, and if there will ever be a clear definition and the affects that could have on producers like himself.
Before we get into the show, have you subscribed to the podcast yet and left us a review? If not, please do so. It helps other passionate wine lovers like you find it! It’s also super simple to do. Just go on to your podcasting app on your phone, find the podcast and click subscribe. There will be another button to leave a review as well. Thanks for doing that! I really appreciate it!
Jordane Andrieu (@heritagefinewines) is the owner of Heritage Fine Wines wine store and bar located in Beverley Hills & proprietor of Domain Clos du Moulins aux Moins in Burgundy.
Subscribe to our newsletter, Cru Mail, here to learn more about Jordane.
In this episode, Jordane and I dig into his story, how he went from working for an engineering company in Paris to running an estate in Burgundy while studying viticulture & oenology and converting the vineyard to organic. He shares with us the trials and tribulations that goes into making world class wine in Burgundy and how Pablo Picasso’s godson designed wine labels for him.
We then get into the story behind him moving from Burgundy to Los Angeles without speaking any English. Then on top of that figuring out how to start Heritage, his wine shop and bar in Beverley Hills, jumping through all of the regulatory hoops, and probably the greatest challenge of educating consumers on the wines, how he markets the business, and overcoming the cultural differences of business in general.
Jordane has an incredible story and one that continues to evolve each day. He has big plans for the next few years which he tells us about as well.
Before we get into the show, have you subscribed to the podcast yet and left us a review? If not, please do so. It helps other passionate wine lovers like yourself find it! It’s also super simple to do. Just go on to your podcasting app on your phone, find the podcast and click subscribe. There will be another button to leave a review as well. Thanks for doing that! I really appreciate it!
In this episode we mention...
Clos du Moulins aux Moins
Heritage Fine Wines
Auxey-Duresses
Meursault
Cote de Beaune
Baltasar Dürrbach, Pablo Picasso’s godson
Jordane’s Pinot Noir Vin Nature Wine Label
Languedoc-Roussillon
Cotes Catalanes
Tom Lubbe, Domaine Matassa
Real Wine Fair
Domaine Olivier Pithon
Dominique of Domaine Hauvette
Follow Jordane & Heritage on…
Heritage Website
Instagram
Facebook
Twitter
Clos du Moulin Website
DLynn Proctor (@WineauxDLynnP) is the winemaking ambassador for Penfolds Americas. You may remember DLynn from the movies Somm and Somm: Into the Bottle on Netflix, but in this episode we don’t talk about the movies, but DLynn’s story, who inspired him to become a sommelier in the first place, how he was able to travel the world to learn about wine on other people’s dime as a young somm.
Learn more about DLynn with the show notes here.
We also dig into the day to day of what being the winemaking ambassador for Penfolds Americas means and how DLynn travels over 300 days per year. He also shares with us stories from working with the legendary Fred Dame and Peter Gago.
Before we get into the show, I want to invite you to subscribe to the podcast on iTunes and leave us a review. Doing so helps other folks who are just as passionate about wine as you are find the show and to grow this community. You can subscribe and review the show with the podcast player on your phone, or on iTunes here.
Michael Drapkin is the proprietor, wine educator, and Instagram model behind Kingston Wine Company in the town of Kingston, New York in the Hudson Valley. You can find him wordsmithing wine descriptions on Instagram @kingstonwineco and buy all of his delicious, natural and esoteric wines at KingstonWine.com
Learn more about Michael with the show notes here.
In this episode Michael and I dig into where his passion for wine comes from, both the books and the people who influenced him, and the art of wine retail, something that Michael feels is as important, if not more important, than the wines themselves.
We also chat about great resources for learning about and finding natural wines, one of those being the natural wine app, Raisin.
Before we get into the show, I want to invite you to subscribe to the podcast on iTunes and leave a review. Doing so helps other amazing wine lovers, like yourself, find the show and grow this community of folks who are passionate about wine. You can do so on the podcast player on your phone, or on iTunes itself here. Also, if you’re up for it, follow us on Instagram @crupodcast. We’re sharing bottles and experiences over there.
Michael Cruse (@crusewine) is the winemaker and owner of Ultramarine Wines and Cruse Wine Co. based in Petaluma, California.
Learn more about Michael with the show notes here.
In this episode, Michael and I dig into his background and how he got into the wine world, the terroir of California and how Michael is working to share that through his wines, and where his love of sparkling wines come from.
Before we get into the show, I want to invite you to subscribe to the podcast on iTunes and leave us a review. You can do so on iTunes itself, or with the podcast player on your phone. By subscribing and reviewing the show, you’re helping others discover the show and working to grow this community of people who are also passionate about wine.
And if you’re interested, subscribe to our weekly email newsletter, Cru Mail. We send you one email every Monday with the latest podcast episode, so you’ll be the first to hear it, and we send another email on Friday with anything from other podcasts we’re enjoying, wine videos, articles, books, events, and even offers from great wine companies that give you a discount when buying their wines online and in their shops.
You can subscribe to Cru Mail here.
Jack Mason (@jamasoniii) is one of the youngest Master Sommelier, and is the MS & Wine Director at Pappas Bros. Steakhouse in Houston, Texas.
Learn more about Jack with the show notes here.
Jack achieved MS status at the very young age of 27 and he’s one of the youngest to do so. He is one of only 9 esteemed Master Sommeliers currently in the state of Texas and one of 144 Master Sommeliers in the U.S.
He’s been featured in Forbes’ annual 30 Under 30 list of outstanding young professionals nationwide, Zagat’s 30 Under 30 list in New York City as was named Wine & Spirits Best New Sommelier 2015. He was also featured in the series Uncorked on the Esquire Network that followed his journey to receiving his MS certification.
With all of that, I have to say that Jack is one of the most fun and humble people I’ve ever met.
Before we get into the show, I want to invite you to subscribe to the podcast on iTunes and leave us a review. You can do so on iTunes itself, or with the podcast player on your phone. Doing so helps more and more people find the show, which helps to grow this community of people passionate about wine.
Amanda Brackett (@soconnwineco) is a winemaker and owner of Southern Connecticut Wine Co. in Wallingford, Connecticut. So Conn Wine Co. is the first urban winery in the entire state.
Learn more about Amanda with the show notes here.
In this episode Amanda and I converse about her passion for winemaking and how she became a winemaker in Connecticut to how she is working to teach more and more people about wine. She also shares the challenges she has had to overcome not only with government regulation, but the simple fact of her being a female business owner and winemaker.
Before we get into the episode, I want to let you know that there is some background noise that you’ll hear. From ringing phones to the sound of glasses clinking and bottles being moved, they all come with owning a small winery. I wanted to let you know so you aren’t taken by surprise.