Categories
Before opening their doors in the Cow Hollow neighborhood of San Francisco, Chris spent 15 years in wine and spirits sales in the Bay Area, working mostly with wineries in California, Oregon or Washington. He met a number of winemakers and proprietors who shared his passion for wine and for being good stewards of the land. These relationships reinforced Chris’ belief that wines from the West Coast are just as good, if not better, than wines from anywhere else in the world.
Back at home in San Francisco, Chris noticed the lack of support for West Coast wineries on many wine lists. Despite the high quality wines produced in the area, most local places were (and still are) pouring imported wines. So, along with wife Lindsey, he decided to do something about it.
Four years, and four Wine Spectator 'Award of Excellence' honors later, West Coast Wine • Cheese continues to showcase regional wines by serving up premium experiences in a relaxed, unpretentious atmosphere, now in two locations; their original San Francisco spot & the new lounge in Mill Valley.
Buy tickets here to the Champagne Billecart-Salmon dinner on Saturday, December 8th at 6pm at Barndiva in Healdsburg.
In this episode we mention...
West Coast Wine + Cheese
David Bruce Winery
Ian Brand
Martha Stoumen
Wine Spectator Top 100 2018
Bedrock The Bedrock Heritage Sonoma Valley
Booker Oublié Paso Robles 2014
Zotovich Vineyards
Follow Chris & West Coast Wine + Cheese on Instagram @westcoastwinesf and at westcoastsf.com
Remi directs the winemaking process from vineyard to bottle and is responsible for top quality, small-lot winemaking expressive of appellation and vineyard site. In addition, she oversees the sale of all wines through the hospitality experience and the wine club programs direct to consumer, and throughout the domestic and international markets.
Learn more about Remi with the show notes here.
West + Wilder is redefining the look and taste of canned wine and setting a new benchmark for quality within a growing category. Dedicated to sustainability and taste, this small wine company with big world values recently added a Sparkling White and a Sparkling Rosé to their portfolio of West Coast inspired wines.
With varied backgrounds in marketing and the wine industry, co-founders Matt and Kenny launched West + Wilder in May 2018 with the vision of making wine more accessible, approachable and fun. An opportunity for them to support causes they value, like protecting our National Parks, and making customers smile, they are excited about what they do and how they can share it. For them, West + Wilder is a celebration of the dreamers, the seekers and the thinkers. It’s for those who appreciate good things in life with care, humor, mindfulness and beauty. They scoured the West Coast to discover and uncover the best of each state's wine regions, from Washington, Oregon, and California. Being labeled non-vintage with a broad appellation allows them to focus, without restriction, on quality while offering great value. And cans deliver immediate gratification; these wines are made to be enjoyed at release. No guessing.
Generating a buzz (and selling out of the Sparkling Rosé) at Outside Lands Festival in San Francisco this year, cans of West + Wilder are readily available at hotspots up and down the Cali coast, such as the San Francisco’s Ritz Carlton, the Pebble Beach Resort, Yosemite’s Rush Creek Lodge, and the famous Hollywood Bowl. The wines can also be found in Oklahoma, Minnesota and as far East as New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut.
They use aluminum cans—one of the world's most recycled materials and the lightest way to package wine. It's one of the ways they’ve committed to sustainability. They’re also dedicated to giving back and have reinforced their commitment by partnering with 1% for the Planet. Their 1% goes to support the preservation of wild spaces for us all to enjoy—now and tomorrow. The illustrations that adorn the cans celebrate these places and the native plants that live there.
A 750mL bottle of great wine that happens to come in three 8.4oz cans, designed to pay homage to the special places where the wine is sourced from - an ode to the spirit of the West, West + Wilder’s curated line-up includes a White Wine, a Rosé and now a Sparkling White and a Sparkling Rosé.
Not afraid of the unconventional, the brand breaks the perception of the can and makes good wine choices easy and rewarding; both for those who appreciate an active and outdoor lifestyle as well as those who enjoy high-quality, well made wines. West + Wilder drinks well anywhere and anytime.
West + Wilder’s line of products are available at retail wine and liquor stores, markets, and restaurants. For more information and a full list of retailers visit West + Wilder’s website (https://westandwilder.com/) and follow them on Facebook and Instagram.
In this episode we mention...
West + Wilder
Medlock Ames
Three Sticks
Wine Lands at Outside Lands
Wines we drank…
Rosé
White Blend
Sparkling Rosé
Sparkling White
FOLLOW WEST + WILDER ON INSTAGRAM
Dan O'Brien has worked throughout the wine industry, first starting in high-end restaurants in the North East, eventually moving out west to San Francisco to start the Grand Award winning wine program at Cavallo Point. From there he started the Cultivar wine label, was the estate director for Long Meadow Ranch & Larkmead Vineyards, started the Hunt & Harvest wine label, and now is dedicating all of his time and efforts into Gail.
Learn more about Dan with the show notes here.
Brian McClintic is a Master Sommelier and documentary film star of the feature length SOMM, the follow up SOMM: Into the Bottle, and now Somm 3, coming out later in 2018. After 15 years in hospitality, spanning wine destinations such as the Little Nell in Aspen, Brian co-founded Les Marchands Wine Bar & Merchant in Santa Barbara, where he was named “The Wine Guy to Hire” by Departures magazine and among the “40 Under 40 Tastemakers” by Wine Enthusiast.
Learn more about Brian at CruPodcast.com
Bitten by the travel bug in recent years, McClintic launched Viticole in 2016--an online wine club and travel blog, focusing on organically-farmed domestic and import selections.
The Viticole Wine Clubs are the only way to access Master Sommelier Brian McClintic's monthly wine selections. Every winemaker Brian collaborates with farms organically. All the wines offered will be exclusive to Viticole – special bottlings, both red and white, that Brian personally curates from around the world.
THIS EPISODE IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY
Bottle Barn has been serving the Santa Rosa community since 1990 and is one of the best places around to find unique local and international wines. With an extensive selection, everyday low prices, expert staff and this year’s Sonoma County Harvest Fair award-winning wines, there’s no better place to stock up for fall than where wine country buys wine. Mention this podcast at checkout and receive a free, limited edition wine glass, while supplies last.
As consumer advocates, Cameron Hughes Wines is passionate about bringing extreme wine value to wine drinkers at an affordable price. Cameron founded Cameron Hughes Wine with his partner Jessica Kogan in 2001. In 2004, they launched the “Lot Series” with Lot 1, a Lodi Syrah. More than a decade later, they've produced over 600 unique Lot wines and the company has become the #1 selling online wine brand.
As CMO, Jessica oversees integrated marketing for Cameron Hughes Wine which includes the Direct to Consumer business, brand partnerships and collaborations, corporate and brand design, digital and print advertising, and public relations.
Learn more about Cam & Jess with the show notes here.
THIS EPISODE IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY
Located in the heart of Sonoma County, Bottle Barn has been serving the Santa Rosa community since 1990 and is one of the best places
around to find unique local and international wines. With an extensive selection, everyday low prices, expert staff and this year’s Sonoma County Harvest Fair award-winning wines, there’s no better place to stock up for fall than where wine country buys wine. Mention this podcast at checkout and receive a free, limited edition wine glass, while supplies last.
Frank Family's current success would not exist without his leadership. Todd joined in 2003 and has provided consistency of winemaking, vineyard sources, and leadership in Frank Family’s estate vineyard acquisitions, which are not more than 250 acres in Rutherford, Capell and Carneros. He also has culled relationships with several great growers—Beckstoffer, Sangiacomo, etc. I think Todd has defied the old adage “jack of all trades and master of none.” Todd makes everything from Cabernet/Chardonnay to Pinot, Sangiovese, Zinfandel, Zinfandel Port, Late Harvest Chardonnay and 4 different sparkling wines, and he does all of these quite well. Frank Family is the only winery to have twice received “Winery of the Year” from the Connoisseur’s Guide to CA Wine—in 2012 and 2017
Learn more about Todd here.
Our guest this week did not set out to make the beautiful wines he does. He, and is incredible team, discovered great vineyards at the edge of sensible farming and decided to bring them to light.
Learn more about Ian Brand here.
The farther they looked, the more they found – remote, challenging vineyards, with hard depleted soils, and intense sunlight tempered only by the coastal breeze. Vineyards capable of producing only the most idiosyncratic wines. Their goal as winemakers is to lightly polish the roughest edges and leave the idiosyncrasy intact. It is here in the back country, filled with individual character, where wines like I. Brand & Family, La Marea, and Le P’tit Paysan comes to life.
They are not in "wine country." They have no trophy wineries, nor posh tasting salons. Quite on the contrary. Their ideal is farm land, desolate hills, and solitude. What they do is simple, without artifice, and most of all, they enjoy it.
Winemaker Ian Brand puts a lot of miles on his car searching out and spending time in vineyards while dreaming of a new flatbed truck. He likes dirt roads, 12" vinyl, point breaks and hiding in the barrel room.
After a decade long career in advertising for Time Warner, Dan Petroski got a harvest internship in Italy, booked a flight and didn’t look back. For the next year, he would live as a local in his adopted home of Italy, working in vineyards. From that point onward, Dan knew that wine would take the center focus of not only his career, but his life.
Learn more about Dan here.
Coming to California with just over a year’s experience, Dan had a challenging time getting a job, until Andy Smith gave him an opportunity. Fast forward to today and Dan has had incredible success including being named “Winemaker of the Year” in 2017 by the SF Chronicle.
In this episode, Dan and I dig into his journey thus far in wine, we philosophize on the topics of loyalty and freedom as a winemaker, and then explore the terroir of Larkmead’s vineyards and the concept behind his white wine only label, Massican.
As one of the 4% of female winemakers in California who are also owners of their own winery, Sonoma-based LaRue Wines winemaker and owner, Katy Wilson is also making waves within the 10% minority of California wineries whose lead winemaker also happens to be female. Because, not only does she manage every harvest decision, punch down and barrel regimen under her own label, she also the winemaker for Anaba Wines, Claypool Cellars, Reeve Wines and Smith Story Wine Cellars – all Sonoma-based wineries who have sought out Katy’s knack for letting the wines speak for themselves.
Learn more about Katy here.
With barely a dime to her name at age 26 when the idea of LaRue crossed-over from conversation to conception, Katy’s passion for winemaking has evolved into not only an in-demand wine label, but also an in-demand consulting business. Today, at only 35-years old, Katy is proving to herself and to young, up and coming women in wine that persistence and hard work really do go a long way.
While Katy will tell you her story is just beginning, she’s already journeyed a colorful path to get to where she is now, highlighted by stints at Joseph Phelps, Flowers and Kamen, just to name a few; not to mention a few international harvests in New Zealand and Australia.
Today, nearly a decade after launching, LaRue is an ultra-premium, 500-case brand featuring elegant and restrained single-vineyard Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from some of the top vineyard sites on the Sonoma Coast (Rice-Spivak Vineyard, Charles Heintz Vineyard, Emmaline Ann Vineyard, Thorn Ridge Vineyard and Coastlands Vineyard).
It all started with converting potato fields into rows of vineyards in a sleepy field in the heart of California. It was during the late 1960s when a bad potato crop pushed the Bogle family to plant those first grapes -- and now, five decades later -- Bogle Vineyards has become one of the world’s most popular wine brands on the market.
Learn more about Jody here.
An award-winning winery for its sustainability efforts, Bogle Vineyards is setting the industry standard when it comes to responsible growing and wine production. In addition to the Green Medal Leadership Award, Bogle was also honored by the California State Fair for the family’s contribution to the wine industry.
Jody Bogle is of the third-generation winemakers & Director of Public Relations for Bogle Vineyards in Clarksburg, California.
Jody grew up playing and working in the fields with younger brother Warren, but didn’t see a future for herself due to the size of the fledgling winery. She graduated from Linfield College with a BA in English and Secondary Education. While teaching middle school, she worked in the tasting room on weekends until it became clear the winery would be her full time profession. Committing to the family business in 1999, Jody created the Bandwagon wine club and took over management of international sales. Today, Jody enjoys the connection she is able to make with consumers far and wide.
Michael Evans is the co-founder of The Vines of Mendoza, a winery in the Uco Valley of Argentina that crafts nearly 300 custom wines each year with 130 private vineyard owners.
Fifteen years ago Michael came to Argentina from Los Angeles for what he thought would be a three-week vacation. Michael fell in love with the people and the place that is Mendoza and decided to embark on this adventure of creating Argentina’s greatest wines.
After a chance introduction to Pablo Gimenez Riili during that visit to Mendoza, Michael and Pablo began an endeavor together to provide the highest quality wine experience to Mendoza travelers and help those who love wine to make their own. The result was The Vines of Mendoza. With Pablo, Michael raised money from friends and family and purchased 650 acres of land in the Uco Valley, and created The Vines of Mendoza’s one-of-a-kind Private Vineyards. They've since sold vines to more than 185 owners from around the globe, and the property has expanded to 1,500 acres.
Prior to The Vines, Evans worked on every Presidential campaign between Clinton and Kerry, and served as Executive Director of CTIA Foundation, the International association for the wireless telecommunications industry Michael is an avid photographer and traveler who enjoys helping vineyard owners document their journeys and sharing stories tales of the best spot to visit next.
David Wilson is the co-founder of Wilson Foriegner & Director of Vineyards & Grower Relations at Pahlmeyer.
Learn more about David with the show notes here.
David grew up on the family ranch, Rancho Chimiles, where he resides now with his wife, Christine, and their two children. David studied fruit science with an emphasis on wine and viticulture at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. From working harvest in South Africa to learning directly from Warren Winiarski at Stags Leap Winery, David has cut his teeth around the world.
In this episode, David & I dig into his story and background, he tells us the history behind his family’s ranch, Rancho Chimiles in Wooden Valley, and we discuss the concept of a California terroir. We then chat about his new wine label, Wilson Foreigner, which makes Valdigué from the same vineyard as Michael Cruse, Albarino from the Rorick Vineyard, and Zinfandel from the Del Barba Vineyard.
Noah Dorrance is the co-founder & chief winemaker of Reeve Wines based in Dry Creek Valley, California.
In this episode, Noah shares his story of how he first got into wine. How going from college to Europe changed his life and how seizing opportunities in down times created a launch pad for other ventures. We dig into the founding of Banshee Wines, Noah’s first wine label. He shares with us how Banshee was able to grow quickly over short period of time with a focus on creating high quality products that have great value.
Then, Noah shares with us the conception and birth of Reeve Wines, his current business, based in Dry Creek Valley. Why a focus on sourcing from Anderson Valley was a new step and how putting in the time to create a deep, experiential encounter with the wines and the brand is not only great for business, but creates a true connection and wine experience for guests.
Leave a review on iTunes here,https://goo.gl/MRJyBQ, it would mean the world!
In this episode we mention...
Reeve Wines
Brown Derby Wine Cellars
Cherry Street Wine Cellars, Paul Vernon
Crushpad
Banshee Wines
Rickshaw
Kiser Vineyards
2008 Copain Kiser “En Haut”
Reeve Pinot Noir
Reeve, Sangiovese
Ross Cobb
Katy Wilson
The Reeve Villa
Adrien Valenzuela, @adrien_v11
Noah Dorrance, @noahdorrance on Instagram
Reeve Wines, @reevewines on Instagram
ReeveWines.com
Rootdown Pinot Blanc, Mike Lucia
Krater Gamay, Barsotti Vineyard, El Dorado
Originally from Provence, Julien Fayard is one of Napa Valley’s most respected consulting winemakers producing California varietals with French finesse. Formerly of Chateau Lafite Rothschild and Philippe Melka’s team, he lends two decades of winemaking expertise to more than a dozen different brands, including the highly-rated Le Pich and Purlieu wines, as well as his own labels — Azur, Covert Estate and Empreinte. You can learn more at FayardWines.com
In this episode, Julien and I dig into how he approaches making wine while sharing practical tips for how to achieve balance in a final wine by utilizing certain techniques in the vineyard & cellar. He shares with us his story, how he came into wine originally and learned at some of the top chateaux in Bordeaux and what it looks like to be a consulting winemaker in the Napa Valley today.
As with every guest that comes on this podcast, I learned a lot from Julien and I hope you will as well. So, without further adieu, please enjoy my conversation with Julien Fayard.
Norman Hardie, @normanhardiewinery, is the owner & winemaker of Norman Hardie Winery in Prince Edward County, Ontario, making some of the best Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and other Burgundian varietals in North America.
Learn more about Norman with the show notes here.
Norman is an incredibly well traveled winemaker with a highly trained palate. Having started his career as a sommelier with Four Seasons Hotels his intrigue of making the wines he loved so much, particularly Pinot Noir & Chardonnay, grew so much that he decided to go on a journey of working twelve harvests in six years in both hemispheres.
When the search for a vineyard site came to a close in 2003, he found himself in Prince Edward County, Ontario, Canada where the Norman Hardie Winery resides today. Making what chefs like David McMillin of the famed Joe Beef in Montreal call the, “finest white wines in all of North America,” Norman has an approach to winemaking that is not only classical in style but unusual at the same time.
We’ll get into some of the extreme tactics that Norman and his team have to employ simply to keep their vineyards alive, but one of my favorites he mentions is having helicopters hover over the vineyard to ward off frost. We chat about Norm’s story, planting a vineyard, keeping it alive, winemaking, and many other things in this conversation, which I thoroughly enjoyed and I highly recommend you grab a few bottles of his wine on their website, NormanHardie.com
Jennifer Reichardt is the founder and winemaker of Raft Wines, a small production wine label based in Santa Rosa, California with a heavy focus on Rhone Varietals.
Learn more about Jen with the show notes here.
You may wonder where the name Raft comes from, as you’ll find out in the episode, Jen’s background is based in the duck business and a raft is a dense flock of swimming birds.
In this episode, we dig into Jen’s story, how she got into wine when being raised in a household that was all about ducks, why and how she makes the types of wines she does, and the exciting and rewarding work that she is doing with Rebuild Wine Country, and a new project with the help of Liberty Duck and Tonnellerie Radoux, to help those who have been horrendously affected by the recent wildfires.
We also dig into all of the fundraising and work that she and Rebuild Wine Country are doing to help those in Northern California that were so devastatingly affected by these fires.
If you feel so inclined to donate and/or volunteer with Rebuild Wine Country, you can go to RebuildWineCountry.org
Chelsea Boss, @seaboss on Instagram, is the general manager of Senses Wines who make fantastic small production pinot noir and chardonnay based in Occidental, California and one of the founders of Rebuild Wine Country, an organization that is working with Habitat for Humanity of Sonoma County to raise $5 million dollars in order to rebuild owned & rented homes lost in the Sonoma, Napa, Solano, Mendocino, and Lake County wildfires.
You can learn more about Chelsea with the show notes here.
The name Senses may sound familiar as we had one of the founders, Chris Strieter, on in a previous episode.
But in this episode, I wanted to dig into the operations, marketing, sales side of running a wine business and Chelsea’s experience and perspective on doing just that as a GM. We also dig into all of the fundraising and work that she and Rebuild Wine Country are doing to help those in Northern California that were so devastatingly affected by these fires.
If you feel so inclined to donate and/or volunteer with Rebuild Wine Country, you can go to RebuildWineCountry.org for more information.