Seth & Audrey Kitzke (@UsDoingWine) grow and make Upsidedown Wines, Kitzke Cellars, and The Devil is a Liar based in Richland, Washington.
To kick us off with the first episode of the relaunch of the Cru wine industry podcast, I sat down with Washington State’s dynamic duo behind Upsidedown Wine, Kitzke Cellars, and The Devil is a Liar, Seth and Audrey Kitzke.
I’m so excited to be back with the first podcast episode in a few years. I’m looking forward to sharing some wonderful conversations with the legends and disruptors of the wine industry in the coming weeks and months. So you’ll want to be sure to subscribe to the show on your favorite podcasting app and leave a review!
You can find full show notes at CruPodcast.com
Seth and Audrey reside in Richland, Washington where they grow and make wine for Upsidedown Wine, The Devil is a Liar, and their family label, Kitzke Cellars. Seth grew up planting the vineyard with his dad, not knowing that one day he would be making the wine. He had a career shift in 2014 and went back to school to study Enology at the Northwest Wine Academy in Seattle.
He then went on to work with Charles Smith, Brennon Leighton, Brian Carter, and Charlie Hoppes before moving back to Eastern Washington to take over winemaking for Kitzke Cellars and starting their labels. Seth & Audrey have immense respect for the land and the grapes that they grow. Striving to produce the very best fruit while staying true to the region’s unique terroir.
They have a two-year-old daughter, Sage, whose curiosity usually leads her into the vineyard and winery with Mom and Dad.
Before we get into the episode, I would be remiss to tell you about our presenting podcast partner, Monday Wine.
Monday Wine helps wineries grow their direct-to-consumer sales with digital marketing strategies and tactics that actually work. They'll save you time, headaches, and money while growing your mailing list, wine club, and DTC revenue. If you own or are responsible for the sales and marketing of a winery and growing your DTC sales has been a struggle, click the link in the show description or visit their website at Monday.Wine to apply for their services.
This episode of Cru is also brought to you in affiliation with Notion.
If you’re anything like me, you probably have anywhere from 15-20 different browser tabs open at one time, too many Excel sheets, and multiple projects you’re trying to manage. To keep your head above water you’re probably using too many tools. And things are a little, maybe a lot, chaotic, I would venture to guess. You can silently nod your head in agreement.
With Notion, all your work can be done in one place. You can easily collaborate with team members at the same time or across various teams and time zones. I use Notion for managing and publishing this entire podcast. I also use it in my marketing agency to manage my daily operations and everything for my clients. It’s a seamless experience between desktop and mobile. From managing a social media content calendar to planning and forecasting an entire wine release, I use Notion to manage it all. Get started with Notion for free today!
Welcome to Cru! I'm your host, Chappy Cottrell, and I'm here to take you on an exhilarating journey through the captivating world of wine. As an award-winning wine marketer, podcaster, sommelier, and wine director, I've dedicated my life to uncovering the hidden gems of the industry.
Episodes can be listened to on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or CruPodcast.com
Every Monday, we dive deep into the essence of wine, bringing you exclusive interviews with the true legends and fearless disruptors who are shaping the future of this remarkable industry. Get ready for a weekly rendezvous with the most intriguing minds in the wine business, as they unveil their profound thoughts, share their incredible experiences, and provide invaluable insights.
Whether you're a seasoned sommelier, an aspiring business owner, a master winemaker with years of expertise, or someone embarking on their very first steps in the industry, this podcast is an absolute must-listen. I guarantee that you won't want to miss a single episode!
Imagine having the brightest stars in the wine cosmos whispering their secrets and wisdom directly into your eager ears. With Cru, you'll gain unparalleled access to the minds behind the labels and business, their stories interlaced with passion, ambition, and a sheer love for wine.
But let me share a little secret about Cru's humble beginnings. Back in 2016, Cru started as my personal quest to learn from the industry's most revered figures, asking them the burning questions that fueled my curiosity about starting and operating a wine business. After a brief hiatus, Cru has returned with a renewed purpose: to continue seeking answers to those questions, exploring every facet of growing, making, marketing, and selling wine.
My mission is simple: I want each and every episode to arm you with strategic and tactical insights that you can apply directly to your own journey in the industry. I’m here to empower you, to fuel your aspirations, and to make your path in the wine world that much brighter.
You can find Cru on all major podcast platforms, including Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Simply search for Cru Wine Podcast, and our exhilarating episodes will be right at your fingertips.
If you find value in our show - and I’m certain you will - I kindly ask you to consider subscribing and leaving a glowing review. Your support goes a long way in helping remarkable industry professionals like yourself discover the wealth of knowledge Cru has to offer.
And speaking of support, I'm thrilled to announce that Cru is proudly presented by Monday Wine!
Monday Wine is a pioneering digital marketing agency dedicated to empowering wineries and growing their direct-to-consumer sales. If you're a winery looking to enhance your direct-to-consumer revenue, expand your mailing list, or attract more passionate wine club members, head over to Monday.Wine to apply for their exceptional services. That’s Monday.Wine to apply.
Thank you for joining me on this exhilarating journey through the world of wine. I’m just getting started, and I couldn't be more excited to share these captivating episodes with you. Stay tuned and subscribe!
-Chappy, host
A Virginia native, Martin was present at the inception of what is now considered one of that state’s premier wine producers, Boxwood Estate Winery, in 2005. As Executive Vice President of Winery Operations, Martin’s job was to oversee all facets of production, sales and marketing of Boxwood’s award-winning whites, rosés and Bordeaux-style red blends.
Martin’s forward thinking led directly to Middleburg having its own wine identity separate from the more generic Virginia designation, making her well suited to again start from scratch with Oceano Wines. Jancis Robinson noted Martin’s marketing savvy in her book “American Wine.”
Marbue Marke earned his enology degree from Davis and, subsequently, added to his academic resume with an MBA from Sonoma State University. His practical experience began at J Winery in Sonoma, followed by a series of moves, each adding another piece to the puzzle that is winemaking. At Cosentino Winery, he learned about the rarefied world of high-end Napa wines. He was then a barrel enologist at R.H. Philips. For two years, Marke was charged with cooperage studies, an offshoot field that many winemakers are not experienced in. During a stint at Benziger, he was immersed in that family’s heightened concern for soil and winemaking purity.
From there, Marke made a seemingly counterintuitive jump to Gallo. He reasoned that it’s always a good idea to revisit the basics of one’s craft, and given Gallo’s depth and breadth of resources, it was the perfect place for him to hone all of the skills associated with the production process.
But perhaps the most pivotal move he made, at least in terms of his future connection to Oceano, was his decision to sign on as John Caldwell’s winemaker. That Marke began working with Caldwell turned out to be prophetic for Rachel . She met Marke by way of her very own connection to Caldwell. She sourced the plant material for Boxwood Estate Winery’s first vineyard block from him. Marke has since taken over as the Director of Winegrowing at Italics Winegrowers in Coombsville, one of Napa Valley’s cooler climes and another serendipitous similarity with Spanish Springs Vineyard.
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.
Jeannie Cho Lee (@jeanniecholee) is a Master of Wine, a wine writer, critic, professor at the Polytechnic University’s School of Hotel and Tourism Management in Hong Kong, television host, speaker, wine consultant, and designer!
Learn more about Jeannie in the show notes here.
She was so gracious in speaking with me for over an hour about everything from her upbringing and how she got into wine to how to become a hedonist and experience what she calls palate orgasms. We also dig into how she takes wine notes and the value of the 100-point system to her personally to words of advice from Jancis Robinson herself.
Before we get into the show, I want to thank you for listening. You are the reason why I’m able to continue to have influential people like Jeannie come on the show. I’m glad that I’m able to continue to provide you value through this podcast.
If you are enjoying the show, but haven’t yet subscribed and left us a review, please do so with the podcast layer on your phone, or on iTunes here. Doing so helps other people who are passionate about wine find the show.
Christina Pickard (@winewchristina) is a wine writer, educator, and social media consultant. She has lived and worked from London to Perth, Australia, and now in the Hudson Valley of New York writing about wine and educating people about wine on places like the BBC and her own wine school.
Learn more about Christina with the show notes here.
In this episode, we dig into her story and how she got into wine while working as an actress. We then talk about how she learned more and more while tasting with some formative mentors. Christina also tells us about writing for publications like Wine Enthusiast, Food & Wine, and James Halliday.
Before we get into the show, I want to invite you to subscribe to the show on iTunes. You can do so with the podcast player on your phone, or on iTunes itself here. Doing so helps others find the show and you will always be the first to hear each episode.
Hillary Zio (@hillaryzio) is a certified sommelier, wine industry consultant, wine writer, educator, and author of The Unfiltered Guide to Working in Wine, her book that works as a career guide for those who have questions about being anything in the wine world from a sommelier to a distributor. You can buy it here on Amazon.
You can learn more about Hillary with the show notes here.
In this episode we dig into a lot from Hillary’s story and how her career progressed to now being able to have learned from mentors like Laura Maniec and Dustin Wilson and being able to create content for wine companies in order to help them grow. We also dig into using Instagram to help grow your business and her tips for doing so.
Before we get into the show, I have a question for you. Would you like to save money on wine? Pretty sure that answer is, YES! Well, if you do love to get more bang for your buck, try world-class wines without paying a premium, I invite you to signup for Cru Mail here.
Every Friday I send you a shot email with great content. Everything from new wine videos to killer Instagram profiles, and you guessed it, amazing wine deals from some great online wine retailers. So, if you’re down to get all of that for free every Friday, signup here.
Marissa A. Ross (@marissaaross) is a leisure enthusiast, writer, and wine drinker. She’s also the author of the new book, Wine. All The Time.: The Casual Guide to Confident Drinking, writer of the wine blog WINE. All The Time, and is the wine editor for Bon Appétit.
Learn more about Marissa here with the show notes.
In this episode, Marissa and I dig into a lot from her story and background and how she got into wine to becoming Bon Appétit’s wine editor. We also talk a lot about wine descriptions and how her’s work to describe an experience that the wine fits into rather than simply what she tastes. We get into the coverage of wine in Bon Appétit, her love and passion for the magazine, and the wise words that Adam Rapoport continuously bestows upon her.
Before we get into the episode, I want to invite you to subscribe to the podcast on iTunes here, and leave a review. Our goal is to grow a community of people passionate about wine in which we all can share and learn more. You subscribing and leaving a review on iTunes here, or your podcast player, helps more people just like yourself find the show.
Pre-Order Marissa's new book here on Amazon!
Dalia Ceja (@daliaceja), a Latina in love with sharing lifestyle tips and trends focused on fashion, travel, food, drinks, and fiestas. She’s also the sales and marketing director for her family’s vineyard and winery, Ceja Vineyards. Dalia also has her own wine label called La Tapatia, which she created as a consulting winemaker with Naked Wines.
You can learn more about Dalia here.
Dalia and I dig into a lot in this episode from how her grandparents and parents worked in the vineyards with Robert Mondavi and tended the vineyard of the famous To Kalon vineyard to the challenges that she and her mother, the matriarch of the business, have overcome as two Latina women in an industry that is traditionally dominated by European and American males. We also chat about some of the best wine and Mexican food parings, which I made her stop talking about because she was making me too hungry!
Before we get into the show, I invite you to subscribe to the podcast on iTunes and leave a review. Doing so helps to further grow this community of wine lovers that continues to grow. You can subscribe and review the show from the podcast player you’re using on your phone, or you can do so on iTunes here.
Whitney Adams (The Whitney A. Channel) is a sommelier turned YouTuber, on-camera host, and writer living in LA. We had a great conversation about everything from her background and how she got into the wine industry to her decision to start a YouTube channel which now has over 30,000 subscribers. Then reflecting on how she got to where she is by creating her own path in the industry and her goals for the future. Whitney also gives practical tips and strategies for growing a personal brand, like she has done.
Learn more about Whitney in the show notes here.
Before we get into the episode, I have one ask of you. I'm sure that you are on Instagram. I'm always posting gorgeous pictures from our guests, pictures I take myself, and beautiful shots from the people in this community like yourself. So, my ask is for you to follow us on Instagram here, and when you're posting wine pictures to your profile use #crupodcast and I'll repost your pictures on our feed! It's a win-win for everyone. And if you want, while you're on Instagram go and follow Whitney @heywhitneya.
Ryan Harms (@harmsryan) is the founder, owner, and winemaker of Union Wine Company based just outside ofPortland, Oregon. They can be considered pioneers in the canned wine space with their brand Underwood.
Learn more about Ryan here.
Ryan and I had a fantastic conversation talking about his story and how he started in the wine industry, how union first started as a virtual winery and now it can be considered an industrial chateau. We really dig into the mission and purpose behind Union, which can be summed up by saying that wine doesn’t have to be this hard. We then get into Union’s marketing, how it has been so successful and what Ryan attributes that to.
Before we get into the show, I want to invite you to subscribe to the podcast on iTunes here and leave a review. Doing so helps other wine lovers like yourself find the show. You can subscribe and review the show with your podcast player app on your phone, or here on iTunes.
Chad Melville (@melville_winery) is the head winegrower at his family’s winery, Melville Winery in the Santa Rita Hills of California producing Pinot Noir, Syrah, and Chardonnay.
In this episode, Chad tells us his story of growing up in a grape growing family and eventually starting Melville from its first plantings of their vineyard. We get into the viticulture behind the wines he grows, why he considers their wines to be made once the grapes are harvested, and how having control from vine to bottle helps to create an amazing product.
Before we get into the show, I want to invite you to subscribe to the podcast on iTunes here, or whatever podcast player you are using to listen to the show. Doing so helps more people find the show while growing this community around our common passion of wine.
Learn more about Chad here.
André Hueston Mack (@youknowmouton) is a Sommelier-at-Large, maker of Mouton Noir Wines, designer behind Get Fraiche Cru, and author of Small Thyme Cooks: coloring & activity book.
The over arching theme in this episode is how to be successful in the wine world. For André, it comes down to two things; showing up and working hard.
André has an amazing story of growing up as an Army brat, moving from place to place every few years to being inspired by the show Frazer to start exploring wine. Yes, the pompousness of Frazer and Niles describing wine lit a curiosity about wine in André’s mind He tells us the stories behind working in restaurants since he was sixteen to being hired on at The French Laundry and helping to open Per Se in New York while being a minority in the high-end NYC restaurant scene.
Christina Musto (@threadsandvino) is the 4th generation of a family wine business, Musto Wine Grape Company, based in Connecticut where she works with commercial and home winemakers to provide them with the tools and grapes they need to make great wine.
She is a long-time member of the American Wine Society, has studied at UC Davis, and has her Wine Business MBA from Sonoma State University, and on top of all of that is a founding member of Women Winemakers of Connecticut.
Learn more about Christina here!
We invite you to subscribe and review the podcast on iTunes here!
Julian Lewis (@julianlewis4) is the co-founder of Bybo Wines, an online wine shop and wine club that sells “Wines with Soul.” They believe that some wines have soul and others don’t. They also believe that value and price are distinctly different things. If you feel this too, then join them at bybo.co.uk.
Julian is the buyer for Bybo, but he’s also a surfer, father, husband, veteran of two Master of Wine exams, and an IWC judge. He lives in Bristol, England with his wife and children.
Julian was gracious enough to chat at 6pm on a Friday night, under the stipulation that wines was involved! We get into a lot in the conversation from his formative years working in vineyards in France to the ethos that he lives by which are reflected in the wines that Bybo offers.
Learn more about Julian here!
Want to get wine videos, articles, podcasts, and other ways to learn more about wine every Friday? Subcribe to Cru Mail here!
Deirdre Heekin is the co-founder, winegrower, organizer, writer, photographer, flower farmer, and designer behind La Garagista Farm + Winery in Barnard, Vermont. In this episode we get into a lot from where the idea came from to start growing and making wine in Vermont to its challenges as she successful makes amazing natural wines in this environment. We also talk about her love of travel, the biodynamic practices that have been instilled in her, and her new book, An Unlikely Vineyard.
We invite you to subscribe to the podcast on iTunes here and leave us a review. Our goal is to grow a community of people who are passionate about wine so we can all learn more and connect with each other. If that appeals to you at all, then subscribe. It helps others find the show, which continues to expand this community you’re apart of.
Learn more about Deirdre at CruPodcast.com
Brian McClintic (@brianmcclinticms) is a Master Sommelier and founder of the wine company and travel blog, Viticole Wine (@viticolewine). In this episode we get into a lot from why and how he first got into wine to how Viticole is becoming a lifestyle business for him that combines his passions of wine, travel, and writing.
Learn more about Brian at https://crupodcast.com/show/brianmcclintic
We invite you to subscribe to the podcast on iTunes here and leave us a review. Our goal is to grow a community of people who are passionate about wine so we can all learn more and connect with each other. If that appeals to you at all, then subscribe. It helps others find the show, which continues to expand this community you’re apart of.
Robin and Andrea McBride are the sisters, owners, and winemakers behind McBride Sisters Wines. They make fun, playful, and approachable wines in New Zealand and California. In this episode we dig into a lot starting with their incredible story that only God or fate could have made happen to diversity in the wine industry and their experiences as African-American women.
They also tell the story of how Oprah, Gayle King, and Common started repping their wines. Robin and Andrea are a powerhouse that taught me a thing or two throughout our conversation.
Before we get into the episode, I want to know if you are enjoying the podcast. If you are, I invite you to subscribe and leave a review on iTunes. Our goal is to help grow the community around wine by connecting others through this podcast. By subscribing to it on iTunes, you are helping others find the show and connect around a common passion.
Bill Bishop is the National Sales Manager for Steele Wines in Northern California. He has a lifetime of experience in the wine world from helping his father deliver wines as a boy in Connecticut and studying enology and viticulture at University of California Davis to working harvest at Far Niente Winery and nearly 20 years of his career at Carneros Creek Winery. Bill has a wealth of knowledge that we dig into in this episode. He has a story for everything about wine and it was an absolute pleasure to chat with him.
We invite you to subscribe to the podcast on iTunes and leave us a review. Our goal is to grow a community of people who are passionate about wine so we can all learn more and connect with each other. If that appeals to you at all, then subscribe. It helps others find the show, which continues to expand this community you’re apart of.
Learn more at crupodcast.com
Helen Johannesen (@helenswines) is a sommelier, entrepreneur, wine shop owner, lover of the hustle, and an incredibly thoughtful and kind person. We dive into a lot in this episode from growing up in NYC and moving to Madison, Wisconsin to the challenges she’s overcome in a male dominated industry and how her drive and lack of insecurity has pushed her to accomplish so much at a young age.
We also talk about being recognized for your hard work with awards and what effect they have; she’s a 2016 Food & Wine magazine Sommelier of the year.
We invite you to subscribe to the podcast on iTunes and leave us a review. Our goal is to grow a community of people who are passionate about wine so we can all learn more and connect with each other. If that appeals to you at all, then subscribe. It helps others find the show, which continues to expand this community you’re apart of.
You can learn more at Crupodcast.com
Chris Strieter (@cstrieter) is an entrepreneur and co founder of Senses Wines (@senseswines), a boutique winery in Sonoma making Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, and is the co-founder of Duchess in Oakland (@duchessoakland), a gastro pub serving up California pub fare. You can learn more about Chris at http://crupodcast.com/show/chrisstrieter
In this episode we dive into a lot of different topics, but the main one being how Chris and his co-founders have worked to build a boutique winery from the ground up and now have their wines in restaurants like The French Laundry. We also talk about starting a restaurant, his advice to entrepreneurs, technology, and his passion for space travel.
Would you like to get videos, articles, podcasts, Instagram profiles, photography, and books, that help you learn more about wine and connect with others who are passionate about it too? All for free, every Friday. If that sounds right up your alley subscribe at http://crupodcast.com/cru-mail
Michael Villas is an advanced sommelier and co-founder of the wine labels Penville and Maison d’Amis. Penville makes Rhone style Grenache from the Santa Barbara region in California and Maison d’Amis makes Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. You can connect with Michael on Instagram @mcvillas and learn more about him at crupodcast.com
Before we get into the episode, I want to invite you to subscribe to the podcast on iTunes. With your help we can achieve our goal of being on the New & Noteworthy for all of iTunes. It allows other people to find the show and to connect all of us around a common passion.
Giuseppe Cola (@pjritzsomm) is the first Perrier-Jouet sommelier at The Ritz London. He is also the award winner of the Annual Award of Excellence in Service 2016 from the Royal Academy of Culinary Arts London, the most prestigious award available to young professionals in the hospitality industry today.
You can learn more about Giuseppe at http://crupodcast.com/show/giuseppecola
We invite you to subscribe to the podcast on iTunes and leave a review. It helps other people find the show.
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