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Beats Vines and Life

From Shelf Stocker to Winemaker: Chris Cottrell's Remarkable Journey from Shaolin to Sonoma!

Nov 8, 2023
Chris Cottrell, a true wine industry enthusiast with a fascinating journey into the world of wine, talks about his unexpected job found through Craigslist and reminisces about the vibrant energy of the early 2000s wine industry. He shares his passion for wine, particularly Zinfandel and the Old Hill vineyard. Chris also drops exciting news about his upcoming wedding and discusses his thoughts on the future of the wine industry.
01:49:15

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • Chris Cottrell's journey from being a shelf stocker to a respected figure in the wine industry highlights the importance of seizing unexpected opportunities and being passionate about one's craft.
  • Preserving historical vineyards like Old Hill Ranch and Evangelho is crucial for maintaining the diverse heritage of California winemaking and producing exceptional wines.

Deep dives

Working at Pet Wines and Crush

Chris got his first job in the wine industry at Pet Wines through a Craigslist advertisement. He worked there for 18 months before moving on to Crush, a flashy and vibrant wine shop. It was at Crush that Chris had the opportunity to work with and learn from influential figures in the wine world, such as Lyle Fass, Steven Bitteroff, and the managing partner, Bobby. It was an exciting time for Chris as he was exposed to a wide variety of wines, tasted rare vintages, and developed a deep passion for wine storytelling.

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